The Guardians announced Friday that they’ve exercised their 2022 club option on third baseman Jose Ramirez and declined a club option on catcher Roberto Perez, making him a free agent for the first time in his career. Cleveland also confirmed the previously reported hiring of Chris Valaika as the team’s new hitting coach.
Ramirez’s $12MM option was among the easiest option calls any team will ever have to make. His contract also contains a $14MM club option for the 2023 season. Perez, meanwhile, will receive a $450K buyout in lieu of a $7MM option and explore the open market.
There was never a shred of doubt that Ramirez’s option would be picked up. The 29-year-old has cemented himself as one of the game’s elite players and lived up to that billing once again in 2021, slashing .266/.355/.538 with 36 home runs, 32 doubles, five triples, 27 stolen bases and elite defense at the hot corner.
With just two years remaining on his contract, Ramirez will surely be the subject of offseason trade inquiries, but Cleveland needn’t feel obligated to move him unless an absolutely mammoth trade offer is made. Ramirez’s contract is the only one on the books for the team in 2022, and with a modest arbitration class there’s no real financial concerns for Cleveland, even if the hope is to again operate on a relatively stripped-down payroll. Suffice it to say, president of baseball ops Chris Antonetti and GM Mike Chernoff will have plenty of leverage if (when) clubs do come calling about Ramirez.
For all the speculation about a potential Ramirez trade, however, it’s important to note that there’s no reason Cleveland can’t seek to contend in 2022. Ramirez will return alongside a core that features Shane Bieber, Aaron Civale, Triston McKenzie and 2020 breakout arm Cal Quantrill. The lineup is rife with question marks, but Amed Rosario hit well in his first season with the club and there are several top-end prospects on the cusp of big league readiness. For the first year under a rebranded moniker, it’s only sensible that the Guardians would look to put out a more compelling product.
As for Perez, he’s been unable to replicate his breakout 2019 showing at the plate — a season that saw him swat 24 home runs and post a .239/.321/.452 batting line. Paired with his excellent defense, that offensive output made Perez one of baseball’s best all-around catchers in 2019. Since then, he’s dealt with a pair of shoulder injuries and a fractured finger. It’s quite obviously possible that the arm/hand injuries have combined to sap Perez’s production, but with a more affordable and comparably strong defender available in the form of Austin Hedges, Cleveland unsurprisingly chose to move on.
Still not used to calling the Indians the Guardians it will take me a minute to get used to that
I’m old….it’s gonna take me at least two, maybe 3 minutes. Can’t wait until thar WS team becomes the Atlanta Traffic Jams.
Well on the plus side, at least you lived with the old name for, what sounds like, a substantial portion your life and the time you have left can’t take away from the memories when the MLB had racist names.
You’re the type of dude to catch a falling leaf and whisper “I got you, baby,” to it before carrying it around for the rest of the day
Not “racist”, but if they changed it to “Indians are an inferior race and deserve unequal protection of the law”, you would be correct.
If Indians is “racist” so is Fighting Irish and really any name that makes reference to any people. Mariners out there must be pissed at Seattle. Same concept.
Fighting Irish actually refers to Irish people, as Irish people are Irish. Irish people as a whole have not come out and say they are offended by it, as it has also not been used against them derogatively. Native Americans arent “Indian” and are not from India, and have come out and been clear about how racist and offensive it is for centuries, and was used against them derogatively for centuries aka racist, as is already known and obvious. To call a race of people a completely different race knowingly, is just plain ignorant in and of itself. Its like saying a dog isn’t a dog, its actually a cat. The vast majority of people know, or should know, that what you’re saying is wrong, and ignorant. Your justification for racism is ignorant and dated. Move on.
Really, a leaf? Interesting…
Remember the good ol’ days when the Chicago Dumb Polacks would play the Pittsburg Cheap Scotsmen without a single complaint? We could use a man like Herbert Hoover again…
So “Native Americans have been clear” that it’s racist? Really?
The Washington Post poll in 2016 revealed that about 90% of them were NOT offended by the use of the “Redskins” which supported an earlier poll by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (hardly a pro-racist bunch) in 2004 revealed a similar result. Even SI got into the poll process and came up with a “surprisingly” 83% favorable result in 2008, so I suuppose all those Amerindians (including myself @ 1/32) are simply misinformed and unaware of our victimization?
I can assure you that most in both ethnic groups would not be offended, as well as the “South Bend Slobs” (aka Slavs).
Well the Spokane Indian tribe endorse the name of the Spokane Indians and the Spokane Chiefs. So shut up with you BS crap
It really is the worst possible name for a baseball team. Or really any sports team without someone guarding a goal (guarding a goal like in soccer, hockey, even basketball to an extent). But wtf is a baseball team “guarding’??
May want to google the history behind the name.
Still doesn’t fit. Semut is correct.
You think its correct. Doesn’t make it so. Many other people find it “correct”. Build a better argument, maybe longer than 6 words, just to possibly show you have SOME intelligence.
It was eight words
Periods are not words, doesn’t is one word. Go back to grammar school, then come try to talk to me again, with some actual intelligence.
Most people on this website know that I expressed my views on the name, the history behind it, and the Cleveland Roller Derby that had been using the name for years in several earlier posts.
Maybe if you’d been paying attention then you would have learned something?
Once all of these Native names are gone from sports, i am worried they will go after team names that represent bad people who steal and kill….. such as Pirates, Buccaneers, etc.
Im so sorry (not) that I dont take the time to follow your obviously ignorant points of view. I really bave missed out on something special in life, I guess.
Oh please, get over yourself.
Stop being a liberal cockbag.
Get over it.
home plate?
I will never call them the Guardians it’s beyond silly. I find it hard to believe that the Guardians is the best they could come up with. Who picked the name a group of ten year old boys? What are they guarding? Is it the galaxy?
Its Guardians because of their stupid stone pillars going over a bridge. Nevermind that its guarding travel over the CUYAHOGA River in the state of OHIO, both Native names. All around that area there are Native names for everything, probably why they decided to name their team Indians in the first place. They got rid of Chief Wahoo, which was a good idea. Idk why they decided to change their name…. Dumb
You must have a learning or reading disability if you don’t know why they changed the name. Its been covered extensively by multiple different outlets. Get over it.
Get over it.
@pete
Not everyone is going to agree with the name change. Get over that fact!
Not everyone has to whine about it either, yet here we are.
Okay, but ya gotta get over it!
Terrible move, Ramirez is bound for a regression and Perez is bound for a breakout offensive season!
More like a breakout off-season.
I was actually thinking about you last night (I’m on the west coast so you’re the only Tribe fan I “know”). What do the team fans think of the name? Clearly most of the country hates it but do you guys feel the same?
Get over it.
I hate the new name. I refuse to use it.
This must be a difficult time for you. Thoughts and prayers.
Not every Indian hates the name. I am Cherokee from Oklahoma and several people here bought Indians gear as a sense of pride. Opinions of a few do not speak for all. People should not be so sensitive.
SJWs in full effect with Pete and OBP.
Snowflakes this early in November…..
Ramirez is a 3 time all star and 3 time silver slugger but he not worth picking up his 12 million dollar option? Apparently someone doesn’t watch baseball?
Apparently someone doesn’t understand sarcasm
Sarcasm is supposed to be obvious. Apparently you failed to deliver it properly.
The best sarcasm is when it’s not obvious.
don’t make fun of him they don’t understand the real worl in SD
With Barnhart gone to the Tigers, I wonder if Perez is now the Yankees top choice to be their every day catcher. They could keep Sanchez as the backup and occasional DH if they trade Luke Voit and Stanton plays 50-80 games in the OF. He would be an expensive backup catcher, but who knows. As predicted by many this will be an incredibly interesting off season for the Yankees and the entire Major Leagues.
Higashioka is Gerrit Cole’s personal Catcher so i doubt the Yankees waste resources on Catcher unless Sanchez is either traded/non-tendered
He’d hit for the same ave as Sanchez, and in that band box, might be close in HRs.
Your hilarious.. black is white and orange is green too right?
What about his hilarious?
“The baseball club formally known as the Indians”
No they are the guardians now. They get why they deserve for bowing to the woke mlb and media.
You gonna cry? Do you need a safe space? Will you be okay?
I suspect that you would need a padded room if the Yanks were changed to the “Noreasters”.
They are the Indians for now…they still have to pay for the name but it’s not like they won’t end up getting it unless the Dolan’s are too cheap for that too
I never knew Perez was so inept at hitting a baseball before I checked his BR page, golly
He can’t hit, so he has to be elite defensively to start. Problem is his glove has regressed. Likely no more than a BUC at this stage and BUC’s don’t make $7M.
2019 was a total aberration, and even then his numbers weren’t truly impressive. He’s never been able to hit, and CLE didn’t care because he spelled Yan Gomes for years, and Yan could hit. His literal absence of offense was magnified when he became their #1 C. Perez is destined to bounce around for the next 2-3 years on minors deals.
You should see him attempt that thing called running. Ron Hassey 2.0.
Never seen anyone in baseball that slow.
They are the Guardians now – whether you like it or not the name is here to stay. Time to move on.
Or at least until it changes again
Really; 100 % correct. I mean, it’ a flippin NICKNAME. WTF is a “Red Sox”? Why not call them the “Blue Panties”? And really, “Yankees” doesn’t have a historically BAD connotation? Or are they a bunch of guys who “yank”?
Call ’em the Cleveland Cockroaches….who cares.
Waiting for the Dallas Cowboys to get name canceled next, because everyone knows how they killed all them injuns.
Cowthem
bob,
I’m beginning to be concerned – first it’s ‘Arm Barns’ and now it’s ‘Blue Panties’. Here’s the etymology of ‘Yankees’:
A name applied disparagingly by Dutch settlers in New Amsterdam (New York) to English colonists in neighboring Connecticut. It may be from Dutch Janke, literally “Little John,” diminutive of common personal name Jan; or it may be from Jan Kes familiar form of “John Cornelius,” or perhaps an alteration of Jan Kees, dialectal variant of Jan Kaas, literally “John Cheese,” the generic nickname the Flemings used for Dutchmen.
No they are not.
An unjust law is no law at all.
Get over it.
YES. Thank you. Jeez. Seeing so many adult children whine about a sports team’s name change is appaling.
Pete da commie
Beast da fascist?
…and one in particular “whining” incessently about the whiners.
Only one that constantly whines is you. Get a life, loser
*@pete the dick
Rays should lowkey look at Perez. Even if Z gets his option picked up
Agreed, this is the kind of catcher they’re always going after. And if they can get his 2019 version hitting-wise, it’s gonna be another steal.
Thank you. Bye Bye Roberto.
Wish they had gone with Spiders.
It would play well on the web.
Spiders was the easiest slam dunk possible and they went with maybe the worst possible choice lol.
Spiders was also the top choice in the fan’s poll, which means the owner ignored the fans. Yet they want us to embrace this dumb new name?
Uhhh…..nope.
Spiders was a dumb choice as well. No name was going to satisfy everyone. I hated Spiders. I hated Guardians, I would have like to see the new nickname having to do with the Rock Hall or Lake Erie, but that didn’t happen. What is most important is the name Cleveland. I hate the Guardian name, but as long as it is the CLEVELAND Guardians, I will learn to live with it.
Myself, I live in SoCal now. Never lived in Cleveland. That part of the name does nothing for me.
You want a Lake Erie take? How about the Cleveland Sludge?
Possibly, the Cleveland Cuyahoga River Flames?
unjust to arachnids.
Get over it.
Uh, I am over it. I’m glad they changed the name. I just like Spiders better than Guardians.
Love your vocabulary. Do you know anymore words?
Pedro the chicken
Tell me you’re trading Jose Ramirez straight up for Alejandro Kirk in two roster moves…
What a stupid name lol. Losers.
Don’t be so angry…
Says the Wankees fan
They’ve lost for 73 straight years. Calling them losers is just stating the obvious.
From 2013 through 2020, Cleveland won more games than every other MLB team except the Dodgers and did that on a small market budget. That is not the definition of a loser in my book.
Get over it.
@pete
Your record is skipping.
It get over.
Like the New York John Cheeses isn’t a hoot.
Is that a soccer team?
Roller Derby.
CLE has a few holes to fill. Jose Ramirez, Amed Rosario and Myles Straw are everyday MLB caliber players. Franmil Reyes and Austin Hedges are incomplete and the rest of the position players are special needs.
Lol
Given the obvious needs in right and left plus their roster crunch, I think the Guardians could be really active this winter….assuming MLB and the union sign a contract.
Active? In what way? Assembling another loosing team…..going on 74 years and counting.
Reyes is a DH. Hedges is a strong defensive Catcher. Neither are Hall of Famers but both are decent. Cleveland needs to figure out the Outfield corners. Harold Ramirez, Bradley Zimmer, Oscar Mercado and Daniel Johnson all rotated last year and seem likely to again unless they acquire another Outfielder. Bobby Bradley should be at 1B, Andres Gimenez at 2B. And Chang and Miller coming off the bench. I don’t see the Guardians doing much other than a few minor league invites
Say what you will about the Cleveland Ind-or-Guard-ians, but they draft/trade for/claim/unearth starting pitching better than any organization in MLB.
The should have gone with the “Engines” as a name.
That would have been perfect, mach 1
Or possibly the Steamers?
I think declining Perez is a mistake, unless you think they can bring him back at a discount. And it’s indicative of a larger mistake Cleveland keeps making: playing people while they’re hurt.
Perez fractured his ring finger April 13th in the final innings. With a broken finger (4/14 until IL stint):
44 PAs, 3 H, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 BB, 19 k
(.159 OBP + .175 SLg = .333 OPS)
Without:
115 PAs, 18 H, 2 2B, 6 HR, 37 K, 13 BB, 1 HBP
(.278 OBP + .346 SLG = .624 OPS)
And even that “without” is with yet another injury late in the season he attempted to play through.
.624 OPS isn’t much. But it is better than Hedges (.629), and fine for a defensive stud. His career wRC+ (76) is also better than Hedges (57). Unless you think Hedges is a better defender, or that Perez’ injuries/age will erode him, he’s a better catcher than Austin Hedges. They just cut their best catcher for a pittance, in a year where they have said they want to increase spending.
Cleveland made a mistake having him try to swing a bat with a broken finger. They made similar mistakes all year with Jordan Luplow, Eddie Rosario, and Bobby Bradley. They need to learn from that and use their 40 to cycle players up and down as needed when injuries happen.
I can see Roberto back later in the offseason if another option is not obtained.
For a combined $10 million, it is tough to have both Hedges and Bebo on the roster. They both have very similar skillets but Hedges has a better injury track record and is due to make half as much as Perez.
I think they still try to re-sign Perez or maybe even go after Yan Gomes.
*The Indians
How bad is Naylors injury that everyone is forgetting him.
A broken leg is not something you jyst walk off (pun intended). Antonetti has said he hopes Naylor will be ready to start the year
This name is so bad. It just reminds me of parental figures.
its the indians….
Should just call them the Cleveland LaCocks!
A friend of mine came up with a name that may have pleased many. The Cleveland Grey Eagles. That was the great hall of fame center fielder from the 1920 Indians Tris Speaker’s nickname. Think about it. Not bad.
I wish I could say I’m surprised that most of the comments responding to an article about two players’ status have nothing to say about the players and focus entirely on the name of the team.
OMG! … They CHANGED THE NAME!!! Oh, the humanity! I’ve been calling them the Indians since I was a little boy! My whole world is upside down! How can I go on??? THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE!!!
Yeah, not really:
Atlanta Braves History
1966 – 2021
Milwaukee Braves
1953 – 1965
Boston Braves
1941 – 1952
Boston Bees
1936 – 1940
Boston Braves
1912 – 1935
Boston Rustlers
1911 – 1911
Boston Doves
1907 – 1910
Boston Beaneaters
1883 – 1906
Boston Red Caps
1876 – 1882
Baltimore Orioles History
1954 – 2021
St. Louis Browns
1902 – 1953
Milwaukee Brewers
1901 – 1902
Boston Red Sox History
1908 – 2021
Boston Americans
1901 – 1907
Chicago Cubs History
1902 – 2021
Chicago Orphans
1898 – 1901
Chicago Colts
1890 – 1897
Chicago White Stockings
1876 – 1889
Cincinnati Reds History
1959 – 2021
Cincinnati Redlegs
1953 – 1958
Cincinnati Reds
1890 – 1952
Houston Astros History
2013 – 2021
Houston Astros (NL)
1965 – 2012
Houston Colt .45s
1962 – 1964
Los Angeles Dodgers History
1958 – 2021
Brooklyn Dodgers
1932 – 1957
Brooklyn Robins
1914 – 1931
Brooklyn Dodgers
1911 – 1913
Brooklyn Superbas
1899 – 1910
Brooklyn Bridegrooms
1890 – 1898
Milwaukee Brewers History
1998 – 2021
Milwaukee Brewers (AL)
1970 – 1997
Seattle Pilots (AL)
1969 – 1969
Minnesota Twins History
1961 – 2021
Washington Senators
1901 – 1960
New York Yankees History
1913 – 2021
New York Highlanders
1903 – 1912
Baltimore Orioles
1901 – 1902
Pittsburgh Pirates History
1891 – 2021
Pittsburgh Alleghenys
1887 – 1890
St. Louis Cardinals History
1900 – 2021
St. Louis Perfectos
1899 – 1899
St. Louis Browns
1892 – 1898
Tampa Bay Rays History
2008 – 2021
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
1998 – 2007
Texas Rangers History
1972 – 2021
Washington Senators
1961 – 1971
San Francisco Giants History
1958 – 2021
New York Giants
1885 – 1957
New York Gothams
1883 – 1884
Washington Nationals History
2005 – 2021
Montreal Expos
1969 – 2004
and last but not least …
Cleveland Indians History
1915 – 2021
Cleveland Naps
1905 – 1914
Cleveland Blues
1901 – 1904
I hope it will afford you some comfort in this most difficult of difficult times to know that a Google search turned up no known fatalities in any fan base resulting from a team’s name change.
So buck up, buckaroos. Many fans before you have survived a similar heartache. Have faith, you can too.
If the Atlanta Braves were once the Boston Beaneaters, why didn’t we go with the Cleveland Pierogieaters? As a person proud of his East European heritage I would have preferred that to the new name.