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Hey, Hoynsie: If the Guardians are playing .500 baseball and are close to first place in the AL Central this year, would they look for an impact player at the All-Star break to try and win a third straight division title? — Bill, Tennessee.
Hey, Bill: It’s possible.
Chris Antonetti, president of baseball operations, said Thursday at Jose Ramirez’s press conference that the organization could pivot during the regular season if their young position players don’t produce. The money will be there to make trades because they haven’t spent much this winter, but pivoting during a season while still trying to win is difficult.
Hey, Hoynsie: If Jose Ramirez didn’t sign the long-term extension in 2022, and he didn’t want to stay in Cleveland, what would you estimate he could be earning as a superstar in today’s climate? — Ed Radatz, Sandusky.
Hey, Ed: The Guardians were ready to trade Ramirez if he hadn’t signed that extension in 2022. Ramirez would have been a free agent after the 2023 season regardless of where he was playing.
On the open market, Ramirez probably would have been worth $280 million to $300 million over an eight to 10-year deal.
Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez at Thursday’s press conference to announce his seven-year, $175 million extension. He’s talking to Agustin Rivero (right), a coach and interpreter for the team.David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com
Hey, Hoynsie: What’s the latest on former No.1 pick Daniel Espino? — Kurt Miller, Worthington.
Hey, Kurt: For the first time in several years, Espino will go to spring training as a competitor instead of a player rehabbing an injury. The Guardians will be careful with the hard-throwing right-hander because he hasn’t pitched regularly since 2021 after a series of shoulder injuries. They want to ensure that he has a healthy season no matter where or how he pitches.
Espino has one minor league option left.
Hey, Hoynsie: Is Travis Bazzana, the No.1 pick in the 2024 draft, being groomed for left field? — Michael Hoffman.
Hey, Michael: Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I think the Guardians want to see Bazzana settle in at second base. When he does that, they’ll decide if they need to expand his versatility. They believe he’s athletic enough to play the outfield.
The big-league coaching staff will be its first prolonged look at Bazzana this spring.
About a dozen Guardians employees and Andrews Moving and Storage workers loaded two trucks with a total of about 40,000 pounds of supplies on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at Progressive Field to be shipped to Goodyear, Arizona for spring training. The trucks are expected to be there next week.David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com
Hey, Hoynsie: We always hear about the Guardians’ equipment truck leaving Cleveland for spring training. But we never hear about it returning from Arizona to Cleveland. Is there a return truck? — Skip, Broadview Heights.
Hey, Skip: Sir Isaac Newton discovered the theory of gravity — what goes up must come down. Tony Amato, veteran Guardians’ clubhouse manager, discovered his own theory — when an equipment truck leaves, it always returns.
Hey, Hoynsie: With the basic agreement due to expire in December of 2026, and the threat of a work stoppage looming, are the Guardians avoiding any significant contracts to avoid putting big money on the books in case MLB gets a salary cap? — Ben Weible. Louisville, Kentucky.
Hey, Ben: There could be a work stoppage, and the owners could push for some form of a salary cap, but that didn’t stop the Guardians from signing Jose Ramirez to a five-year, $175 million extension Thursday. Still, it would be foolish to say the upcoming labor negotiations didn’t affect the Guardians’ payroll.
Hey, Hoynsie: If more players were like Jose Ramirez, who chose loyalty over the almighty dollar, would there be less of a need for a salary cap and a potential lockout after the 2026 season? — Andy Mees, Sandusky
Hey, Andy: What you’ve seen unfold between Ramirez and the Guardians is a rarity. In professional sports, loyalty doesn’t go very far. That goes for teams and players.
To answer your question, even if every team had a player like Ramirez, the owners would still want a salary cap.
Guardians’ Chris Antonetti, president of baseball operations, says there are still opportunities to try and extend Steven Kwan’s contract.David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com
Hey, Hoynsie: Is there any news about Steven Kwan getting an extension in the near future? — Alex Harris.
Hey, Alex: Chris Antonetti was asked about the possibility of a Kwan extension on Thursday at Jose Ramirez’s press conference. He said Kwan still has two years left under the Guardians’ control, which leaves opportunities to talk about an extension.
Hey, Hoynsie: I would love to see the Guardians sign Eugenio Suarez (49 homers, 118 RBI, 196 strikeouts) to a one-year deal with a club option for a second year. In the lineup, he could DH between Jose Ramirez and Kyle Manzardo. Then they could move Steven Kwan to center thus freeing the corner outfield spots for prospects (Chase DeLauter, George Valera and C.J. Kayfus) and the signing of Austin Hays or Miguel Andujar. — Brad, Barberton.
Hey, Brad: You’ve been doing your homework, but that’s not the message the Guardians’ front office has been delivering all winter. The team’s core players and prospects are going to get the first shot at the upcoming season. The season doesn’t start until March 26, but it sounds like the Guards are going to let the kids play.