MLB Rumors: 'Everyone' Warned Jose Ramirez Not to Sign New Guardians Contract

Third baseman Jose Ramirez gave the Cleveland Guardians a significant hometown discount when he agreed to a seven-year, $141 million contract to stick in town.

Many people weren't on board with the three-time All-Star's choice though, with his agent Rafa Nieves of Republik Sports relaying the story to ESPN's Alden Gonzalez.

"I tried to talk him out of it," Nieves said. "Everyone tried to talk him out of it."

As Gonzalez noted, Cleveland submitted offers in November and in March that were "well below market value." However, Ramirez tried to justify the offers to Nieves in order to stay in Cleveland, per Gonzalez.

Ramirez is having another great season for the Guardians. His 29 RBI lead the major leagues, and that's in addition to seven home runs, a .318 batting average and a 1.078 OPS.

He's also an incredible value as one of the game's best players. Per Spotrac, 34 players are making more money than Ramirez this year. Of note, Ramirez is fourth in offensive WAR (second in the American League), per Baseball-Reference.

Ramirez is also an anomaly on a Guardians team that only sports a $68,261,143 payroll, per Spotrac, which is fourth-lowest in MLB.

In sum, Cleveland is undoubtedly thankful (and lucky) Ramirez decided to stick around when he could have been paid far more elsewhere. Now the Guardians have their franchise cornerstone under contract through much of the 2020s as they look for their first World Series win since 1948.