José Ramírez will stay in Cleveland for his whole career (as if we didn’t already know that)
José Ramírez has always been open about his appreciation and love for Cleveland. The organization (and city) that gave him his first opportunity in the big leagues holds a special place in Ramírez’s heart, and he’s made no secret about his desire to spend his entire career with the franchise.
Ramírez still had three years and $69 million remaining on the contract extension he signed with the Guardians in 2022. Per reports, Ramírez and the team have torn up that agreement in favor of a new extension that will pay him $175 million over the next seven seasons. He also gets a no-trade clause (a moot point considering he already has 10/5 rights) and incentives tied to his finish in MVP-voting.
$10 million each year will be deferred, which should give the Guardians some extra wiggle room to address the rest of the roster around him.
Ramírez turned 33 in September and slashed .283/.360/.503 (137 OPS+) last season with 34 2B, 30 HR, and a career-high 44 steals. He was an All-Star for a seventh time, won his sixth Silver Slugger Award, and finished third in AL MVP voting.
Over his 13-year career in Cleveland, Ramírez has hit .270/.353/.504 (131 OPS+) with 285 HR and 287 SB. His 57.6 bWAR is already the fifth-highest total in the franchise’s long history.
It’s easy to like this deal, even if it may have been unnecessary, for both sides.
Eight MLB players named to Samurai Japan’s WBC roster
Samurai Japan has announced its roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic (one more spot remains open, technically), with eight MLB players confirmed to be in the mix. The list includes:
Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers
Yusei Kikuchi, Angels
Tomoyuki Sugano, Free Agent
Yuki Matsui, Padres
Kazuma Okamoto, Blue Jays
Munetaka Murakami, White Sox
Seiya Suzuki, Cubs
Tatsuya Imai elected to skip the tournament to focus on his first spring training with the Astros.
Other WBC news
Free agent left-hander José Quintana has been named the captain for Colombia’s WBC squad.
Team Italy received a pair of notable commitments, from Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola and White Sox catcher Kyle Teel. Both players are of Italian descent on their mother’s side, making them eligible to play.
Blue Jays right-hander Yariel Rodriguez has been confirmed for Team Cuba, where he’s expected to work out of the bullpen.
Cubs right-hander Daniel Palencia will join Team Venezuela, a boon for a team that has lost several commitments in the aftermath of the geopolitical turmoil and uncertainty facing the country. Most Venezuelan players in MLB and MiLB are expected to arrive in time for spring training, but given the ICE-related concerns, many are skipping the WBC.
Columbia relief pitcher Jean Herrera will likely miss the upcoming World Baseball Classic after testing positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol. The 25-year-old right-hander spent 2021-23 in the minor leagues with the Dodgers and Diamondbacks before spending the 2024 season in the independent Atlantic League and then not pitching anywhere last year.
Andrew McCutchen isn’t ready to quit
Andrew McCutchen doesn’t appear ready to call it a career …. and it doesn’t sound like he’s real pleased with the Pittsburgh Pirates right now.
The team held its annual PiratesFest over the weekend, and the long-time fan favorite was noticeably absent. McCutchen took to social media to respond to comments from a member of the Pittsburgh media, showing his frustration:
“I wonder, did the Cards do this [to] Wainwright/Pujols/Yadi? Dodgers to Kershaw? Tigers to Miggy? The list goes on and on.
“If this is my last year, it would have been nice to meet the fans one last time as a player. Talk to them about my appreciation for them over the years. Shake that little kids hand or hug the fan that’s been a fan since Clemente.
“You see, this is bigger than baseball. Bigger than looking at a 40 man roster and cherry picking numbers that fit your agenda or prove why your opinion matters. The fans deserved at the very least to get that opportunity. Idk what the future holds for me at the present moment, but what I do know is though I am 39, on the backend of my career, I still work everyday to be better than I was the year before. If there wasn’t a burning desire to continue this journey, I would be home surrounded by my family, in which no one would judge or be surprised. But not yet. There’s more work to do and I’m not done, no matter what label to you try to stamp on me. Rip the jersey off of me. You don’t get to write my future. God does.”
Pittsburgh has been rumored to be seeking another bat, but all indications point to the team preferring to add a player who can handle third base. McCutchen has played just 20 games in the field (19 in right, 1 in left) over the last three seasons. Given the additions the club has made this offseason, it’s hard to find a clear place for him on the active roster anymore.
If this is the end for McCutchen, he’ll finish his career with a .271/.365/.457 (125 OPS+) line and 451 2B, 332 HR, and 220 SB over 17 seasons, a dozen of them with the Pirates.
More words
The Padres will wear a jersey patch to honor Randy Jones this season.
Rutgers outfielder Peyton Bonds is a player to watch this year, as his family hopes to become baseball’s next third-generation family.
Around the sport ….
MLB’s investigation into domestic abuse claims levied against Sean Hjelle has concluded, with the league clearing the 6’11” right-hander of any wrongdoing. He will not face disciplinary action. Hjelle’s wife, Caroline, posted a series of videos on TikTok in June 2025, accusing the 28-year-old of infidelity and abuse. The duo is in the process of divorcing. Hjelle had a rough 2025 on the mound, posting a 7.80 ERA (52 ERA+) in 15.0 IP for the Giants, but a 3.06 ERA in 67.2 IP for their Triple-A affiliate. He signed with the NPB’s Orix Bluewave this offseason.
Right-hander Craig Kimbrel, fifth on the all-time saves list with 440 and second among active pitchers (Kenley Jansen has 476), is not ready to hang up his cleats. The 37-year-old has pitched for nine teams over a 16-year career and has signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets with an invitation to spring training. It may be a long shot that Kimbrel makes the Mets team, but the veteran closer posted a 2.25 ERA over 12.0 IP last season with the Braves and Astros.
Infielder Hanser Alberto announced his retirement. Alberto spent parts of eight seasons in the big leagues with five teams, hitting .269/.292/.381 (80 OPS+) in 1477 PA.
With NIL (name, image, likeness) dollars becoming such a big thing in college sports, more changes are coming. The NCAA has approved the sale of uniform patches, potentially opening the door for schools to generate millions of dollars in additional revenue. Per an Associated Press report, teams will be allowed to place up to two patches, no more than 4 square inches each, on uniforms during regular-season games beginning on August 1. The specifics overseeing how these patches will be managed for postseason and championship games (especially the highly televised ones) have yet to be finalized.