Andres Gimenez finalizing seven-year extension with Guardians

Andres Gimenez finalizing seven-year extension with Guardians

Cleveland Guardians and second baseman Andres Gimenez are finalizing a seven-year, $106.5 million extension, ESPN’s Jeff Passan was first to report Tuesday.

Passan reports there will be a club option attached for 2031, the final year of the deal. The deal is expected to begin in 2024, which will replace his three remaining arbitration seasons plus five free agent seasons.

Andrés Giménez's contract extension with the Guardians will be for seven years and $106.5 million and includes a club option for the 2031 season, sources tell ESPN. The deal starts next year and covers Giménez's three arbitration years and potentially five free agent seasons.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 28, 2023

Gimenez, 24, was traded to the Mets alongside Amed Rosario in the Francisco Lindor trade in the 2021 offseason. He had a breakout 2022 campaign, earning his first All-Star game appearance while finishing top-10 in the AL MVP voting. He slashed .297/.371/.466 with 17 home runs, 69 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 557 plate appearances (146 games). Gimenez also led the American League in HBP’s with 25.

Gimenez was one of the best defensive second basemen in baseball last season. He garnered 16 defensive runs saved (second-most), 12 outs above average (12) with a 5.9 ultimate zone rating (second-highest). Gimenez also tallied a 6.1 fWAR with a 140 wRC+ in 2022, his first full season.

The 24-year-old second baseman’s $15.2 million average annual salary is the fifth Guardians guaranteed player on the payroll in 2024, behind only Josh Bell ($16.5 million player option) and Jose Ramirez ($17 million), who signed an extension ahead of last offseason, per Spotrac. Though they will have players on arbitration, such as Shane Bieber, Josh Naylor, Aaron Civale and James Karinchak, among others.

The Guardians are the perceived favorite to win the AL Central yet again in 2023, ahead of the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins. If they do again this season, expect Gimenez to play a big part in its success, similarly to 2022.

This is a breaking news story. Stay tuned for updates.

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