As their first season with their new team name approaches, the Cleveland Guardians have been working on contract extensions with two of their key players: closing pitcher Emmanuel Clase and third baseman Jose Ramirez. Both of them are among the best players in their positions and are deserving of extensions.

Cleveland's talks with Clase have been heating up and a deal has now been agreed to. According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Guardians and their 24-year-old star reliever have agreed to a five-year deal worth $20 million. For a young player of Clase's caliber, this is a great deal.

Clase, in his first season with the Guardians, had a phenomenal 2021 season. He earned AL Rookie of the Year votes with his 1.29 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 69.2 innings. The budding star is one of the main headliners for the Guardians' pitching group that features Cy Young Award-winning ace Shane Beiber, Aaron Civale and Cal Quantrill.

Retaining Clase and his 100-mile-per-hour cutter, which Cy Young Award-winner Corbin Burnes describes as “super-human”, is a big win for the Guardians.

Cleveland's negotiations with Ramirez have slowed down as their April 7th deadline nears. This is a worrisome development, as Ramirez is one of the best players in baseball. He has a club option worth $14 million next season, which gives them some control, but the three-time All-Star is a free agent after that. The Guardians can't afford to lose him.