The Rundown Ultralite: Ramirez Nearing Extension with Guardians, Yankees Have Agreement with 13yo IFA, RIP Terry Boers

Let’s jump right into some bullets on what figures to be a very slow sports day for anyone who isn’t into watching UFC’s first big card on their new home at Paramount.

• Future Hall of Fame third baseman José Ramírez and the Guardians are nearing an extension and restructuring of his current deal. He will get $175 million over the next seven seasons, with $106 million in “new” money to go with the $69 million he was already owed.
• The deal will include $70 million in deferred money, but we’ll have to wait on the schedule to see how his AAV is calculated.
• Ramírez will now be under contract through his age-39 season. While the deal is ostensibly done, it appears the two sides are still hashing out some structural details.
• Ken Rosenthal reports that the deal also includes private jet travel for one round-trip per year plus trips to and from the All-Star game. It also calls for an extra hotel room in addition to his road suite, and there are increased performance incentives.
• According to Wilber Sánchez, the Yankees have a “pre-agreement” with 13-year-old Venezuelan prospect Albert Mejías, who is not eligible for international free agency until the 2030 signing period opens. The agreement is reportedly for a $7 million bonus, which includes a $600,000 educational scholarship.
• “He is the best player in the history of the international market,” reads an anonymous quote from Sánchez. “He could play in a professional league right now. At his age, no one was doing the things he does.”
• First, that’s a wildly hyperbolic statement that is in no way close to being accurate. Second, I have very serious doubts that this young man is actually 13 years old. Third, the IFA system is a complete mess.
• The Mets and SNY game director John DeMarsico, who gained fame for his cinematic broadcasts, parted ways for what he said was “a different creative direction.” As it turns out, however, DeMarsico was allegedly involved in an illicit relationship with the daughter of an SNY cameraman.
• After dealing MacKenzie Gore to the Rangers, the Nationals are reportedly shopping shortstop CJ Abrams and center fielder Jacob Young. Remember when they won a World Series after trading Bryce Harper and it looked like they were going to be really good for years to come with Juan Soto as their major building block? Yeah…about that.
• Legendary Chicago sports radio pioneer Terry Boers passed away at the age of 75 after a long battle with cancer and subsequent liver failure. A former Sun-Times columnist, Boers was one of the original radio hosts on The Score when it first launched in 1992. He retired in 2017 due to his health issues, leaving a legacy that will not soon be forgotten.
• “The Score lost one of our own today. Terry Boers passed away today surrounded by loved ones. Terry was one of the founding fathers of The Score and one of the most popular people on the air and in The Score hallways,” read a statement from operations director Mitch Rosen. “Terry was original, funny, smart, witty and most importantly a beautiful person. Terry’s family’s wish is there won’t be a funeral, but The Score will celebrate his life on the air next week. So today and forever, RIP Terry Boers.”