MLB Rumors: Padres Have "A Lot Of Interest" in Superstar Infielder

With contract extension talks between the Cleveland Guardians and Jose Ramirez breaking down, the rumors are spreading once again about a possible trade. This time, the San Diego Padres are said to be circling the waters of Lake Erie. 

MLB Insider Hector Gomez is reporting that the Padres have "a lot of interest" in the Guardians superstar infielder. 

SOURCE: The #Padres are showing a lot of interest in making a trade with the #Guardians to get star 3B Jose Ramirez before the Opening Day's deadline.@z101digital @ZDeportes

— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) April 5, 2022

Gomez says the Pads are pushing to get something done before Opening Day. That's in two days, so the push must really be on. The Padres interest has been confirmed by others as well.

Don't get your hopes up.

Asking price has been insane.

Padres absolutely love Ramirez.

Doesn't mean they can come to an agreement.

The interest is absolutely real.

Report is legitimate.

But could also be spilling over from previous talks now being made public by Hector.

— Mickey Koke (@mickeykoke) April 5, 2022

The Guardians started engaging in talks to extend Ramirez this spring. With talks bogging down, Gomez reported that they made one last-ditch effort this past weekend. 

Update: #Guardians made another offer to Jose Ramirez: 5 Years, $104M extension plus this 2 year was a $130M 7 year total, New Money $104M , the agent will travel to Arizona on Monday for a meeting in person with Ramirez and the #Guardians, per @mikedeportes. https://t.co/AoyKGUJ84J

— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) April 2, 2022

It's unlikely, however, to be enough for the 29-year-old three-time All-Star. 

There are many observers who believe that if an extension can't be reached, a trade could be consummated, if not now, then by this year's trade deadline. That would give any acquiring team two postseason runs with Ramirez. He's owed $12M this season with a club option for $14M in 2023. 

Ramirez is one of the top hitters in the game. He's coming off a 2021 season in which he blasted 36 homers, along with 111 runs scored and 103 RBIs. 

The Toronto Blue Jays have also been a strong pursuer of J-Ram for some time now. The current Jays front office of Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins were running the show in Cleveland when the Dominican product broke into the majors. 

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