José Ramírez chose Cleveland’s heart over a big-market contract — a decision that’s paying off in playoff app
CLEVELAND, Ohio — In a sport where players routinely chase the biggest contract possible, José Ramírez has become something of an anomaly.
The Guardians’ star third baseman turned down larger paydays elsewhere to sign a team-friendly extension in 2022, and the results speak for themselves in a way that resonates beyond bank account balances.
Cleveland.com columnist Terry Pluto posed an intriguing question on this week’s Terry’s Talkin’ podcast:
“Frankie Lindor’s last season with Cleveland was in 2020, then he went to the Mets. How many times has he made the playoffs?”
The answer: twice.
By contrast, since signing his seven-year extension with Cleveland in 2022, Ramírez has reached the postseason three times.
It’s a comparison that illustrates two different definitions of success in professional sports.
“I think what he got out of this is what he signed up for in terms of, ‘I will always be on a team that’s competing, a team that’s got a shot at the playoffs, a team that might do something in the playoffs and of course a team that leaves me alone unless we play ball,’ ” Pluto said.
While Lindor secured his staggering $341 million contract with the Mets, Ramírez’s connection to Cleveland extends beyond the diamond. During this year’s division-clinching celebration, he made a point to express his feelings in English rather than relying entirely on the Guardians’ team translator.
“I love Cleveland. I love Cleveland. This is my house,” Ramírez declared amidst the champagne celebration, then corrected himself. “Home. This is my home.”
That emotional investment extends to the small things many superstar athletes might overlook.
When Cleveland named a street after him near Clark Avenue last week, Ramírez’s biggest concern wasn’t the ceremony or recognition — it was whether the street would appear on Google Maps, reflecting his desire to be genuinely integrated into the fabric of the city.
Pluto suggests there’s a fundamental difference in personality between the two stars.
“He is not a New York kind of guy. You know, where Frankie, we all knew that,” Pluto said. “I mean, Jose plays all the time. He plays hurt and everything, too. Lindor does, but he, you know, he had marketing and other ambitions.”
Perhaps there’s wisdom in Pluto’s observation: “Sometimes when you go somewhere for money, that’s all you get.”
For José Ramírez, Cleveland isn’t just where he plays — it’s genuinely his home. And in an era where player movement has become increasingly transactional, Pluto says there’s something refreshingly authentic about a superstar who chose belonging over an extra zero in his contract.
Here’s the podcast for this week:
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