Bryan Shaw’s historic pursuits, Josh Naylor’s comeback and the Guardians’ 40-man roster puzzle: Meisel’s Musings



SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 22: Pitcher Bryan Shaw #27 of the Cleveland Indians reacts after the final out of the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Angels in the 2021 Little League Classic at Bowman Field on August 22, 2021 in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

By Zack Meisel Mar 27, 2022 39
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Before Bryan Shaw exited the interview room, Cleveland pitching coach Carl Willis presented him with a prompt: Which right-handed reliever in major-league history has recorded the most appearances?

Shaw, lifting his phone from his pocket, said he had that information handy. Of course he did. This isn’t the first time he has studied the leaderboards. The answer: Mariano Rivera, with 1,115.

Shaw rattled off the top few entries on the list, all left-handers: Jesse Orosco, then Mike Stanton, then John Franco, Willis’ teammate for three years in Cincinnati in the mid-1980s.

A year ago, in the same room at Cleveland’s complex, Shaw mentioned he was chasing the pitching ghost of Orosco, the sport’s leader in appearances. His audience chuckled. After all, Shaw wields an ever-active dry sense of humor and had struggled in the previous three seasons, culminating in a summer spent mostly at Seattle’s alternate site in 2020.

Shaw had rejoined Cleveland then on a non-roster deal, though any follower of Terry Francona’s teams had more than a hunch that he’d work his way on to the club. Sure enough, he did. And he led the league in appearances. Again. All along, he kept tabs on his progress in inching closer to baseball’s most durable pitchers.

Shaw resurfaced at the team’s facility at the start of the week with the same unkempt beard and a mustard yellow headband. I asked him for an update on his pursuit of Orosco. How many outings shy is he from the record?

“Five forty-nine, something like that,” Shaw said. “Five fifty-nine. Somewhere in there. Something like that.”

“That seems like something you should know,” I replied.

Well, he does. It is, in fact, 559. Shaw sits at 693 appearances. Orosco totaled 1,252.

That’s a tall order. This is Shaw’s age-34 season. Orosco spent a quarter-century in the majors, making his last appearance at 46.

If we exclude the shortened 2020 season, Shaw has averaged 74 appearances in his past eight years, beginning with his first season in Cleveland under Francona. He would need another eight healthy seasons to challenge for the record. It wouldn’t hurt his cause if Francona kept managing, too.

Shaw connected with the Guardians’ brass before the lockout, along with a couple of other teams, he said. Francona called him when the lockout ended and asked why he hadn’t signed anywhere.

“Because I’m waiting for you guys,” he replied.

General manager Mike Chernoff reached out to the reliever and they rapidly finalized terms. Francona and Willis had voiced their desire to add a veteran arm to the mix. Cleveland’s relief options are a bit limited and especially young, and now James Karinchak is expected to begin the season on the injured list. Aside from Shaw, Emmanuel Clase, who was a rookie last season, leads the way in experience, with a whopping 93 innings to his name.

Shaw said he hopes to offer guidance to the group the way J.J. Putz, Aaron Heilman and Takashi Saito did for him in Arizona a decade ago when he broke into the majors.

“A teammate’s words, a teammate’s advice and sometimes direction carries so much more weight than a coach,” Willis said, “because that teammate is out there with them.”

Shaw had been throwing live bullpen sessions at the MLB Players Association site in Mesa, Ariz., in March, so he strolled into the complex Wednesday and Thursday to pass COVID-19 protocols and a physical, and by Saturday he was ready to pitch in a game. He said he’d need only five appearances to round into regular-season form, and he arrived at camp armed with a plan to achieve that.

Shaw posted a 3.49 ERA last season, with a 4.53 FIP. He leaned on his cutter 78 percent of the time. He eclipsed teammate and close friend Cody Allen’s franchise record for relief appearances in September. He stands 123 appearances shy of Mel Harder’s club record (582 games) for any pitcher.

Shaw will earn a base salary of $3 million in 2022, with a $4 million club option for 2023, a source told The Athletic. He’ll earn bonuses of $131,250 if he appears in 35 games and 40 games, bonuses of $181,250 if he appears in 45, 50 and 55 games, and bonuses of $231,250 if he appears in 60,65 and 70 games. In all, that’s $1.5 million in bonuses if he makes at least 70 appearances, which he has in all six of his seasons with Cleveland.

Final thoughts
1. The doctor who operated on Francona’s foot last year had another familiar patient this winter: Josh Naylor. Whenever Francona had a checkup, he asked about Cleveland’s rehabbing outfielder, since players and coaches couldn’t communicate during the lockout.

Naylor played in his second minor-league game Saturday and, barring a setback, could be cleared for Cactus League action on Tuesday.

“I think he’s trying to enjoy every moment,” Francona said, “which he certainly seems to be accomplishing.”

2. Karinchak is the second Cleveland pitcher to suffer an injury this week to the finicky teres major muscle in the shoulder/upper back region. Cody Morris was placed on the 60-day IL with a strain. Karinchak is likely headed to the 15-day IL to start the regular season. (MLB altered the rules, so the pitcher IL requires a 15-day stint, whereas position players must be sidelined for 10 days.) Mike Clevinger missed about two months with an injury to that muscle in 2019 and Clase also hurt it before the league shut down in 2020.

“Because we’ve had a few of them,” Francona said, “I know we’re trying to go back and see if there’s anything that can be done, if we’re doing something that’s leading to this.”

3. With Luke Maile shelved for a few weeks with a hamstring injury, the Guardians have two in-house options to serve as Austin Hedges’ backup: Sandy León and Bryan Lavastida. León is not on the 40-man roster, which complicates matters. Adding him would cost someone else a spot. Then again, Lavastida, who has played in only seven games at Triple A, might not be ready for big-league action. If Maile can make a quick return, it might make sense to turn to Lavastida for a brief, limited trial. Otherwise, the front office might have to find a way to add León.

4. The Guardians have preached aggression on the basepaths this spring, a style that’s critical for them to generate runs. Myles Straw, José Ramírez, Oscar Mercado and Owen Miller have already flashed their speed and instincts on the bases. And then there’s the deceptively sort-of-nimble Franmil Reyes, who swiped second base and advanced to third on a throwing error in the second inning against the A’s on Saturday afternoon.

Nice article on Shaw. This guy is the ultimate below....below the radar!

Such a nice staple type guy - you can use him anywhere and anytime.

If he simply replicates last year's overall numbers it's a perfect pickup to patch up a young bullpen. Probably could use one more of those types.

Cut either Zimmer or Mercado. Or both. They have had more than enough chances. Zimmer continues to struggle to make contact. Stephen Kwan please.

(Zimmer or Clint Frazier? Final answer after all this time? NEITHER! Much ado about nothing.)

Zimmer and Frazier were just a step behind similarly unsuccessful top OF pick Naquin who suddenly blossomed last year with the Reds; but the chance of Zimmer replicating that on his new team are pretty limited; Naquin had had some solid months months with Cleveland interspersed with time on the DL and months of offensive incompetence. Zimmer has not had a good full month in his big league career and has made no headway in cutting down on his insane strikeout frequency.
Mercado is probably no better but is several years younger and had a very good season a few years ago making him for like Naquin than the 29 year old "in his peak years" Zimmer

The Guardians optioned Arias to Triple-A Columbus on Monday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.


After being acquired from the Padres in August 2020, Arias made his debut for his new organization in 2021, spending the entire season with Columbus.

Over his 483 plate appearances, Arias produced a respectable .802 OPS, but the Guardians will send him back to Columbus to begin 2022 for further refinement. Assuming his performance doesn't dramatically regress from a season ago, the 22-year-old should get the chance to make his big-league debut later in the campaign for a rebuilding Cleveland club that could be in evaluation mode in the second half.

Sheesh they are in "evaluation mode" all season.

civ ollilavad wrote:Zimmer and Frazier were just a step behind similarly unsuccessful top OF pick Naquin who suddenly blossomed last year with the Reds; but the chance of Zimmer replicating that on his new team are pretty limited; Naquin had had some solid months months with Cleveland interspersed with time on the DL and months of offensive incompetence. Zimmer has not had a good full month in his big league career and has made no headway in cutting down on his insane strikeout frequency.
Mercado is probably no better but is several years younger and had a very good season a few years ago making him for like Naquin than the 29 year old "in his peak years" Zimmer

Naquin just walked up and slapped Civ in the face ! Returned to his seat and yelled at Civ to keep his name out of his freakin mouth ! Twice !!!!!!! Wow !

It will be interesting if Tyler can do it two years in a row. If so, I would be begin to blame the f.ka. Indians for mismanaging him.

Cleveland Guardians: Making sense of SS Gabriel Arias being sent down to the minors
by Steve DiMatteo20 hours ago Follow @steve_dimatteo


The Guardians sent hot-hitting shortstop Gabriel Arias down to Triple-A Columbus this week, so let’s try to make sense of the move.

Cleveland Guardians shortstop prospect Gabriel Arias has been one of the best players in camp this spring, both offensively and defensively – and now he’s on his way to Triple-A Columbus.

Arias, 22, was optioned to the minors Monday after notching eight hits in his first 14 at-bats of spring training, which also included a double and three RBIs. It’s a small sample size to be sure, but there’s no denying that Arias was off to a scorching start at the plate – and in the field too.

It was enough to wonder if Arias could possibly break camp with the major-league team, especially with the rosters expanding to 28 players through April. But that wasn’t to be, and Cleveland’s ongoing glut of middle infielders was no doubt the culprit, probably more so than any potential service time manipulation.

Right now, Amed Rosario figures to get the bulk of playing time at shortstop while seeing some time in left field. That opens up Andrés Giménez for more time at shortstop; the 23-year-old has been off to a hot start himself, hitting .417/.500/.583 with a triple and three RBIs in his first twelve at-bats.


As for second base, that’s an even bigger mess at the moment, with Giménez, Ernie Clement, Yu Chang, and Owen Miller all jockeying for playing time – and all of whom are off to hot starts of their own. It would appear that no matter what Arias did, he would be starting the season down in Columbus.

It’s a frustrating move by the Guardians, but this is the hand they dealt themselves by not being able to move any talent in a trade this offseason. The team was unable to alleviate its congestion at second base and shortstop and must now find a way to let it all sort itself out on the field. The good news at least is that it seems everyone is certainly up to the challenge to this point.

Arias’s time will no doubt be coming this season; he and the rest of the team’s fans are just going to have to be patient a little while longer.

Why Cleveland Guardians prospect Steven Kwan is a hitter to remember for 2022



Cleveland Guardians baseball player Steven Kwan poses for a photograph during the Guardians photo day Tuesday, March 22, 2022, in Goodyear, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

By Zack Meisel 4h ago 22

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Steven Kwan stands almost completely upright, holding his bat parallel to his body, with the knob facing the dirt in the batter’s box. When the pitcher initiates his delivery, Kwan raises his front leg as if he’s attempting to kiss his knee.

It’s a series of movements crafted in what the Guardians call the “capture cage,” a lab where coaches and analysts study swing mechanics and partner with the hitter to determine tweaks or overhauls at the plate.

Kwan wields a couple of qualities that are difficult, or even impossible, to teach: hand/eye coordination and strike zone awareness. Those traits granted him a head start in the mad dash to become a prolific hitter. He makes a lot of contact and he doesn’t chase pitches out of the zone. So, he rarely strikes out (about once every 11 plate appearances as a professional).

That skill set can carry a player far, perhaps even to the majors. But when Kwan arrived at spring training a year ago and conferenced with the organization’s hitting development team, they agreed he could benefit from a swing that allowed him to whack the baseball with more authority. Making a lot of contact is great. Making a lot of hard contact — resulting in line-drive doubles to the gap instead of weak grounders to second base, for instance — is better.

Many big-league pitchers are adept at inducing weak contact. If Kwan poses a power threat, though, given the frequency with which he works himself into hitters’ counts, he could inflict damage.

“The power comes from having an efficient swing,” he said. “I’m never trying to hit the ball farther. It’s just a byproduct. If I ever get tense or try to muscle up the ball, it actually becomes less efficient for my body. So having that same mentality of trying to hit line drives up the middle, line drives to the left side, it translates into power.”

Grant Fink, Cleveland’s minor-league hitting coordinator, said the group was even willing to sacrifice some of Kwan’s contact ability, trimming a few points off his batting average to gain extra credit in the slugging column. Turns out, they didn’t have to sacrifice anything.

Kwan in 2019 at High A: .280/.353/.382 slash line, 9.8 percent walk rate, 9.4 percent strikeout rate

Kwan in 2021 at Double A/Triple A: .328/.407/.527 slash line, 10.6 percent walk rate, 9.1 percent strikeout rate

Kwan quadrupled his home run total in 2021 (from three to 12) in about 60 percent of the plate appearances. And he did so while slightly improving his walk and strikeout rates (and against better competition).

That’s how a 5-foot-9 outfielder with solid but unspectacular numbers in A-ball in 2019, who lost a minor-league season to the pandemic in 2020, zoomed on to evaluators’ radars in 2021, on to top prospects lists this winter (nearly on to Keith Law’s Top 100 list at The Athletic) and, even, into Eno Sarris’ bold predictions piece as the 2022 American League Rookie of the Year.

“That’s funny,” Kwan said. “Super validating. But he doesn’t know who I am. There are going to be a lot of scenarios this year that could happen. I could get hurt, for all we know.”

OK, so while he might be confident, he’s also humble. He’s “curious” and “cerebral,” too, according to Fink. He’s welcoming of any data and video the coaches send his way.

Kwan, Fink and Alex Eckelman, the organization’s director of hitting development, workshopped his swing for about three weeks last spring. A few games into the trial, he crushed a pitch to dead center at a 104 mph exit velocity, something he says he had never done before.

“I knew I had something on my hands,” he said.

Kwan said he tested out a new stance every year. For the first time, there’s no learning curve in that area this spring. He used to have a toe tap. Then, variations of a toe tap.

Now, he has a leg lift, a timing mechanism that prepares him for the pitch headed his way as he shifts his weight into a position that provides him with more power. As he describes it, he stays “stacked” in the back leg, sets up his hips and then funnels his momentum forward.

And in common terms? The swing mechanics help him stay stable as he swings and generate more power from his lower half instead of relying on his hands to do the work.

The big change, though, is in the mindset, Fink said. It’s the idea that when Kwan is ahead in the count, he can take more risks, versus a defensive-minded approach.

“Get your swing off,” Fink said. “If you make contact, let’s see the ball go. … It was more of a mentality switch than a mechanical switch. When a guy gets aggressive in his mind, you’ll see it in his body.”

The Guardians have targeted hitters with similar profiles in recent years in an effort to improve their hitting development fortunes. Tyler Freeman, Owen Miller, Richie Palacios and even Josh Naylor to an extent have minor-league track records that include a lot of contact and walks, and strikeout rates ranging from more-than-reasonable to elite.

Kwan is perhaps the extreme example, a guy who rarely swings and misses, and also rarely expands the zone. That should allow him to swing at only the pitches he wants, so if that swing carries some extra oomph, his production could soar.

“I never want to strike out,” Kwan said. “I never want to get beat.”

“I never want to strike out,” Kwan said. “I never want to get beat.”

I like that kind of hitter more than the all or nothing guys. Of course the very best are the Jose Ramirezes who don't strike out much and have lots of power. [I think I would have enjoyed Ted Williams: 709 career strike outs. Brad Zimmer is close to half that total: 285 in less 10% as many at bats]

Look, if the trend towards homers/walks/strikeouts and "openers" continues then the Guardees need to zig where others zag.

Starting pitching - contact hitting - running the bases. Glad to see that's the direction they are going.

Cut Bobby Bradley please. (Are they afraid of Jesus Aguilar regret? I hope not)

I doubt they will cut Bradley but Miller and/or Naylor at 1st are good for me

What’s at stake as Cleveland Guardians, José Ramírez discuss contract extension



Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez throws from his knees to second base but is unable to get the force out on an infield single by Milwaukee Brewers' Pedro Severino during the third inning of a spring training baseball game Tuesday, March 29, 2022, in Goodyear, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
By Zack Meisel 1h ago 36

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Cleveland’s front office and José Ramírez’s camp have exchanged proposals on a potential contract extension for the All-Star third baseman. Discussions are expected to soon reach a critical point as an artificial deadline of Opening Day approaches next week, sources said.

The Guardians are motivated to secure a foundational piece of their roster beyond his two remaining years of team control. They are prepared to hand out a contract that would almost certainly more than double the largest in team history, a three-year, $60 million pact granted to Edwin Encarnación five years ago.

Ramírez is content to spend the rest of his career in Cleveland, both he and those close to him have expressed. Over the past five years, Ramírez has been perhaps the best bargain in MLB as he became one of its most prolific hitters and base runners. He signed a five-year, $26 million deal after a breakout season in 2016. That deal included a pair of club options that increased in value to $12 million for 2022 and $14 million for 2023 because of bonuses tied to his three top-three finishes in the American League MVP race.

It’s customary practice for Cleveland’s executives to discuss long-term extensions with the team’s core players during the later stages of spring training, as they have done in the past with Francisco Lindor, Shane Bieber, Jason Kipnis and others. The Guardians and Ramírez began to swap contract ideas last weekend, and dialogue has continued throughout the week. Guardians owner Paul Dolan is in Goodyear this week. A transaction of this magnitude would deviate from his standard mode of operation.

Cleveland’s payroll has been stripped to the studs in recent years. Ramírez is the only player on the roster earning more than $6 million this season. The club has no future salaries on the books; no player is guaranteed a cent beyond 2022. That outlook, plus a dormant offseason, equips the club with as much payroll flexibility as it possibly could have under ownership’s restrictions. The two sides are expected to maintain dialogue in the coming days as they attempt to pinpoint some middle ground before Opening Day, April 7.

Ramírez is tethered to the organization for two seasons. He is in line to enter free agency as a 31-year-old, and, if no agreement is reached, likely as a member of another organization. The Guardians would strongly consider a trade this summer if the two sides can’t strike a deal and the team is out of the playoff race. If not this summer, Ramírez would be one of the most popular hot stove targets next winter.

Only Mike Trout and Mookie Betts have amassed a higher WAR total over the last six years than Ramírez, which arms him with the leverage to demand a contract that mirrors what other all-world infielders have received. Ramírez has financial security; he isn’t angling to escape a league-minimum salary, as he was when he signed his current deal. And he knows if he doesn’t stay in Cleveland, he could wind up, via trade, with a big-market franchise that might offer him a lucrative contract, the way the Mets handed Lindor a 10-year, $341 million pact after acquiring him last year.

As for the league’s other star third basemen, Nolan Arenado signed an eight-year, $260 million deal with the Rockies just before his 28th birthday. Anthony Rendon and Manny Machado were free agents who sparked bidding wars when they signed for seven years and $245 million and 10 years and $300 million, respectively. Yoán Moncada’s deal will earn him $24.8 million during his age-29 season in 2024. Alex Bregman’s deal will earn him $30.5 million in 2023 and ’24, his age-29 and age-30 seasons.

Matt Olson’s new contract has been mentioned during negotiations, sources said. The Braves signed Olson, a 28-year-old first baseman, to an eight-year, $168 million extension after acquiring him in a trade with the A’s earlier this month. Olson had two years of team control remaining and, like Ramírez, was originally projected to earn $12 million in 2022. Olson enjoyed his best season in 2021 with 39 home runs and a .911 OPS. Ramírez (36 home runs, .893 OPS in 2021) has outpaced him in WAR over the last four seasons, 21.5 to 13.2.

Jose Altuve might be a sensible comparison in terms of production. He signed a seven-year, $163.5 million extension shortly before his 28th birthday in 2018. His deal replaced two years of a bargain salary from a previous contract.

The Guardians, notoriously, have been financially risk-averse and hesitant to devote a significant percentage of their payroll to one player. As it stands, Ramírez’s $12 million salary for 2022 accounts for more than 20 percent of the team’s payroll, which figures to sit between $52-$57 million and rank among the bottom four in the league, alongside the Orioles, Pirates and A’s. Sources said that the Guardians entered this offseason with plans to upgrade the lineup and the bullpen, which would have added to the payroll, but when they struck out on their top targets — which included Olson — they pivoted to a strategy centered around their younger, internal options.

If they can finalize an extension with Ramírez, it would secure their lineup cornerstone for the foreseeable future as they wait for top position player prospects such as Gabriel Arias, George Valera and Brayan Rocchio to blossom.

By the later years of a Ramírez contract, the club could have a new majority owner, as discussions persist between Dolan and prospective investor David Blitzer, multiple sources said. The team also figures to have a new TV deal once its arrangement with Sinclair/Bally Sports expires in 2027, and could eventually create supplementary revenue streams, such as a gambling partnership and a ballpark village outside of Progressive Field. Another factor is the pressure created by the team’s rebrand, which could benefit from the short-term boost an organization receives after a momentous transaction. That happened in 2017, when Cleveland drew more than 2 million to the ballpark, triggering an attendance in Encarnación’s contract.

One source said those types of financial forecasts are considered during contract deliberations, though they don’t currently afford the club the ability to operate in a drastically different manner. Still, there figure to be additional resources to help absorb some of the team’s risk, in the event Ramírez’s production tails off in the twilight of his career.

Why Gimenez over Arias? Straw endorses Rosario in LF – Terry Pluto’s Goodyear Scribbles

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Scribbles in my notebook after walking through the Guardians clubhouse and realizing this team is even younger than I thought:

1. Some fans wanted to know why Andres Gimenez is still in major-league camp while phenom Gabriel Arias was sent to the minors. How about this: At 23, Gimenez is the veteran compared to the 22-year-old Arias. It’s more than age, but it makes the point of how the Guardians are expected to be the youngest team in MLB again this season.

2. Arias had a sensational spring, batting .571 (8-for-14) and manager Terry Francona let the young shortstop know that: “We explained to him how much we like him.” Francona also encouraged Arias and other players sent to the minors not to be so “fixed on the destination” of making the majors. “They need to enjoy it.”

3. More from Francona on Arias: “There’s nothing wrong with going to Class AAA for the first month or so. April (in Cleveland) can be a pretty rough road. ... It’s OK to error on the side of caution.”

4. Gimenez opened in Cleveland last April at 22. He got off to a miserable start, batting .179 in his first 29 games from April 1-May 17. He then was sent to Class AAA, with Amed Rosario taking over at shortstop.

5. More Francona: “Gimenez did a good job at Class AAA. (When he came back to Cleveland later in the season), he looked much more like the player we thought we had.” Gimenez batted .287 (.844 OPS) with 10 HR and 31 RBI at Class AAA Columbus.

6. Rosario quickly emerged as the most productive player in the Francisco Lindor deal with the Mets. But Cleveland insisted on Gimenez being part of the deal. In 2020, Gimenez skipped over Class AAA and went right to New York for the 60-game season. The lefty hitter batted .263 for the Mets at age 21.

7. In the Mets farm system, Gimenez consistently ranked among baseball’s top 100 prospects. The Guardians are practicing patience with the young shortstop, who is above average defensively. Gimenez is batting .438 (7-for-16) this spring. He ripped an opposite field double off the left field fence Tuesday.

8. Gimenez is listed at 6 feet and 190 pounds, but looks smaller than that. But he does project to have some power, as the 10 HR in 52 games at Columbus demonstrated.

9. Francona on Gimenez last season: “(Early on) he tried to hit the ball out of the park ... he’ll do that as he goes on. For now, he needs to use the whole field. The ball will leave the park as he grows.”

10. At 22, Jose Ramirez opened the season in Cleveland. He had miserable year, batting .219 (.631 OPS) in 97 games with six homers. That was in 2015, and he also was sent back to the minors. In 2016, he came back to Cleveland at 23: Batting .312 with 11 HR and 76 RBI.

11. This is not to say Gimenez will follow the same pattern as Ramirez, now an All-Star. It is to point out how hard it is to judge players when they make the majors so young.

12. While Francona insisted no decision has been made about Gimenez making the team at short, the alternative is Rosario. But Rosario made his third consecutive start in left Wednesday night. It makes sense for him to play there given the need for outfielders.

13. I asked the Guardians terrific CF Myles Straw about Rosario in the outfield: “He can play there. He is a great athlete. He fast. He works hard. I have no doubt he can do it.”

14. Rosario has hit a pair of homers this spring. If the Guardians can come out of the Lindor deal with some long range answers at shortstop and left field, that would be a major plus.

Yes, the Guardians do have a real outfielder: Meet Myles Straw – Terry Pluto in Goodyear

Myles Straw ranked in the 98th percentile in outs above average last season.

GOODYEAR, Arizona – Every few days, I receive an email about the Guardians outfield.

That’s understandable. The outfield has been a problem for years in Cleveland. But a few emails read something like, “They don’t have a real big league outfielder on the roster.”

I email back and suggest they check out Myles Straw.

That’s Myles Straw, the starting center fielder. That’s Myles Straw who started 156 games last season between Houston and Cleveland.

That’s Myles Straw who was rated among the top two defensive center fielders in the American League, depending upon which analytics site you prefer. Or you can simply go by your eyes and what Guardians Manager Terry Francona said: “A constant with him is you hit it to center field, you’re out.”

That’s Myles Straw who batted .285 (.739 OPS) after being traded to Cleveland at midseason. He also stole 30 bases between Houston and Cleveland.

Yes, that’s Myles Straw, whose name is written in ink the top of the order every day for the Guardians.

OFTEN OVERLOOKED

That’s also the same Myles Straw who was cut from his Braden River high school team Bradenton, Fla., as a freshman. He went out again the next season, making the team. Part of the reason was he could out run nearly everyone in the school.

Straw had a good high school career, but not good enough to be noticed by any college coaches.

He joined a friend who wanted to walk on as a baseball player at St. Johns River Junior College in Palakta, Fla.

Two years later, he was a 12th round pick by the Houston Astros. The No. 349th player selected in the 2015 draft, he signed for $100,000.

Turned out to be a bargain.

Houston was loaded with talented outfielders. It took him five years to stick with the Astros despite having a career .305 minor league batting average (.775 OPS). In 2018, he stole 70 bases between the Class AA and AAA levels.
TWO YEARS OF TRYING

Cleveland first attempted to trade for Straw after the 2018 season, but Houston wasn’t ready to part with a guy who was clocked with 4.4 NFL speed in the 40-yard dash.

Straw is such a gifted athlete, the Astros had him learn to play shortstop in 2019 when injuries hammered their infield. He played 26 games at short and didn’t make an error.

He had never played shortstop in his life until making the emergency switch.

“It’s not easy to learn a new position, but I have an ‘whatever it takes’ mentality,” said Straw. “Learning shortstop fast got me to the big leagues.”

No surprise, given what Straw went through to simply makes teams in high school and college. At 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, he isn’t a physically imposing athlete. He was nobody’s phenom.

The Guardians kept calling Houston about Straw.

“I was at breakfast in San Francisco with my buddy Kyle Tucker and about two minutes before the (2021) trade deadline,” said Straw. “I got a call from our GM saying I was traded to Cleveland. It was a complete surprise.”
Houston was in need of a reliever, and took Phil Maton in exchange for Straw. Cleveland also added minor league catcher Yanier Diaz, who batted .324 with 17 HR at the Class A level.

Diaz is a big league prospect, but Straw already is a big league center fielder.
THE MICHAEL BRANTLEY INFLUENCE

Cleveland fans will love this part of the story.

The quiet and polite Straw has a friend and mentor – Michael Brantley.

Yes, the same Michael Brantley who is still beloved by Cleveland fans. Brantley was with Houston when Straw was promoted. The All-Star immediately decided to mentor Straw.

“It’s not what he says,” said Straw. “It’s what he does.”

Like what?

“I saw what kind of father and person he is off the field,” said Straw. “He took me out to dinner. He took me fishing. He took me shopping. He showed me how to prepare for each game. He is one of biggest influences in my career so far.”

Brantley was a .295 hitter in his 10 years with Cleveland, making three All-Star teams. When team didn’t re-sign Brantley after the 2018, the Astros recruited him to Houston. Brantley has made two more All-Star teams since changing teams.

Straw is 27 years old. He’s had only 2 1/2 years of big league experience.

“Offensively, we felt more than he’s shown,” said Francona. “He’s still relatively young in his career.”

More importantly to Francona, the manager finally has a center fielder.

“We tried a lot of guys out there and it’s a hard way to play,” said Francona. “He understands what he’s supposed to do. That’s a big help.”