'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Cleveland Guardians slugger Jose Ramirez has just taken home his fifth Silver Slugger Award. He now holds the most Silver Sluggers in Cleveland history, breaking a tie with Albert Belle on Tuesday.
Ramirez was a big reason for Cleveland's success this past season. They won the American League Central and went on to the American League Championship Series.
Ramirez's consistency has caught the attention of six-time All-Star outfielder, Kenny Lofton. He spoke about just how elite Ramirez is recently on MLB Network Radio.
"I'm going to give Jose [Ramirez] his credit. What he's doing is extraordinary. And for me to put a guy on that next level, it's more about consistency. You get two, three more years of Jose doing this.. I would be him on the top with Eddie Murray and Chipper Jones as a switch-hitter," said Lofton.
Trending
Both Eddie Murray and Chipper Jones took the baseball world by storm during their playing days and were easy first-ballot Hall of Famers after they ended their careers.
Lofton believes Ramirez is right up there with those two but wants to see a few more seasons of excellence from him.
Jose Ramirez needs more help in making the Guardians a contender
The Guardians have quietly been one of baseball's most consistent teams over the years. They have 10 winning records over the past 12 seasons and have won the AL Central five times in the last 10 seasons.
However, the club's last World Series title came all the way back in 1948. For how consistent they have been, they do not have much to show for it.
Going into next season, Cleveland has a great chance to repeat as division champions. They have most of their key starters coming back and do not have many holes to fill.
This puts the front office in a great position to look at free agents for potential upgrades. They have the opportunity to add some more power alongside Jose Ramirez.
One name that insiders have liked to Cleveland is Alex Verdugo. He is currently a free agent and would likely sign for a cheaper one-year deal. Adding Verdugo would give some pop to the lineup, and his glove in the outfield would work well alongside three-time Gold Glove Award winner Steven Kwan.
