Cleveland Dians and Jose Ramirez could EASILY resolve their Contract Extension Negotiations, here's how.

Cleveland Dians could resolve the Jose Ramirez contract in the following way. FRONTLOAD the five year extension offer, place the current 2 year deal at the back end after the new five year deal. The extra 16 million over the next 2 years, if invested properly, will give Ramirez an extra 10 to 20 million five years from now when his salary would be reduced near the twilight of his career. If that is not enough, then offer a modest inflation adjustment on the present two years that would be pushed back to the end of the deal with a cap at 15 million a year. 

Done Deal. Or this going to be another example of the Dians "We tried" BS in which they know how to get to the precipice of a deal without actually making the deal by not doing the reasonably obvious.

If the Dians don't take my suggestion, and don't extend Jose Ramirez's contract when they easily could considering their paltry 50 million dollar 2022 payroll when their Television revenue is 100 million dollars, then it just proves what a joke the name the Guardians actually is. A team that cannot keep their own home grown talent for more than the customary 6 years has not earned the name Guardian. Guardian's don't get replaced over silly and solvable contract disputes.

Ballplayers who sign long term deals once they are 30 or older face the prospect of being overpaid as their skills begin to diminish. If Jose is able to produce six years from now, but maybe not as he did in his prime, the 13 to 15 million dollar per year over the final two years will still be a good deal for both Jose and Cleveland, 

I would hate to see Jose booed near the end of his career because he was making 21 million a year when at 13 to 15 million he is still either a good deal or fans are just glad he stayed.

Two perfect examples to consider are Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera. Pujols final few years with the Los Angeles Angels were somewhat of a disappointment in part because he could barely run and also because he became more of a singles hitter. At 30 million a year that is crazy, at 13 million fans probably would have been ok as Pujols seemed to get some key hits.

Miguel Cabrera is another example. There is a chasm of a difference between a successful power hitter being paid 30 million a year versus 13 million a year when they are in the twilight of their career. 

Not sure how Jose Ramirez will fare five years from now, but hopefully he will still be a contact hitter who knows how to run the bases, and the lower amount over the final two years of his deal will just keep Cleveland fans liking him as he probably is breaking some type of Cleveland offense records, whereas six years from now 21 million a year he may be seen a hostile light, and nobody wants that. 

Los Angeles Emmy winning Producer Alessandro Machi combines his editing, camera and observational skills to provide unique insights into the World of Sports.