On that list of 14 guys who might debut I was interested in
10. Tyler Thornton, RHP 9. Franco Aleman, RHP 8. Cade Smith, RHP
I was aware of Aleman's 0.00 ERA. That's hard to miss.
But Thornton has escaped my attention; those numbers are mighty impressive:
With Thornton, when you have 3 1/2 times as many strikeouts as hits allowed, people take notice. One evaluator cited the angle and movement on his fastball as a reason he recorded a 2.66 ERA with 79 strikeouts and only 23 hits allowed in 2023. The Arizona State product is 23 and finished last season at Double-A Akron.
With Aleman, when you log a 0.00 ERA in 24 outings, people take notice. He’s always had an appealing strikeout rate, but he stopped allowing base runners once he got to Akron last summer, which is usually a sound strategy.
Re: Articles
10292Tanner Bibee? Josh Naylor? Gavin Williams? Debating Guardians’ extension candidates
CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 16: Tanner Bibee #61 of the Cleveland Guardians pitches against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Progressive Field on September 16, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Ron Schwane/Getty Images)
By Jason Lloyd and Zack Meisel
5h ago
20
Save Article
Every spring, the Guardians hold conversations with players about long-term contract extensions. Last year, they struck agreements with Andrés Giménez and Trevor Stephan. In 2022, after weeks of sputtering negotiations, they reached a landmark deal with José Ramírez. (Well, really, Ramírez forced everyone into a cramped manager’s office at Chase Field and demanded something get done before they boarded their flight to Kansas City for Opening Day.)
That spring, they also signed Emmanuel Clase to an extension. Oh, and, yikes, Myles Straw.
So, as the club readies for camp, we’re taking a look at who makes sense for a new contract this spring and what the numbers might look like. The Guardians discussed deals with Steven Kwan, Triston McKenzie and Amed Rosario last year, but none came to fruition. (For what it’s worth, the Kwan talks never gained much traction. Same with the Rosario talks, though the idea there was for a short-term pact.)
Jason, if you’re Chris Antonetti and Mike Chernoff, who sits at the top of your wish list?
Lloyd: Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams. It’s probably now or never for Bibee, who gained a full year of service time for finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting. That means the Guardians control him for six years instead of seven, but it also means that after this season, he’s only one more year from arbitration.
The Guardians are finding it harder and harder to get long-term contracts done with young players. It’s particularly complicated with pitchers given the injury risk. But it might be too late to get something done with Josh Naylor and Kwan already told them no. McKenzie is trying to pitch through a torn ligament in his elbow, which seems to remove a risk-averse team like the Guardians from investing long term right now.
Who does that leave? Bibee, Williams, Bo Naylor and … Kyle Manzardo.
Kyle Manzardo, shown rounding the bases after a home run in the 2023 Fall Stars Game in November, could be worthy of a pre-debut extension. (Norm Hall / MLB Photos via Getty Images)
A Manzardo contract is a fascinating case study in risk tolerance. Two small-market Midwest teams already locked up elite prospects to long-term deals this offseason. Milwaukee signed outfielder Jackson Chourio to an eight-year, $82 million deal and Detroit just signed infielder Colt Keith to a six-year, $28 million contract. Neither has had a single major-league at-bat, although both are also higher-ranked prospects than Manzardo.
The Keith contract gives Detroit a manageable, cost-controlled number through his arbitration seasons. Those deals will also remove the service time obstacle course teams like Cleveland often have to run this time of year. The Guardians, however, have yet to show any interest in doing a deal with a player before he reaches the majors.
Meisel: Right, that’s a key reward in these types of deals: Keith and Chourio should both make their team’s Opening Day roster. There’s no need for service time manipulation, with a silly directive about needing another three weeks in Triple A to improve defensive footwork or secondary leads or sunflower seed spitting.
At the winter meetings, Guardians GM Mike Chernoff voiced the same message regarding Manzardo that we heard Terry Francona repeat over the years, about rookie hitters struggling in the Cleveland elements in April. If the Guardians want to win in 2024 — and I’m puzzled about that — Manzardo is one of their nine best hitters and certainly worthy of joining Josh Naylor as the first base/designated hitter tandem.
I floated the idea of a pre-debut extension to Cleveland’s front office at the winter meetings, but they seemed rather averse to the idea. Maybe they were bluffing. We also have no idea about the player’s preference, what terms would entice him at such an early career stage. Everyone’s different.
Manzardo was a second-round pick and signed below slot, at $747,500. In MLB Pipeline’s latest prospect rankings, Chourio ranked No. 2 and Keith ranked No. 22. Manzardo is No. 59.
Keith’s salary breaks down this way: a $2 million signing bonus, $2.5 million in 2024, $3.5 million in 2025, $4 million in 2026 and 2027, $5 million in 2028 and 2029 and then club options (with escalators and buyouts) for $10 million in 2030, $13 million in 2031 and $15 million in 2032.
If I ran the Guardians, I’d have no qualms about a similar offer for Manzardo, but it’s not my money. It’s also not Paul Dolan’s money, since David Blitzer would be on the hook for the bulk of it. But none of those salary figures should scare them off. Even $10 million in 2030 will look like a pittance, and they’d only pay that if Manzardo is the 25-homer, 35-double slugger they envision.
Or, you know, they can hold Manzardo in Columbus until late April, or mid-June, and then dangle him on the trade market in four or five years when he’s inching closer to free agency.
We should revisit Kwan and Josh Naylor while we’re here. Let’s start with Naylor, who declined to comment at Guards Fest on whether an extension is in the works. He did, however, lay out the reasons why I still think there’s merit to the sides sitting down this spring. He mentioned the factor that few other players ever experience: playing with his brother. That should give the Guardians some leverage. Bo Naylor figures to be the team’s catcher for the next five or six years, at least. Josh has two years of team control remaining. He has never appeared in more than 122 games in a season. You wouldn’t have to break the bank for him.
Lloyd: I dismissed a Naylor extension because of where his contract clock is and the fact it looks like Manzardo is the in-house replacement. But certainly there’s room for both in the lineup, so what does a Naylor extension look like? He is coming off his first .300 season and also set career highs in RBIs, on-base percentage and slugging. He was a 2.5 WAR player and will earn $6.5 million in 2024.
Three years and $35 million? Am I too low? Too high?
Meisel: Terms for a Naylor extension are difficult for me to project. This isn’t your typical player two years from free agency because of the brotherly love, the injury history and the fact that he has really only had one season in which he’s put it all together.
Your price seems reasonable. With another strong year, Naylor would stand to earn $9-10 million through arbitration next winter. If your proposed extension started after this season, it would buy out two free-agent years. Naylor is 26. That would mean he’d still hit free agency when he’s 30 and, if he proved durable, he could land another similar deal. Really, this just boils down to Naylor’s priorities.
Lloyd: As for Kwan, I think you’re the one who has said the Guardians typically drive a post into the ground in negotiations and rarely budge far from it. Kwan didn’t get on base as much last year, but his runs, stolen bases and defense looked awfully similar to his rookie year. I don’t see the Guardians changing their offer all that dramatically. If they are going to come to an agreement, it will be Kwan’s side that has to move more toward the middle, no?
Meisel: The thing with Kwan is, his floor is a solid player. Two seasons in the majors, two Gold Gloves. If he can make more hard contact and not rely on so many bloops falling in, which he has said is his aim this year, I think he can be a perfectly capable leadoff hitter for a long time.
Talks quickly fizzled last spring. I can’t imagine the Guardians will have a much sweeter offer this spring, given Kwan’s offensive numbers dipped a bit. And as he once, um, journaled, he has a clear idea of what he thinks he’s worth.
I’d imagine the two sides will talk again this spring, but when a player moves closer to arbitration (and free agency), his interest in signing usually wanes.
What would be a fair offer at this point? Kwan has four years remaining before free agency but only one until he becomes eligible for arbitration. Five years, $45 million, including a modest signing bonus? The Guardians always like to tack on a club option or two to buy out free-agent years, too.
Lloyd: I wrote prior to last year that a Kwan extension might look like $41 million over six years. Obviously, those numbers would look different a year later. The problem with comps is there really aren’t any other players with his skill set. He dipped from a 5.5 bWAR as a rookie to 3.6 last year. Still, an outfielder with a 9.1 WAR over his first two major-league seasons puts Kwan in the top 20 outfielders all time, according to Stathead. Barry Bonds’ WAR through his first two seasons was 9.3. Bryce Harper was 8.9.
Now, Bonds was 21 and 22 and Harper was 19 and 20 when they were putting up those numbers. Kwan will be 26 this season. Look at the WAR comps based on age, in Kwan’s case his age 24 and 25 seasons, and that 9.1 WAR drops him into the 80s among outfielders. Although it still leaves him slightly ahead of guys like Vernon Wells, Larry Walker and Manny Ramirez compared to their age 24 and 25 seasons. (Kwan ahead of Ramirez?)
This is why there isn’t one great metric at measuring a player with his unique tools.
Two seasons in the majors, two Gold Gloves. Steven Kwan brings a unique set of skills. (Jessica Alcheh / USA Today)
What about the pitchers? Williams, Bibee and even Logan Allen? The last time the Guardians gave pitchers these types of extensions was to Carlos Carrasco and Corey Kluber in 2015. That was nearly 10 years ago. Will we see this team sign another pitcher to a long-term deal? Or will they continue to get the first 5-6 years out of them one season at a time and then trade them away for another batch of guys who can do it all over again?
Hunter Greene signed for six years, $53 million last spring after his rookie season in Cincinnati. Spencer Strider signed for six years and $75 million. Bibee probably falls somewhere in between.
I have to admit, given this team’s record of developing pitchers, I don’t hate the idea of going year to year with young arms and then trading them with a year or two of control remaining. The injury risk with pitchers, and the amount of players losing a year or more to Tommy John surgery annually, makes the risk incredibly high. With pitchers, I’m not even sure the goal is to buy out their free-agent years. If they pick the right guys and hit big, and they might with Williams or Bibee, just locking them into a set figure during their arbitration seasons is a huge win in itself when the salaries can really start to escalate.
Meisel: Bibee’s the interesting one, since he’s one step closer to arbitration/free agency than the others. Williams is a Scott Boras client, so I’ll just assume he’s testing free agency in November 2029, provided a meteor hasn’t ended us by then. Allen probably doesn’t have the ceiling to need to lock him in long-term at this point.
The issue with Bibee, of course, is he has far more leverage than your typical pitcher entering his sophomore season. His second-place finish in the Rookie of the Year voting, one, proves he’s good at this and, two, earned him a full year of service time. It can’t hurt to initiate a conversation with him. I’m just not sure how desperate he’ll be to jump at the opportunity, and as you pointed out, the Guardians don’t seem likely to overpay any pitchers given how they develop them. I do know, though, that if I were a pitcher, the ever-lurking shoulder or elbow injury would scare me into agreeing to any reasonable offer. The Carrasco and Kluber extensions worked wonders. The club is also fortunate Justin Masterson and Mike Clevinger didn’t sign on the dotted line.
And that leads me to two final questions for you.
Just how aggressive should the Guardians be in securing their young hitters and pitchers to long-term deals? It’s been a bizarre offseason for the Guardians, who have done some minor wheeling and dealing that hasn’t fixed their most glaring needs. Is there anything they can do this spring, from a contract extension standpoint, that would alter your view of their offseason? What if they make it a family affair and ink both Naylor brothers to extensions?
Lloyd: I get why they may be hesitant to do a deal on a guy like Manzardo. There is already a growing list of players who have signed these deals before their first at-bat and busted badly. I’d like to see them move more toward the center on a guy like Kwan, and hopefully, you’re right about Josh Naylor and the familial pull will have an impact on him staying. There just isn’t enough major-league data yet on Bo Naylor to make an extension determination.
This was a thin-hitting market in free agency, so I’m not terribly surprised they didn’t dive into the shallow end of that pool. I was told they tried to get ahead of this weak class last winter by signing Josh Bell for two years and, well, we know how that ended.
I continue to be baffled that they haven’t been able to execute any sort of trade with all of these prospects. We’ve been talking about their glut of minor leaguers for what seems like 3-4 years now and yet, still, nothing. Guardians officials have said the overabundance of prospects who need to be protected has forced them to rush judgment on some other guys who otherwise may have received a longer look here.
I guess that’s a long-winded way of saying no particular extension this spring would change my view of the offseason as much as one or two long-term deals would further amplify what you already alluded to: This is Blitzer’s money they’re likely spending in these future seasons, not the Dolans’.
By Jason Lloyd and Zack Meisel
5h ago
20
Save Article
Every spring, the Guardians hold conversations with players about long-term contract extensions. Last year, they struck agreements with Andrés Giménez and Trevor Stephan. In 2022, after weeks of sputtering negotiations, they reached a landmark deal with José Ramírez. (Well, really, Ramírez forced everyone into a cramped manager’s office at Chase Field and demanded something get done before they boarded their flight to Kansas City for Opening Day.)
That spring, they also signed Emmanuel Clase to an extension. Oh, and, yikes, Myles Straw.
So, as the club readies for camp, we’re taking a look at who makes sense for a new contract this spring and what the numbers might look like. The Guardians discussed deals with Steven Kwan, Triston McKenzie and Amed Rosario last year, but none came to fruition. (For what it’s worth, the Kwan talks never gained much traction. Same with the Rosario talks, though the idea there was for a short-term pact.)
Jason, if you’re Chris Antonetti and Mike Chernoff, who sits at the top of your wish list?
Lloyd: Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams. It’s probably now or never for Bibee, who gained a full year of service time for finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting. That means the Guardians control him for six years instead of seven, but it also means that after this season, he’s only one more year from arbitration.
The Guardians are finding it harder and harder to get long-term contracts done with young players. It’s particularly complicated with pitchers given the injury risk. But it might be too late to get something done with Josh Naylor and Kwan already told them no. McKenzie is trying to pitch through a torn ligament in his elbow, which seems to remove a risk-averse team like the Guardians from investing long term right now.
Who does that leave? Bibee, Williams, Bo Naylor and … Kyle Manzardo.
Kyle Manzardo, shown rounding the bases after a home run in the 2023 Fall Stars Game in November, could be worthy of a pre-debut extension. (Norm Hall / MLB Photos via Getty Images)
A Manzardo contract is a fascinating case study in risk tolerance. Two small-market Midwest teams already locked up elite prospects to long-term deals this offseason. Milwaukee signed outfielder Jackson Chourio to an eight-year, $82 million deal and Detroit just signed infielder Colt Keith to a six-year, $28 million contract. Neither has had a single major-league at-bat, although both are also higher-ranked prospects than Manzardo.
The Keith contract gives Detroit a manageable, cost-controlled number through his arbitration seasons. Those deals will also remove the service time obstacle course teams like Cleveland often have to run this time of year. The Guardians, however, have yet to show any interest in doing a deal with a player before he reaches the majors.
Meisel: Right, that’s a key reward in these types of deals: Keith and Chourio should both make their team’s Opening Day roster. There’s no need for service time manipulation, with a silly directive about needing another three weeks in Triple A to improve defensive footwork or secondary leads or sunflower seed spitting.
At the winter meetings, Guardians GM Mike Chernoff voiced the same message regarding Manzardo that we heard Terry Francona repeat over the years, about rookie hitters struggling in the Cleveland elements in April. If the Guardians want to win in 2024 — and I’m puzzled about that — Manzardo is one of their nine best hitters and certainly worthy of joining Josh Naylor as the first base/designated hitter tandem.
I floated the idea of a pre-debut extension to Cleveland’s front office at the winter meetings, but they seemed rather averse to the idea. Maybe they were bluffing. We also have no idea about the player’s preference, what terms would entice him at such an early career stage. Everyone’s different.
Manzardo was a second-round pick and signed below slot, at $747,500. In MLB Pipeline’s latest prospect rankings, Chourio ranked No. 2 and Keith ranked No. 22. Manzardo is No. 59.
Keith’s salary breaks down this way: a $2 million signing bonus, $2.5 million in 2024, $3.5 million in 2025, $4 million in 2026 and 2027, $5 million in 2028 and 2029 and then club options (with escalators and buyouts) for $10 million in 2030, $13 million in 2031 and $15 million in 2032.
If I ran the Guardians, I’d have no qualms about a similar offer for Manzardo, but it’s not my money. It’s also not Paul Dolan’s money, since David Blitzer would be on the hook for the bulk of it. But none of those salary figures should scare them off. Even $10 million in 2030 will look like a pittance, and they’d only pay that if Manzardo is the 25-homer, 35-double slugger they envision.
Or, you know, they can hold Manzardo in Columbus until late April, or mid-June, and then dangle him on the trade market in four or five years when he’s inching closer to free agency.
We should revisit Kwan and Josh Naylor while we’re here. Let’s start with Naylor, who declined to comment at Guards Fest on whether an extension is in the works. He did, however, lay out the reasons why I still think there’s merit to the sides sitting down this spring. He mentioned the factor that few other players ever experience: playing with his brother. That should give the Guardians some leverage. Bo Naylor figures to be the team’s catcher for the next five or six years, at least. Josh has two years of team control remaining. He has never appeared in more than 122 games in a season. You wouldn’t have to break the bank for him.
Lloyd: I dismissed a Naylor extension because of where his contract clock is and the fact it looks like Manzardo is the in-house replacement. But certainly there’s room for both in the lineup, so what does a Naylor extension look like? He is coming off his first .300 season and also set career highs in RBIs, on-base percentage and slugging. He was a 2.5 WAR player and will earn $6.5 million in 2024.
Three years and $35 million? Am I too low? Too high?
Meisel: Terms for a Naylor extension are difficult for me to project. This isn’t your typical player two years from free agency because of the brotherly love, the injury history and the fact that he has really only had one season in which he’s put it all together.
Your price seems reasonable. With another strong year, Naylor would stand to earn $9-10 million through arbitration next winter. If your proposed extension started after this season, it would buy out two free-agent years. Naylor is 26. That would mean he’d still hit free agency when he’s 30 and, if he proved durable, he could land another similar deal. Really, this just boils down to Naylor’s priorities.
Lloyd: As for Kwan, I think you’re the one who has said the Guardians typically drive a post into the ground in negotiations and rarely budge far from it. Kwan didn’t get on base as much last year, but his runs, stolen bases and defense looked awfully similar to his rookie year. I don’t see the Guardians changing their offer all that dramatically. If they are going to come to an agreement, it will be Kwan’s side that has to move more toward the middle, no?
Meisel: The thing with Kwan is, his floor is a solid player. Two seasons in the majors, two Gold Gloves. If he can make more hard contact and not rely on so many bloops falling in, which he has said is his aim this year, I think he can be a perfectly capable leadoff hitter for a long time.
Talks quickly fizzled last spring. I can’t imagine the Guardians will have a much sweeter offer this spring, given Kwan’s offensive numbers dipped a bit. And as he once, um, journaled, he has a clear idea of what he thinks he’s worth.
I’d imagine the two sides will talk again this spring, but when a player moves closer to arbitration (and free agency), his interest in signing usually wanes.
What would be a fair offer at this point? Kwan has four years remaining before free agency but only one until he becomes eligible for arbitration. Five years, $45 million, including a modest signing bonus? The Guardians always like to tack on a club option or two to buy out free-agent years, too.
Lloyd: I wrote prior to last year that a Kwan extension might look like $41 million over six years. Obviously, those numbers would look different a year later. The problem with comps is there really aren’t any other players with his skill set. He dipped from a 5.5 bWAR as a rookie to 3.6 last year. Still, an outfielder with a 9.1 WAR over his first two major-league seasons puts Kwan in the top 20 outfielders all time, according to Stathead. Barry Bonds’ WAR through his first two seasons was 9.3. Bryce Harper was 8.9.
Now, Bonds was 21 and 22 and Harper was 19 and 20 when they were putting up those numbers. Kwan will be 26 this season. Look at the WAR comps based on age, in Kwan’s case his age 24 and 25 seasons, and that 9.1 WAR drops him into the 80s among outfielders. Although it still leaves him slightly ahead of guys like Vernon Wells, Larry Walker and Manny Ramirez compared to their age 24 and 25 seasons. (Kwan ahead of Ramirez?)
This is why there isn’t one great metric at measuring a player with his unique tools.
Two seasons in the majors, two Gold Gloves. Steven Kwan brings a unique set of skills. (Jessica Alcheh / USA Today)
What about the pitchers? Williams, Bibee and even Logan Allen? The last time the Guardians gave pitchers these types of extensions was to Carlos Carrasco and Corey Kluber in 2015. That was nearly 10 years ago. Will we see this team sign another pitcher to a long-term deal? Or will they continue to get the first 5-6 years out of them one season at a time and then trade them away for another batch of guys who can do it all over again?
Hunter Greene signed for six years, $53 million last spring after his rookie season in Cincinnati. Spencer Strider signed for six years and $75 million. Bibee probably falls somewhere in between.
I have to admit, given this team’s record of developing pitchers, I don’t hate the idea of going year to year with young arms and then trading them with a year or two of control remaining. The injury risk with pitchers, and the amount of players losing a year or more to Tommy John surgery annually, makes the risk incredibly high. With pitchers, I’m not even sure the goal is to buy out their free-agent years. If they pick the right guys and hit big, and they might with Williams or Bibee, just locking them into a set figure during their arbitration seasons is a huge win in itself when the salaries can really start to escalate.
Meisel: Bibee’s the interesting one, since he’s one step closer to arbitration/free agency than the others. Williams is a Scott Boras client, so I’ll just assume he’s testing free agency in November 2029, provided a meteor hasn’t ended us by then. Allen probably doesn’t have the ceiling to need to lock him in long-term at this point.
The issue with Bibee, of course, is he has far more leverage than your typical pitcher entering his sophomore season. His second-place finish in the Rookie of the Year voting, one, proves he’s good at this and, two, earned him a full year of service time. It can’t hurt to initiate a conversation with him. I’m just not sure how desperate he’ll be to jump at the opportunity, and as you pointed out, the Guardians don’t seem likely to overpay any pitchers given how they develop them. I do know, though, that if I were a pitcher, the ever-lurking shoulder or elbow injury would scare me into agreeing to any reasonable offer. The Carrasco and Kluber extensions worked wonders. The club is also fortunate Justin Masterson and Mike Clevinger didn’t sign on the dotted line.
And that leads me to two final questions for you.
Just how aggressive should the Guardians be in securing their young hitters and pitchers to long-term deals? It’s been a bizarre offseason for the Guardians, who have done some minor wheeling and dealing that hasn’t fixed their most glaring needs. Is there anything they can do this spring, from a contract extension standpoint, that would alter your view of their offseason? What if they make it a family affair and ink both Naylor brothers to extensions?
Lloyd: I get why they may be hesitant to do a deal on a guy like Manzardo. There is already a growing list of players who have signed these deals before their first at-bat and busted badly. I’d like to see them move more toward the center on a guy like Kwan, and hopefully, you’re right about Josh Naylor and the familial pull will have an impact on him staying. There just isn’t enough major-league data yet on Bo Naylor to make an extension determination.
This was a thin-hitting market in free agency, so I’m not terribly surprised they didn’t dive into the shallow end of that pool. I was told they tried to get ahead of this weak class last winter by signing Josh Bell for two years and, well, we know how that ended.
I continue to be baffled that they haven’t been able to execute any sort of trade with all of these prospects. We’ve been talking about their glut of minor leaguers for what seems like 3-4 years now and yet, still, nothing. Guardians officials have said the overabundance of prospects who need to be protected has forced them to rush judgment on some other guys who otherwise may have received a longer look here.
I guess that’s a long-winded way of saying no particular extension this spring would change my view of the offseason as much as one or two long-term deals would further amplify what you already alluded to: This is Blitzer’s money they’re likely spending in these future seasons, not the Dolans’.
"I've suffered a great many tragedies in my life....most of them never happened". Mark Twain
Re: Articles
10293
Outrageous Phillies trade package for Clase gives up crazy amount to Guardians
A recent trade proposal suggests a wild scenario that sends a combination of three current and former Phillies top-five prospects to Cleveland for their closer.
By Jake Huber | 10:00 AM EST / 2/2/24
It's been suggested that the Philadelphia Phillies should be looking for another lockdown bullpen arm this offseason, but at what cost?
A recent piece by Brandon Scott of Bleacher Report that suggests trade proposals for the top rumored players on the market projects the Cleveland Guardians getting an outstanding haul from the Phillies in return for closer Emmanuel Clase.
Clase, 25, has been the center of quite a few trade rumors this offseason. Despite coming off a down year, by his standards, the closer has been excellent for the Guardians over the past three seasons. Clase has pitched in 223 games, leading the league in games pitched once, as well as games finished and saves in two different seasons.
The two-time All-Star owns a 2.00 ERA over the course of his career, with two seasons vastly below that mark (1.29, 1.36). In 2023, Clase collected a 3.22 ERA and a 1.156 WHIP but still led all of baseball with 44 saves on a Guardians team that only won 76 the whole year.
Bleacher Report projects robbery of Phillies' farm system in deal
The trade proposal highlights three Phillies players: Aidan Miller, Justin Crawford, and Johan Rojas. MLB Pipeline ranked each of these players within the top five Phillies prospects within the last two years. While Clase is a tantalizing talent, with what has happened in the market and the Phillies philosophy under Dave Dombrowski, this proposal makes zero sense.
Johan Rojas, the Phillies' fourth-ranked prospect in 2022, made a major impact last season and into the postseason. His incredible baseball instincts in the outfield and defensive range make him a weapon in his own right. With what has been shown of his offseason work, adding muscle and working with countless coaches and players, his bat could develop well going into his sophomore season.
ustin Crawford was the 17th overall selection in the 2022 MLB Draft and quickly made his way to the Phillies No. 3 prospect in 2023 and the 77th overall in 2024.
Coming from a baseball bloodline, with his father Carl Crawford in MLB for 15 seasons, he definitely has a support system and knowledge behind him. Crawford's elite hit and speed tools increase his floor and overall value while projecting him to be an MLB starter in a few seasons.
Aidan Miller is this offseason's wonder boy, impressing almost everyone who has watched him on the diamond. In 2023, Miller was ranked as the Phillies' No. 4 prospect but will most likely see a jump up as he is ranked No. 61 on Pipeline's Top 100 Prospect list going into the 2024 season.
The 19-year-old, who was taken in the first round of the MLB Draft last year, has tremendous upside and even earned some promising words from Phillies assistant general manager in charge of player development Preston Mattingly.
Dave Dombrowski has put an emphasis on growing the farm
The proposed package makes little to no sense for the Phillies. While Clase has several years of team control remaining and has been one of the best closers in the league over the past few seasons, to mortgage the last two first-round selections and a top international player within the system would be a reach of all reaches.
Dombrowski has made it clear that it's not an "all-in" scenario for the Phillies. He wants to build a long-lasting winner instead of the usual three- to four-year contender. Instead, Dombrowski is looking towards continued success while making the necessary moves when they arise.
Earlier in the offseason, Dombrowski said that some moves were still left to make, but they wouldn't press. They intend to build a winner while doing good business and developing the organization — not mortgage the future for a top-level arm out of the bullpen.
While a trade for a back-end reliever could still be in the cards, it would never be at this price. After the news of former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes being sent to the Orioles for their No. 5 and No. 15 ranked prospects from 2022, the load may lighten a little for Clase. While he has a few more years of control, Burnes has increased value because he is a starting pitcher and one of the best.
With a veteran-laden team like the Phillies, youth can be critical to fill holes and replace some of the long-time vets in the near future. Players like Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos are closing in on the end of their contracts/team control. The trade package proposed for Clase includes several players who could fill those spots in just a few seasons.
<
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller
-- Bob Feller
Re: Articles
10294There must be something about Clase we don't know because he's cheap and under club control...highly desirable for any trade partner.
Unless he's traded for a major league player, why would the G's trade him?
If all the G's can get back is prospects, there must be something else going on.
Maybe if a team wants Clase, they have to take Straw and his contract with him.
As soon as Antonetti removes the thumb from his butt, maybe something will happen.
Unless he's traded for a major league player, why would the G's trade him?
If all the G's can get back is prospects, there must be something else going on.
Maybe if a team wants Clase, they have to take Straw and his contract with him.
As soon as Antonetti removes the thumb from his butt, maybe something will happen.
Re: Articles
10295All good points on Clase seagull!
The way I read it, they are simply seeing if someone will overpay with a hitter(s) they love for him.
After all he is an elite closer and those types are more valuable to true contenders than to the Guards. The Guards are contenders to win the division and little else.
A win total in the mid 80s would be a great goal.
So a great closer is kind of wasted on a team like that. That said - again - they are fishing for an overpay and likely won't get it.
The way I read it, they are simply seeing if someone will overpay with a hitter(s) they love for him.
After all he is an elite closer and those types are more valuable to true contenders than to the Guards. The Guards are contenders to win the division and little else.
A win total in the mid 80s would be a great goal.
So a great closer is kind of wasted on a team like that. That said - again - they are fishing for an overpay and likely won't get it.
"I've suffered a great many tragedies in my life....most of them never happened". Mark Twain
Re: Articles
10296
Guardians’ Emmanuel Clase Not On MLB Network’s Top 10 Relievers List
By Logan Potosky | Last updated 2/4/24
For the past two seasons, Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase has been one of the premier relief pitchers in baseball.
During this span, he leads all MLB relief pitchers in appearances (152) and saves (86), while ranking second in innings pitched (145.1). He also ranks among relief pitchers (minimum 110 innings pitched) in strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.42, second), fewest walks (26, tied for third), WHIP (0.94, fourth), and ERA (2.29, 10th).
This past Thursday, MLB Network revealed their “Top 10 Players Right Now” for relief pitchers. Clase, however, was not on the list.
Here are MLB Network’s top-10 Major League relievers heading into the 2024 season.
1. Devin Williams, Milwaukee Brewers
2. Ryan Helsley, St. Louis Cardinals
3. Pete Fairbanks, Tampa Bay Rays
4. Evan Phillips, Los Angeles Dodgers
5. Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins
6. Edwin Díaz, New York Mets
7. Bryan Abreu, Houston Astros
8. David Bednar, Pittsburgh Pirates
9. Chris Martin, Boston Red Sox
10. José Alvarado, Philadelphia Phillies
After leading MLB with 42 saves in 2022, the 25-year-old Clase led the league again with 44 saves last year. With this pair of strong campaigns, he became the first pitcher in Cleveland franchise history to record multiple 40-save seasons.
Clase has not only been an American League All-Star each of the last two years, but also garnered All-MLB First Team honors in 2022 and Second Team honors this past December.
Based on his last two seasons, the right-hander appears to once again be the anchor of the Guardians’ bullpen this year.
And, Cleveland fans are hopeful that he will turn in another productive season worthy of third consecutive All-Star and All-MLB nods.
<
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller
-- Bob Feller
Re: Articles
10297number 9 on that list, Chris Martin, is a 38 year old with 12 career saves. 1.05 ERA last year in 55 innings.
I guess there are lots of ways of ranking relievers.
I guess there are lots of ways of ranking relievers.
Re: Articles
10298MLB.COM offers:
Presenting the 2024 All-Underrated Team
These are the requirements for the All-Underrated Team (for now, at least):
No All-Star appearances, ever in the player’s career.
No BBWAA awards (MVP, Cy Young or Rookie of the Year), ever in the player’s career.
No Silver Slugger or Gold Glove honors, ever in the player’s career.
No All-MLB Team honors, ever in the player’s career.
No inclusion on MLB Network’s current “Top 10 Right Now!” lists.
No nine-figure contracts.
At least two years of service time.
Catcher: Ryan Jeffers, Twins
A year ago, the Twins signed veteran catcher Christian Vázquez, because Jeffers, who had an encouraging debut in 2020 but struggled offensively in '21 and '22, had not proved himself ready for the starting role.
But after adjusting his swing, the 26-year-old Jeffers blossomed in 2023 with a .276/.369/.490 slash line in 96 games to seize the starting duties by season’s end. His 134 OPS+ was tied with Mitch Garver for tops among catchers with at least 300 plate appearances.
First base: Josh Naylor, Guardians
Hardcore observers of fake award presentations know that Naylor was recently named to the 2023 All-Awardless Team. He qualifies here, too, having been snubbed in last year’s All-Star selections.
Naylor, who goes all out all the time, came back from a gruesome ankle injury to post a .282/.336/.471 slash line with 37 homers and 59 doubles over the past two seasons. The only first basemen with at least 500 plate appearances in that span who had a higher OPS+ than Naylor’s 127 mark were Freddie Freeman (158), Yandy Díaz (151), Paul Goldschmidt (147), Matt Olson (141) and Pete Alonso (134).
Josh Naylor's four-hit game
Josh Naylor's four-hit game
Second base: Luis Rengifo, Angels
An extremely difficult position to fill, given our ultra-strict parameters. So let’s just use it to give a nod of appreciation for a guy who has provided the Angels with better-than-average offense (a .751 OPS, 107 OPS+, 33 homers, 37 doubles) over the past two seasons while playing six different positions (with the bulk of his time coming at second).
Actually, if the season were somehow made entirely of the second half, Rengifo’s .829 OPS after the All-Star break over the past two years would earn him more acclaim.
Luis Rengifo's two-run homer (16)
Sep 6, 2023 · 0:27
Luis Rengifo's two-run homer (16)
Shortstop: Jon Berti, Marlins
Once again, with so many shortstops having been saluted elsewhere, let’s throw a spotlight on a super-utility type. You might be surprised to learn MLB Network’s “Shredder” system had the 34-year-old Berti ranked 13th among shortstops. He plays six positions on the diamond but played short more than anywhere else last season and is currently at the top of the Marlins’ depth chart there for 2024.
Berti led the Majors in steals in 2022, with 41. Though his steals output curiously dipped in the new rules environment, he’s nevertheless 91-for-his-last-111 in that department. Berti had career-bests in hits (114) and homers (seven) in 2023 and provides good defense at the position.
Third base: Ryan McMahon, Rockies
McMahon was our All-Underrated third baseman a year ago, and absolutely nothing has changed. In 2023, McMahon had his third straight season with 20 homers and his second season in the past three years with 30 doubles.
More importantly, McMahon once again rated as one of the best hot-corner defenders in MLB. Over the past four years, the only third basemen with more Outs Above Average than McMahon’s 30 are the Pirates’ Ke’Bryan Hayes (50) and former Rockies star Nolan Arenado (35).
Ryan McMahon's 473-foot home run
Aug 28, 2023 · 0:39
Ryan McMahon's 473-foot home run
Left field: Taylor Ward, Angels
In 2023, Ward set out to prove that his age-28 breakout (.281/.360/.473 slash) was not an aberration. He didn’t get to complete the task, because a fastball to the face on July 29 prematurely ended a season in which he slashed a decidedly less-exciting .253/.335/.421.
So why is he our left fielder here? Well, for one, Ward moved over to left field from the other corner and ranked third at his new position in Outs Above Average. And as far as the offense is concerned, he seemingly pressed when thrust into the Angels’ leadoff role at the start of the season. Ward actually had strong OPS marks above .870 while batting third, fourth, fifth and sixth. So maybe don’t pencil him into the leadoff spot, but also don’t write him off as a one-year fluke.
Taylor Ward's two-homer game
Jul 27, 2023 · 0:57
Taylor Ward's two-homer game
Center field: Leody Taveras, Rangers
Considered a glove-first prospect, the 25-year-old Taveras has turned out to be a serviceable bat with, perhaps, a lot more in the tank. Taveras paired his plus glove at this premier position with a 95 OPS+ over the past two seasons, or just below league average. Notably, though, in 2023 he barreled more balls (29) than in his first three seasons combined (22).
Though held hitless in the World Series, Taveras’ 10-for-41 showing (with seven walks and four steals) in the first three rounds of the 2023 postseason helped Texas advance there. Given his age, high defensive floor and the big steps he’s taken already, there might be additional upside here.
Leody Taveras robs a home run
Oct 18, 2023 · 0:44
Leody Taveras robs a home run
Right field: Max Kepler, Twins
Kepler is not only the first German-born player to stick in the big leagues; he’s also the first German-born player to be named to the All-Underrated Team ... twice!
A 2020 honoree on this prestigious list, Kepler remains underrated after significantly reducing his ground-ball rate and improving his hard-hit rate last season. He slashed .260/.332/.484 with 24 homers and 22 doubles, and his 121 OPS+ was ninth best among right fielders with 400 plate appearances (comparable to All-Star Adolis García’s 123 mark).
Max Kepler's three-run homer (24)
Sep 30, 2023 · 0:29
Max Kepler's three-run homer (24)
Designated hitter: Harold Ramírez, Rays
Because of our parameters and teams’ penchant for rotating guys in and out of the DH spot, we’re not always able to fill the DH spot on the All-Underrated Team. But Hittin’ Harold qualifies after slashing .306/.348/.432 over the past two seasons while making more than 60% of his starts as a DH.
That batting average is tops among players logging at least 40% of their games at the bat-only position in that span, and the only DHs with a higher OPS+ than Ramírez’s 121 mark in that span were all All-Stars: Yordan Alvarez, (179), Shohei Ohtani (163), Bryce Harper (146), J.D. Martinez (125) and Brent Rooker (123).
Ramírez's two-run home run (12)
Sep 30, 2023 · 0:27
Ramírez's two-run home run (12)
Starting pitcher: Merrill Kelly, D-backs
A wider audience got a window into just how good this right-hander can be when he went 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA in four postseason starts in 2023, including a magnificent World Series outing in which he held that loaded Rangers lineup to a mere run on three hits with nine strikeouts and no walks in seven innings in Game 2.
The 35-year-old Kelly has been a strong addition to the D-backs’ staff since coming back to the States after four seasons in Korea, and he’s really hit his stride the past two seasons, posting a 125 ERA+ that ties him with Dylan Cease, Jordan Montgomery and Kevin Gausman for 13th best among all starters with 300 innings in that span.
Merrill Kelly's dominant outing
Oct 28, 2023 · 2:20
Merrill Kelly's dominant outing
Relief pitcher: Brusdar Graterol, Dodgers
Look at how Graterol’s numbers over the past four seasons compare to one of the most heralded, decorated (and well-compensated) relievers in the sport:
Graterol: 158 ERA+, 173 2/3 innings, 1.05 WHIP, 3.5 K/BB
Josh Hader: 160 ERA+, 184 innings, 1.05 WHIP, 3.5 K/BB
Graterol does not possess Hader’s strikeout stuff, but he’s been every bit as effective thanks to his extreme ground-ball and weak-contact tendencies and his ability to limit walks at an elite rate.
Presenting the 2024 All-Underrated Team
These are the requirements for the All-Underrated Team (for now, at least):
No All-Star appearances, ever in the player’s career.
No BBWAA awards (MVP, Cy Young or Rookie of the Year), ever in the player’s career.
No Silver Slugger or Gold Glove honors, ever in the player’s career.
No All-MLB Team honors, ever in the player’s career.
No inclusion on MLB Network’s current “Top 10 Right Now!” lists.
No nine-figure contracts.
At least two years of service time.
Catcher: Ryan Jeffers, Twins
A year ago, the Twins signed veteran catcher Christian Vázquez, because Jeffers, who had an encouraging debut in 2020 but struggled offensively in '21 and '22, had not proved himself ready for the starting role.
But after adjusting his swing, the 26-year-old Jeffers blossomed in 2023 with a .276/.369/.490 slash line in 96 games to seize the starting duties by season’s end. His 134 OPS+ was tied with Mitch Garver for tops among catchers with at least 300 plate appearances.
First base: Josh Naylor, Guardians
Hardcore observers of fake award presentations know that Naylor was recently named to the 2023 All-Awardless Team. He qualifies here, too, having been snubbed in last year’s All-Star selections.
Naylor, who goes all out all the time, came back from a gruesome ankle injury to post a .282/.336/.471 slash line with 37 homers and 59 doubles over the past two seasons. The only first basemen with at least 500 plate appearances in that span who had a higher OPS+ than Naylor’s 127 mark were Freddie Freeman (158), Yandy Díaz (151), Paul Goldschmidt (147), Matt Olson (141) and Pete Alonso (134).
Josh Naylor's four-hit game
Josh Naylor's four-hit game
Second base: Luis Rengifo, Angels
An extremely difficult position to fill, given our ultra-strict parameters. So let’s just use it to give a nod of appreciation for a guy who has provided the Angels with better-than-average offense (a .751 OPS, 107 OPS+, 33 homers, 37 doubles) over the past two seasons while playing six different positions (with the bulk of his time coming at second).
Actually, if the season were somehow made entirely of the second half, Rengifo’s .829 OPS after the All-Star break over the past two years would earn him more acclaim.
Luis Rengifo's two-run homer (16)
Sep 6, 2023 · 0:27
Luis Rengifo's two-run homer (16)
Shortstop: Jon Berti, Marlins
Once again, with so many shortstops having been saluted elsewhere, let’s throw a spotlight on a super-utility type. You might be surprised to learn MLB Network’s “Shredder” system had the 34-year-old Berti ranked 13th among shortstops. He plays six positions on the diamond but played short more than anywhere else last season and is currently at the top of the Marlins’ depth chart there for 2024.
Berti led the Majors in steals in 2022, with 41. Though his steals output curiously dipped in the new rules environment, he’s nevertheless 91-for-his-last-111 in that department. Berti had career-bests in hits (114) and homers (seven) in 2023 and provides good defense at the position.
Third base: Ryan McMahon, Rockies
McMahon was our All-Underrated third baseman a year ago, and absolutely nothing has changed. In 2023, McMahon had his third straight season with 20 homers and his second season in the past three years with 30 doubles.
More importantly, McMahon once again rated as one of the best hot-corner defenders in MLB. Over the past four years, the only third basemen with more Outs Above Average than McMahon’s 30 are the Pirates’ Ke’Bryan Hayes (50) and former Rockies star Nolan Arenado (35).
Ryan McMahon's 473-foot home run
Aug 28, 2023 · 0:39
Ryan McMahon's 473-foot home run
Left field: Taylor Ward, Angels
In 2023, Ward set out to prove that his age-28 breakout (.281/.360/.473 slash) was not an aberration. He didn’t get to complete the task, because a fastball to the face on July 29 prematurely ended a season in which he slashed a decidedly less-exciting .253/.335/.421.
So why is he our left fielder here? Well, for one, Ward moved over to left field from the other corner and ranked third at his new position in Outs Above Average. And as far as the offense is concerned, he seemingly pressed when thrust into the Angels’ leadoff role at the start of the season. Ward actually had strong OPS marks above .870 while batting third, fourth, fifth and sixth. So maybe don’t pencil him into the leadoff spot, but also don’t write him off as a one-year fluke.
Taylor Ward's two-homer game
Jul 27, 2023 · 0:57
Taylor Ward's two-homer game
Center field: Leody Taveras, Rangers
Considered a glove-first prospect, the 25-year-old Taveras has turned out to be a serviceable bat with, perhaps, a lot more in the tank. Taveras paired his plus glove at this premier position with a 95 OPS+ over the past two seasons, or just below league average. Notably, though, in 2023 he barreled more balls (29) than in his first three seasons combined (22).
Though held hitless in the World Series, Taveras’ 10-for-41 showing (with seven walks and four steals) in the first three rounds of the 2023 postseason helped Texas advance there. Given his age, high defensive floor and the big steps he’s taken already, there might be additional upside here.
Leody Taveras robs a home run
Oct 18, 2023 · 0:44
Leody Taveras robs a home run
Right field: Max Kepler, Twins
Kepler is not only the first German-born player to stick in the big leagues; he’s also the first German-born player to be named to the All-Underrated Team ... twice!
A 2020 honoree on this prestigious list, Kepler remains underrated after significantly reducing his ground-ball rate and improving his hard-hit rate last season. He slashed .260/.332/.484 with 24 homers and 22 doubles, and his 121 OPS+ was ninth best among right fielders with 400 plate appearances (comparable to All-Star Adolis García’s 123 mark).
Max Kepler's three-run homer (24)
Sep 30, 2023 · 0:29
Max Kepler's three-run homer (24)
Designated hitter: Harold Ramírez, Rays
Because of our parameters and teams’ penchant for rotating guys in and out of the DH spot, we’re not always able to fill the DH spot on the All-Underrated Team. But Hittin’ Harold qualifies after slashing .306/.348/.432 over the past two seasons while making more than 60% of his starts as a DH.
That batting average is tops among players logging at least 40% of their games at the bat-only position in that span, and the only DHs with a higher OPS+ than Ramírez’s 121 mark in that span were all All-Stars: Yordan Alvarez, (179), Shohei Ohtani (163), Bryce Harper (146), J.D. Martinez (125) and Brent Rooker (123).
Ramírez's two-run home run (12)
Sep 30, 2023 · 0:27
Ramírez's two-run home run (12)
Starting pitcher: Merrill Kelly, D-backs
A wider audience got a window into just how good this right-hander can be when he went 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA in four postseason starts in 2023, including a magnificent World Series outing in which he held that loaded Rangers lineup to a mere run on three hits with nine strikeouts and no walks in seven innings in Game 2.
The 35-year-old Kelly has been a strong addition to the D-backs’ staff since coming back to the States after four seasons in Korea, and he’s really hit his stride the past two seasons, posting a 125 ERA+ that ties him with Dylan Cease, Jordan Montgomery and Kevin Gausman for 13th best among all starters with 300 innings in that span.
Merrill Kelly's dominant outing
Oct 28, 2023 · 2:20
Merrill Kelly's dominant outing
Relief pitcher: Brusdar Graterol, Dodgers
Look at how Graterol’s numbers over the past four seasons compare to one of the most heralded, decorated (and well-compensated) relievers in the sport:
Graterol: 158 ERA+, 173 2/3 innings, 1.05 WHIP, 3.5 K/BB
Josh Hader: 160 ERA+, 184 innings, 1.05 WHIP, 3.5 K/BB
Graterol does not possess Hader’s strikeout stuff, but he’s been every bit as effective thanks to his extreme ground-ball and weak-contact tendencies and his ability to limit walks at an elite rate.
Re: Articles
10299another list they post is the 8 Most Improved Players of 2024; Lucas Giolito is on the list. He better be to make the outrageous price he received worthwhile
Re: Articles
10300Keith Law - Jaison is on Law's "just missed top 100" list
Jaison Chourio, OF, Cleveland Guardians
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 162 | Bats: B | Throws: R | Seasonal age in 2024: 19
Yes, that’s Jackson’s little brother, and while some of the hype from the No. 2 overall prospect in the game might be spilling over onto Jaison, he’s a solid prospect in his own right. He’s a real centerfielder with great reads there and projects to be a plus defender, with flashes of plus speed that should be more consistently there as he matures physically. He’s a switch-hitter, better from the more important side (left-handed) but with good swings from both sides of the plate.
The big difference between Jaison and Jackson, and the reason Jaison isn’t on the top-100 yet, is power: Jackson has it, and Jaison doesn’t, with just two homers in 406 professional games and no real projection for more than minimal power going forward. His exit velocities are improving as he builds strength, so there’s optimism across the board that he’ll be able to impact the ball against major-league quality pitching, but it’ll come in the form of base hits rather than homers. He’s also got a good eye, walking more than he struck out last year in the Arizona Complex League. It’s hard to see him as more than a solid regular unless he gets quite a bit stronger, or picks up some speed and projects as a 70 defender rather than a 60 as he currently does, although there’s a reasonable chance he’s a fourth outfielder even if he never gets beyond 30 power.
Jaison Chourio, OF, Cleveland Guardians
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 162 | Bats: B | Throws: R | Seasonal age in 2024: 19
Yes, that’s Jackson’s little brother, and while some of the hype from the No. 2 overall prospect in the game might be spilling over onto Jaison, he’s a solid prospect in his own right. He’s a real centerfielder with great reads there and projects to be a plus defender, with flashes of plus speed that should be more consistently there as he matures physically. He’s a switch-hitter, better from the more important side (left-handed) but with good swings from both sides of the plate.
The big difference between Jaison and Jackson, and the reason Jaison isn’t on the top-100 yet, is power: Jackson has it, and Jaison doesn’t, with just two homers in 406 professional games and no real projection for more than minimal power going forward. His exit velocities are improving as he builds strength, so there’s optimism across the board that he’ll be able to impact the ball against major-league quality pitching, but it’ll come in the form of base hits rather than homers. He’s also got a good eye, walking more than he struck out last year in the Arizona Complex League. It’s hard to see him as more than a solid regular unless he gets quite a bit stronger, or picks up some speed and projects as a 70 defender rather than a 60 as he currently does, although there’s a reasonable chance he’s a fourth outfielder even if he never gets beyond 30 power.
"I've suffered a great many tragedies in my life....most of them never happened". Mark Twain
Re: Articles
10301#13 for Keith Law
Brayan Rocchio
SS
Cleveland Guardians
Age:
23
Ht:
5-10
Wt:
170
Bats:
B
Throws:
R
2023 Ranking: 22
This is Rocchio’s fourth year on my top-100, and I presume his final one, as he debuted in the majors last year and the Guardians appear to have cleared the path for him to be their opening-day shortstop. Rocchio’s outstanding feel for the game was evident even when he signed at 16, while he’s developed into a plus defender at shortstop and improved his pitch recognition and swing decisions as he’s moved up the chain. He’s a true switch-hitter who hits from both sides of the plate, and he’s become extremely difficult to strike out, ranking in the top 4 percent of all full-season players (minimum 400 PA) last year in contact rate. He’s shown power in the past, with 33 homers in 2021-22 combined, and hits the ball hard for a smaller hitter, with top-end exit velocities higher than Alex Bregman’s were at ages 22-23, although I’d project a more conservative 15-18 homers a year for Rocchio. It’s plus defense, potentially elite plate discipline, quality contact already, and a track record of consistent improvements. Cleveland’s trade of Francisco Lindor should hurt a bit less now that his successor is here.
Brayan Rocchio
SS
Cleveland Guardians
Age:
23
Ht:
5-10
Wt:
170
Bats:
B
Throws:
R
2023 Ranking: 22
This is Rocchio’s fourth year on my top-100, and I presume his final one, as he debuted in the majors last year and the Guardians appear to have cleared the path for him to be their opening-day shortstop. Rocchio’s outstanding feel for the game was evident even when he signed at 16, while he’s developed into a plus defender at shortstop and improved his pitch recognition and swing decisions as he’s moved up the chain. He’s a true switch-hitter who hits from both sides of the plate, and he’s become extremely difficult to strike out, ranking in the top 4 percent of all full-season players (minimum 400 PA) last year in contact rate. He’s shown power in the past, with 33 homers in 2021-22 combined, and hits the ball hard for a smaller hitter, with top-end exit velocities higher than Alex Bregman’s were at ages 22-23, although I’d project a more conservative 15-18 homers a year for Rocchio. It’s plus defense, potentially elite plate discipline, quality contact already, and a track record of consistent improvements. Cleveland’s trade of Francisco Lindor should hurt a bit less now that his successor is here.
"I've suffered a great many tragedies in my life....most of them never happened". Mark Twain
Re: Articles
10302Kyle Manzardo #66
2023 Ranking: 80
Manzardo was the Rays’ second-round pick in 2021 out of Washington State, where he showed outstanding feel to hit but didn’t put the ball over the fence as much as you’d expect for his size or want for his lack of defensive value. Traded to Cleveland this past July for Aaron Civale, Manzardo started turning on the ball a lot more after he came off the injured list (for a shoulder issue) in August, with six homers in 21 games for Triple-A Columbus and six more in 22 games in the Arizona Fall League. He’s an extremely disciplined hitter who doesn’t chase much and almost never misses on fastballs, destroying right-handed pitching with some trouble with lefties — he makes enough contact but had a .195 BABIP against them last year, which feels fluky given how hard he typically hits the ball. His best position is in the batter’s box and you’ll have to live with some limited defense at first base, which caps his ceiling somewhat, but if he closes that platoon split (or if it turns out to be at least partly bad luck) he’s got a .380-.400 OBP, 30 homer ceiling that will play anywhere.
2023 Ranking: 80
Manzardo was the Rays’ second-round pick in 2021 out of Washington State, where he showed outstanding feel to hit but didn’t put the ball over the fence as much as you’d expect for his size or want for his lack of defensive value. Traded to Cleveland this past July for Aaron Civale, Manzardo started turning on the ball a lot more after he came off the injured list (for a shoulder issue) in August, with six homers in 21 games for Triple-A Columbus and six more in 22 games in the Arizona Fall League. He’s an extremely disciplined hitter who doesn’t chase much and almost never misses on fastballs, destroying right-handed pitching with some trouble with lefties — he makes enough contact but had a .195 BABIP against them last year, which feels fluky given how hard he typically hits the ball. His best position is in the batter’s box and you’ll have to live with some limited defense at first base, which caps his ceiling somewhat, but if he closes that platoon split (or if it turns out to be at least partly bad luck) he’s got a .380-.400 OBP, 30 homer ceiling that will play anywhere.
"I've suffered a great many tragedies in my life....most of them never happened". Mark Twain
Re: Articles
10303Chase Delauter #81
2023 Ranking: Unranked
Delauter missed 15 months with a broken foot he suffered in college in 2022, re-aggravating the injury while rehabbing. He didn’t make his pro debut until a year after the Guardians took him with the 16th pick in the 2022 draft. He’s only played in 57 pro games, plus 23 more in the AFL, but to his credit he’s hit at every level up through a six-game stint in Double A, even with an ugly swing that doesn’t look like it’ll produce power or even let him be consistently on time. He’s an excellent athlete who might be a plus runner at full health and definitely has a plus arm, with the potential for big defensive value in right field. He’s shown great feel for the strike zone everywhere he’s ever played, including his time at James Madison and a summer on Cape Cod, where he was one of just four regulars to walk more than he struck out. It is a really unfortunate swing, though; he opens his hips early and all but drags the bat to the zone that makes it look like he’s trying to scoop the ball with the bat head and poke it to right field. He hasn’t seen much velocity yet in pro ball, so he may not be tested until this year when he's playing in Double A or Triple A. There’s real upside here with his defense and the contact skills he’s demonstrated, but the bad swing and injury history point to the downside risk that he’s just an extra outfielder. He reminds me some of Brett Jackson, another first-rounder with an awkward swing but great athleticism who hit everywhere he played until the majors.
2023 Ranking: Unranked
Delauter missed 15 months with a broken foot he suffered in college in 2022, re-aggravating the injury while rehabbing. He didn’t make his pro debut until a year after the Guardians took him with the 16th pick in the 2022 draft. He’s only played in 57 pro games, plus 23 more in the AFL, but to his credit he’s hit at every level up through a six-game stint in Double A, even with an ugly swing that doesn’t look like it’ll produce power or even let him be consistently on time. He’s an excellent athlete who might be a plus runner at full health and definitely has a plus arm, with the potential for big defensive value in right field. He’s shown great feel for the strike zone everywhere he’s ever played, including his time at James Madison and a summer on Cape Cod, where he was one of just four regulars to walk more than he struck out. It is a really unfortunate swing, though; he opens his hips early and all but drags the bat to the zone that makes it look like he’s trying to scoop the ball with the bat head and poke it to right field. He hasn’t seen much velocity yet in pro ball, so he may not be tested until this year when he's playing in Double A or Triple A. There’s real upside here with his defense and the contact skills he’s demonstrated, but the bad swing and injury history point to the downside risk that he’s just an extra outfielder. He reminds me some of Brett Jackson, another first-rounder with an awkward swing but great athleticism who hit everywhere he played until the majors.
"I've suffered a great many tragedies in my life....most of them never happened". Mark Twain
Re: Articles
10304Not a DeLauter fan; noting his "ugly swing"
Nor does he see a particularly exciting future for Chiourio "t’s hard to see him as more than a solid regular unless he gets quite a bit stronger"
He likes Rocchio anyway.
Nor does he see a particularly exciting future for Chiourio "t’s hard to see him as more than a solid regular unless he gets quite a bit stronger"
He likes Rocchio anyway.
Re: Articles
10305Seems to be a lot of different opinions about Rocchio. Some seem to think he is a 2nd baseman. I think he should be starting at short if Gimenez is not moved to SS.