Former Met Andres Gimenez and the Cleveland Guardians are in agreement on a seven-year, $106.5 million contract extension, according to reports.
The extension includes an eighth-year club option and will keep the infielder in Cleveland through the 2031 season, according to ESPN. The deal buys out three years of arbitration.
Gimenez was rewarded with the deal after being selected to his first All-Star Game and winning a Gold Glove in 2022. The 24-year-old finished sixth in American League MVP voting last season as the Guardians won 92 games and finished first in the AL Central division. He slashed .297/.371/.466 with 17 homers and 69 RBIs. He also stole 20 bases and drew 34 walks.
In 2015, the Mets signed the Venezuelan for $1.2 million as an international free agent when he was just 16 years old. Gimenez was regarded as one of the top prospects in the Mets’ system and made his debut with the team in 2020. He appeared in 49 games that season, slashing .263/.333./.398 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 132 plate appearances. He also finished seventh in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.
Gimenez landed in Cleveland in 2021 as part of the blockbuster trade that sent shortstop Francisco Lindor to the Mets. The Guardians received Gimenez, shortstop Amed Rosario and two prospects in exchange for Lindor and starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco.
Gimenez’s reported new deal comes two days before the star and his Guardians take on the Seattle Mariners on opening day.
