CLEVELAND, Ohio — Could this be the last opening day with the Cleveland Indians for José Ramírez, pound-for-pound the best value in baseball?
Trading away a fan favorite and two-time All-Star would have seemed inconceivable in days gone by, but on the heels of an offseason payroll purge that saw the team ship Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco to New York, the question begs to be asked.
Cleveland can probably afford to keep Ramírez and pay him based on the two remaining club options in his contract beyond 2021, but can the franchise afford not to trade a three-time Silver Slugger whose value has never been higher if the right deal comes along?
It’s more likely that how the Indians perform early in the 2021 season will go a long way in determining whether or not the club pivots and explores the possibility of trading the three-time MVP finalist this year, or possibly waits until the offseason when the trade drum beats louder. But right now, at the dawn of a new season, Ramírez would be an attractive trade piece if the Indians fall out of contention some time after the All-Star break.
Ramírez, now 28, signed a five-year, $26 million extension after Cleveland’s run to the World Series in 2016. He made $6.25 million last year while posting a 3.4 fWAR to lead all position players in baseball according Fangraphs.com. He will earn $9.4 million in 2021, a year in which the Indians will rely upon him heavily to drive a young and relatively inexperienced offense.
Since signing that five-year deal, Ramírez has been among the top offensive producers in baseball, batting .284 with a .917 OPS, 108 home runs and 317 RBI across four seasons.
His 2022 club option is for $11 million with a $2 million buyout and the 2023 option is for $13 million with no buyout, making him exactly the kind of player coveted by contending clubs looking boost their offense without breaking the bank. Cleveland could command high-value prospects in return for Ramirez, while giving their own top prospect, Nolan Jones, a spot on the major league diamond to further his development.
If you believe the rumors, Ramírez was pursued during the Indians’ offseason payroll purge by Atlanta, which wanted him to play third base on a team that many have picked to win the National League East over the Mets. There are other clubs, including the Rays, Cubs and Marlins who could also seek his services.
When Cleveland dealt Lindor and Carrasco to New York in December, speculation abounded that a Ramírez trade could soon follow. Some scoffed at the idea Cleveland would even consider trading Ramírez simply because of the affordability of his contract. But this is, of course, the club that traded away Trevor Bauer and Mike Clevinger as free agency and arbitration salary increases loomed for both. When nothing materialized on a Ramírez deal it became less about “why not?” and more about “when?”
In February, Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti spoke glowingly of Ramírez, calling him the “foundation of the team” along with ace starting pitcher Shane Bieber.
“When you start with two of the best players at their respective positions, that is a really great starting point and a strength of the team,” Antonetti said.
Manager Terry Francona took note early in camp of Ramírez’s willingness to step toward the front of the line in drills and assume a lead-by-example position for his younger teammates.
“When your best player does things like that, it’s a heck of a lot easier to have the younger guys falling in line,” Francona said. “He just kind of puts his head down and struts up there and does his thing and plays baseball.”
But don’t let accolades convince you that Ramírez is a permanent fixture. If the situation is right, and the timing makes sense, Ramírez — just like veterans on one-year contracts such as Eddie Rosario and César Hernández — could all be in play. There’s also value in clearing places for youngsters such as Jones, Owen Miller and Daniel Johnson to play every day.
The chase for a 2021 playoff spot might begin today, but in Cleveland, the clock is always ticking.
The Talkin’ Tribe Opening Day event will take place virtually on April 5, 2021 from noon – 1:30 p.m. -- featuring Indians sports writers and columnists from cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. Tickets can be reserved here. Plus, join our VIP experience and get the opportunity to mingle with former Cleveland Indians players and more. There are only 150 tickets available for this exclusive experience and tickets can only be won through our sweepstakes.
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