Cleveland Sports Forum

Not just is HOF talk about Ramirez about 10 years premature, mentioning Bieber with a career total of 41 wins and 503 innings is just silly.

Meisel Q and A.

The Guardians’ 2024 lineup, post-lockout moves, potential successors to Terry Francona and more: Meisel’s Mailbag



Mahoning Valley Scrappers Brayan Rocchio (11) throws to first base during a NY-Penn League game against the Hudson Valley Renegades on July 15, 2019 at Eastwood Field in Niles, Ohio. Mahoning Valley defeated Hudson Valley 6-5. (Mike Janes/Four Seam Images via AP)

By Zack Meisel Feb 1, 2022 12
CLEVELAND — To your questions (which have been edited for clarity) …

While it’s clear from the 40-man roster imbalance that the Guardians are setting themselves up for a trade (or multiple trades), what if they can’t reach an agreement or other teams aren’t interested? How would they shape a 26-man roster out of the current 40-man? — Kyle F.

If the lockout runs into spring training, does it benefit the Guardians in free agency? Does the lockout prohibit teams from talking with agents like it does players? In the flurry of movement once the lockout ends, will trades be easier to execute or more difficult? — Michael S.

Yeah, it’s sort of a mess at the moment. Of the 40 players on the roster, 14 have no big-league experience. (If service-time manipulation is eliminated in the new collective bargaining agreement, that would be less of an issue.) There are 11 starting pitchers and only six relievers. And there are 14 infielders.

This thing needs a handful of adjustments, but the Guardians are surely not the only team that still needs to make some transactions. Remember, the offseason was just getting underway when the lockout halted the action. So, whenever it ends, expect a flurry of activity, all while teams are starting spring training.

It’s a bit difficult to forecast how it will unfold, though, because this is unprecedented. Teams never receive an opportunity to reset mid-hot stove season, to take months to craft updated plans and contingency plans. In a normal offseason, the outfielder you were eyeing could be signed at any instant, or the trade target you were attempting to land could be dealt to another team without warning. But this work stoppage has given everyone a chance to recalibrate. The catch, of course, is communicating with anyone outside of your building is supposed to be prohibited. It often requires weeks and months of trade conversations or conveying interest to a free agent before a transaction materializes.

With spring training on the doorstep, players will be desperate to sign and report to camp. Teams will be itching to complete their winter task lists and properly configure their rosters. That isn’t how Cleveland’s front office typically operates. They’re deliberate, methodical and, well, quiet. This situation might nudge them out of their comfort zone, because the way their roster is positioned, they don’t really have a choice but to join in on the madness.

How likely is it a trade happens and who are your top candidates to be dealt away? I’m assuming it would be for a corner outfielder and Zach Plesac/Triston McKenzie and middle-infield prospects in the deal. — Lewis B.

Surely, teams will first ask about the Guardians’ starting pitchers, but to me, it makes more sense for them to deal from their middle-infield prospect surplus. If I ran the operation, I’d wait until the summer or next winter to deal a starting pitcher. They appear to have ample depth in the majors and upper levels of the minors, but it’s impossible to have a handle on who, exactly, will prove dependable this year. We witnessed plenty of ups and downs from Plesac and McKenzie last season. Can Cal Quantrill repeat his second half? Can Aaron Civale prove consistent for a full season? Are Cody Morris, Tobias Myers or Logan T. Allen ready to claim a rotation spot? If I were Chris Antonetti, I’d wait for a bit more clarity on the starting pitching front and instead prioritize trading one of the organization’s 87 shortstops.

If you could add any former Indian to the 2022 Guardians, who would it be? Jim Thome seems like the obvious answer to me. — Scotty H.

Obviously, a power-hitting outfielder comes to mind first, whether it’s Albert Belle or Manny Ramirez or Larry Doby or Rocky Colavito. Thome would certainly fit as well. But a skilled offensive catcher would offer a sorely needed jolt to this lineup, too. So, I’d strongly consider Victor Martinez or the 1997 version of Sandy Alomar Jr.

What do you know about Joe Torres? Do players credit him (for their development) like they did with Ruben Niebla? With the next crop of young arms on the precipice, it must be asked: Will they ever shut the pitching factory down? — Kyle T.

Can you tell us more about Joe Torres? — Ethan S.

Torres, Cleveland’s assistant pitching coach, followed a similar (albeit quicker) path as Niebla to reach the big leagues. He spent a few years in the organization as a lower-level pitching coach (in rookie ball, then Low A, then High A). He replaced Niebla as minor-league pitching coordinator two years ago, a role that serves as an anchor in keeping coaches and players at different levels on the same page as it pertains to what each person is working on. Logan Allen and Anthony Gose have raved about Torres. Civale worked with him as he recovered from a finger injury last season. Torres worked closely with the pitchers at the alternate site in Lake County in 2020. That summer, he communicated with Niebla every day and with Carl Willis every few days to help fill in some blanks when pitchers were shuttling back and forth from the active roster to the secondary site.

Which three of the thousand highly regarded middle infielders are you least likely to move? — Carson M.

Brayan Rocchio should top the list. His performance as a 20-year-old in Double A and then in winter ball should (and does) have evaluators salivating over his potential. (And The Athletic’s Keith Law ranked him the 22nd-best prospect in baseball.) After that, it’s debatable. I’d probably lean toward Gabriel Arias (great tools, but questions about his contact ability) and Tyler Freeman (elite contact ability and speed, but questions about his power and durability). However, the team could dangle either one of those guys, or Jose Tena (over whom Law also fawns) or Andrés Giménez in a trade. It all hinges on which player(s) other organizations prefer, as well as how confident the Guardians feel about their internal assessments.

Zack, take your best shot at the Guardians’ 2024 lineup. — Jesse W.

1. 2B Tyler Freeman
2. 3B José Ramírez
3. LF George Valera
4. DH Franmil Reyes
5. 1B Josh Naylor
6. RF Nolan Jones
7. SS Brayan Rocchio
8. C Bryan Lavastida/Bo Naylor timeshare
9. CF Myles Straw

I certainly have doubts that Ramírez will remain in Cleveland beyond 2023 (or even 2022, really), but there isn’t a trade out there that makes sense at the moment, and perhaps the presence of a new minority owner will increase the likelihood of a potential contract extension. This projection omits Giménez and Arias; as I’ve written countless times, the front office will need to deal a middle infielder or two at some point. But without knowing precisely what other teams would want for their prized outfielders, it’s a bit unfair to just stick, say, Bryan Reynolds in the No. 3 spot above. I have no idea what to expect from Josh Naylor, but he does possess the skill set at the plate to potentially make us all realize we forgot about and/or underestimated him after his leg injury.

So much can change over the course of a few years. Richie Palacios could be the center fielder. Steven Kwan could man a corner outfield spot, with Austin Meadows occupying the other. Jones could play third base instead of right field. Five or six candidates could wind up at second base. This is a great prompt because the possibilities are seemingly endless. There’s so much we don’t know about a lot of these young players. One certainty: There will be plenty of turnover from the team we saw at the end of 2021.

Following the minority ownership sale, should fans worry that a relocation is a possibility? Does the lease renewal prevent that from happening? — Dan K.

The Guardians have a brand new, shiny, 15-year lease that will ground the team in Cleveland for the next 15 years, and perhaps the next 25. The ballpark will undergo a series of renovations over the next few years. Anyone taking over control of the operation is aware of all of this and on board with it. There’s a reason Paul Dolan is so selective with his choice of partner. The team was never in jeopardy of moving — despite some wondering if the team was destined for Nashville (which, as we reported, had never even discussed the possibility), Montreal or Anchorage — and that will remain the case for the foreseeable future.

Which stadium are you looking forward to watching the Guardians play at this season? — Ryan D.

Coors Field/Dodger Stadium, back to back, in mid-June, is a nice change of pace. But the trip of dreams takes place in late August: at San Diego and then at Seattle, with an off-day at Ballast Point Brewery to kick off the week.

Tito’s health only seems to be getting worse. Is the team basically going to allow him to go year-to-year as the manager? Or are they preparing contingency plans? Their coaching has clearly started to shift younger and more analytically focused, so I wonder if there’s anyone in the organization who may ultimately succeed Terry Francona as skipper, whenever that time comes. — Ethan S.

I’m sure, internally, they have. When I’ve pried, they’ve downplayed it, and said they never reached the point in which they needed to be proactive about it. But we’d be naive to think they’ve never pondered who might be next. Let’s say — hypothetically, of course, as Francona is ready to go for 2022 — they started interviewing candidates tomorrow to replace Francona. I would think Sandy Alomar Jr. would receive an interview. Maybe Mike Sarbaugh. Brian Sweeney is a really sharp guy. They’d also likely consider Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro, who has been a finalist for other managerial gigs and was an assistant under Francona in Cleveland.

Take your pick: An outfield of any three Cleveland players since 2000 or the Dodgers’ current outfield (AJ Pollock, Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger)? — Andy J.

It’s chic (and justified) to rag on Cleveland’s history of neglecting the outfield, but there are actually a wealth of well-regarded options if you’re granting us more than 20 years of candidates: Kenny Lofton was far from his peak in 2000-01 but still plenty useful. Manny Ramirez’s OPS in 2000, his final season with Cleveland? A ho-hum 1.154. And don’t forget, Juan González replaced him in admirable fashion the next season. Ellis Burks was a potent middle-of-the-order bat in town for a couple of years. Shin-Soo Choo, too. It’s true.

For four years, Grady Sizemore was one of the most dynamic players in the sport, equipped with a rare blend of speed and power, until injuries decimated his career. Michael Brantley was steady and supremely productive. And don’t forget José Ramírez was an outfielder for most of 2016.

So, yeah, Cleveland’s outfield has been a source of ineptitude for the better part of the last 15 years. But in this scenario, keep your Dodgers. Give me Sizemore, Brantley and Manny Ramirez

Yu Chang had a great last two months of the season, if memory serves. Do you think the front office will give him the primary second base job to find out what they have, or do you think he’ll be just another guy to split duties with Giménez, Owen Miller, Arias, etc.? — David W.

Chang will certainly head to spring training with a chance to secure some playing time, but it’s difficult to envision him earning a substantial opportunity with Giménez and Amed Rosario the leading candidates to start at the middle-infield spots, plus Miller fitting in somewhere, Bobby Bradley occupying at least the strong side of a first-base platoon and Arias also ready for a big-league opportunity. That’s a lot of cooks in the kitchen.

Chang in August/September: .280/.325/.579 slash line in 114 plate appearances

Chang from April through July: .185/.219/.300 slash line in 137 plate appearances

There were no jarring differences in his hard-hit rate, chase rate or whiff rate as the summer unfolded. There’s surely a role for him as a versatile infielder with some pop, but with so many other young infielders needing a chance to prove themselves, it’s hard to foresee Chang carving out an everyday gig in Cleveland.

Who from the last 20 years will eventually gain admission to the Cleveland Baseball Hall of Fame? Cody Allen seems like a logical choice. Victor Martinez? CC Sabathia? Interested to hear your thoughts. Bonus question: What are the requirements for election to the Cleveland Hall of Fame? — Kyler L.

The organization hasn’t inducted anyone since its 2016 class, which included Jim Thome, Albert Belle (who declined an invitation to attend the ceremony), Charlie Jamieson and Frank Robinson. I was told the next class could be unveiled in 2023, though those plans seem fluid.

He’s from just outside your suggested timeframe, but I’d think Manny Ramirez will be enshrined in the near future. Martinez, Travis Hafner, Sabathia and Sizemore seem like obvious choices from the aughts era. Maybe Asdrúbal Cabrera, too. (I’d think Sabathia’s No. 52 would be retired if and when he’s elected to Cooperstown; his first year on the ballot is 2025.)

And then more recently, I’d imagine Cody Allen, Jason Kipnis, Carlos Santana, Michael Brantley, Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco would receive nods. And, eventually, José Ramírez and Francisco Lindor. Oh, and the manager. There are a lot of options. The team might want to make this an annual shindig. As for the process, there’s a committee made up of local media members, historians and club personnel who submit candidates. The main criterion is a player must have been retired for at least a year.

Hmm, that's still not a very dangerous lineup. I think Josh Naylor may hit but he'd prefer him hitting lower than 5th
I am very doubtful that Nolan Jones will be everyday majorleaguer.
I am uncertain if Lavastida has the defensive ability to catch in the majors. Perhaps they can teach him 1st base.
If Jose is gone then it's really low quality offense. Someone like Arias or Tena could take third base, but they're not going to hit like Ramirez.
At some point they will need to package young infielders for young outfielders.
Probably not in 2024 but maybe in 2025 Jhonkensy Noel could be able to supply some power but not sure he can handle a defensive position.

1. 2B Tyler Freeman
2. 3B José Ramírez
3. LF George Valera
4. DH Franmil Reyes
5. 1B Josh Naylor
6. RF Nolan Jones
7. SS Brayan Rocchio
8. C Bryan Lavastida/Bo Naylor timeshare
9. CF Myles Straw

3 Cleveland Guardians pitching prospects to watch in 2022
by Darren Klein16 seconds ago Follow @Grunttalksmlb


Cleveland’s 40-man roster is loaded with pitching prospects, but who are a few beyond the 40-man to pay attention to this season?

Major League Baseball has reached a dangerous point with the Players Association, and with just under two weeks until spring training is set to begin, it appears it won’t be starting on time. The next step is the regular season, which isn’t in jeopardy just yet – though things are starting to get a little too close for comfort.

With that being said, it’s important to note that the minor-league teams will still play as scheduled. The majority of minor leaguers will be reporting to their respective camps soon, although if a player is on a 40-man roster, they are technically considered part of MLB and can’t report to spring training until a new CBA is agreed upon.

With that in mind, let’s look at a few pitching prospects to watch who aren’t currently on the Guardians’ 40-man roster. And if the season does get delayed, these pitchers could all be forced to grow up quickly since the organization’s depth could be somewhat limited for a while.

3 Non-40-Man Cleveland Guardians Pitching Prospects to Watch
RHP Daniel Espino
Espino was a first-round pick in 2019 out of high school, born in Panama and moved to Georgia when he was a sophomore. He was picked due to a strong performance at a showcase circuit and has established himself as the top pitching prospect in the Guardians’ organization. He can hit triple digits with the fastball, but averages 95-97 mph. His breaking stuff is also up to par with a nasty slider and curveball.


His slider is his second pitch, topping out in the low 80s. His curveball tops out in the high 70s. He is also working on a changeup, but he needs to refine his control. In 2021, he walked 39 batters in 91 innings, which is equal to almost four walks per nine innings. His strikeout numbers were off the charts with 152, which equals over 15 strikeouts per nine innings. These numbers are combined in Low-A and High-A last season, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him start in Double-A once the season begins. Espino projects as a future top-of-the-rotation arm with a floor as a dominant closer.

RHP Gavin Williams
Williams was a first-round pick in the 2021 draft out of East Carolina. Injuries derailed him the past two seasons, but in 2021 he was able to show he still has plenty of promise. Last season, he made fifteen starts and pitched 88 innings. He was 10-1 with an ERA under two and 130 strikeouts. He did so well, he was named the American Athletic Conference Pitcher of the year and also received All-American honors. He can also hit triple digits, and his average fastball is the same as Espino’s. His pitch mix is similar to Espino’s as well, with a curveball in the 70s and a slider that can reach the mid 80s. He also has the changeup, which is better than Espino’s. It’s difficult to say where he will start, but rookie ball or Low-A seems likely. If all goes well, he profiles as a mid-rotation starter in the big leagues.

RHP Tanner Burns
Burns was originally drafted by the New York Yankees in the 37th round in 2017, but he elected to go to college. He attended Auburn University after winning the Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year and National Player of the Year. In his final season at Auburn, he pitched just four games and had 32 strikeouts in 22 innings. He was selected 36th overall in 2020. His fastball tops out at 97 mph and routinely sits between 92-94 mph. His breaking pitch can be defined as a slurve when it’s on. He also features a sinking changeup, which could be a useful third pitch.

Last season in High-A, he pitched 75 innings with an ERA of 3.57. He had 91 strikeouts and 29 walks. With his size being under six feet, durability is a concern; Burns tends to wear down at the end of the season. His ceiling could be a second or third starter in MLB. And right now, with the 40-man roster guys possibly being out of the picture to start the year, he could start the season in Double-A.

Burns was something of a disappointment last year, not bad but not especially impressive. Much more worthy of note is Logan T. Allen lefty who put up some really fine numbers at two levels and is rated among the teams' Top 10 prospects on nearly all lists.
And a 2021 surprise, a shorter and better named Xzavion Curry who's stats were like a lot of Cleveland young pitchers: lots of Ks, few BBs

Guardians’ top 20 prospects for 2022: Keith Law ranks Cleveland’s farm system



Cleveland Indians' George Valera warms up before an intrasquad baseball game, Monday, July 13, 2020, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

By Keith Law 2h ago 8

Cleveland’s system has been on the ascent for a while, although 2021 was a mixed bag with down performances and some significant injuries. The large group of high-upside free agents it signed in Latin America in 2017 is approaching the big leagues, though, and several of them are good enough that the Guardians can see the core of their next competitive roster.

To qualify for these rankings, players must still be eligible for the Rookie of the Year Award in 2022, which means they may not have more than 130 at-bats, 50 innings pitched or 45 days on an active roster heading into this season.

Note: Ages as of July 1, 2022.

1. Brayan Rocchio, SS (Top 100 ranking: 22)
Age: 21 | 5-10 | 170 pounds
Bats: Both | Throws: Right

Rocchio is a switch-hitting shortstop with surprising pop for his size, above-average defense at short and a great feel for the game on both sides of the ball. I apologize if I’ve inadvertently reminded Guardians fans of anyone in particular. Rocchio does a little of everything, and his 2021 season, where he went .277/.346/.460 between High A and Double A as a 20-year-old, is even more impressive given that he didn’t get to play anywhere in 2020, not even the Guardians’ alternate site. Rocchio has a short swing with quick wrists, but he generates more power than you might guess for a wiry 5-10 middle infielder, with real strength in his wrists, leading to 15 homers in 108 games last year. Rocchio’s a 55 runner but doesn’t always show it, and he’s a below-average base stealer, perhaps the only real flaw in his game. It’s an exciting package, and he’s a player who’ll probably be underestimated right up until he hits his way onto an All-Star team.

2. George Valera, OF (Top 100 ranking: 29)
Age: 21 | 5-11 | 185 pounds
Bats: Left | Throws: Left

Valera signed for $1.3 million way back in 2017, but due to multiple injuries and the lost 2020 season, he still has just 599 pro plate appearances, or just over one year’s worth. When he’s played, however, he’s shown exceptional patience and easy all-fields power, with 100 walks and 28 homers already in that brief career, all before he turned 21 this past November. Valera played only 86 games last year due to an oblique strain and had a weird season at the plate, barely facing any left-handed pitchers — they accounted for about 18 percent of his plate appearances — which skews his overall line, especially since he struck out in more than a third of those plate appearances against southpaws. He plays with a lot of panache — I believe “swaggy” might be the more contemporary term, fellow kids — and bat-flips his home runs like a boss. He has bat speed, big strength and an advanced eye at the plate, along with solid-average defense for right field, and there’s just an electricity to the way he plays. He’s not a finished product, due in no small part to his limited playing time, but he might be a 30-homer/80-walk guy at his peak.

3. Danny Espino, RHP (Top 100 ranking: 51)
Age: 21 | 6-2 | 205 pounds
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Drafted: No. 24 in 2019

Espino was the 24th pick in 2019, part of a run of hard-throwing high-school pitchers the Guardians took in 2018-19. He made his full-season debut in 2021, where he posted the highest strikeout rate (40.5 percent) of any pitcher who threw at least 75 innings at any level. Espino came into 2021 in better shape to get through a full season, and progressed over the course of the year as well, learning to use his fastball more effectively and seeing development on his off-speed stuff. He’s pitching more vertically now, going up with the four-seamer (which can touch 100 mph) and staying behind the ball more, resulting in hitters missing the pitch more than they did even in high school. His slider projects to be plus, and has supplanted his curveball as his primary breaking pitch, while his average changeup has been good enough to help him dominate lefties as he has right-handed batters. Espino’s main issue now is command and control — he walked just over 10 percent of batters this year, but he’s also generally inefficient and has to work to generate some more weak contact rather than trying to finish every at bat with a strikeout. I doubt he’ll ever get to above-average command, but even average command with this stuff would make him a No. 2 starter.

4. Jose Tena, SS (Top 100 ranking: 68)
Age: 21 | 5-10 |160 pounds
Bats: Left | Throws: Right

Tena was just 20 in 2021 but finished above the median for all High-A hitters in average, OBP and slugging despite his youth, all while playing solid-average defense at shortstop. Tena has plus bat speed and an aggressive approach, attacking early in the count, with good plate coverage that allows him to put a lot of pitches in play, even just beyond the zone, a good tool that he needs to develop into more of a skill by becoming more selective. He’s strong for an undersized guy, hitting 16 homers in 107 games last year and projecting to at least that many when he gets to the majors. He’s an above-average runner who has the arm for shortstop or third base, although he could always move to second and become an above-average defender there if he’s bumped by a premium defender at shortstop. Tena has shown he can make adjustments in-season, though, starting slow in the Arizona Fall League and improving his pitch recognition as the fall went along. His bat speed and wrist strength will allow him to hit enough to be a regular or better anywhere on the infield, but becoming more patient would give him a chance to be a star.

5. Steven Kwan, OF (Just-missed list)
Age: 24 | 5-9 | 170 pounds
Bats: Left | Throws: Left
Drafted: No. 163 in 2018

Kwan doesn’t quite look the part of a top prospect, since you won’t find many 5-9 left fielders of any sort in the majors — only Andrew Benintendi and Ben Revere have had at least 2 WAR and played the majority of their games in left at 5-9 or shorter in the last 10 years. Kwan does hit, though, and hit and hit, going .328/.407/.527 last year between Double A and Triple A at age 23, with more walks than strikeouts. His strikeout rate of 9.1 percent was the fifth-lowest of all minor leaguers with at least 200 plate appearances, and it came with more power than any of the guys who struck out less often. He runs close to average but doesn’t have the arm to play center, and there’s a ceiling on his production given his size and positional limitations. I’ll be very surprised if he doesn’t hit enough to be at least a fringe regular, though, and his upside is someone who challenges for the league lead in batting average.

6. Gavin Williams, P
Age: 22 | 6-6 | 238 pounds
Bats: Left | Throws: Right
Drafted: No. 23 in 2021

Williams had the stuff to be a top 15 pick in the 2021 draft, but concerns about his medicals pushed him towards the end of the first round, where Cleveland took him with the 23rd overall pick. Williams is a big, physical guy who sits mid-90s, reaching 98 in a tournament start against Vanderbilt, and has held his velocity into games. He has the three pitches to start and his delivery, which has a short arm action and short stride that all has him on line to the plate, should allow him to do so. Several teams had him off their draft boards due to those concerns about his medicals and durability; he could be a No. 2 starter if that doesn’t recur.

7. Tyler Freeman, SS
Age: 23 | 6-0 | 190 pounds
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Drafted: No. 71 in 2017

Freeman’s season ended with surgery on his left shoulder, limiting him to 41 games in Double A, where he hit .323/.372/.470 with low strikeout and walk rates. He’s got real ability to put the bat on the ball that should carry over well to the big leagues, as he seems able to catch up to velocity and recognize off-speed stuff. He lacks power and doesn’t project to any, so it’s likely to be soft contact with a lot of singles, and has never shown a propensity to walk – nor would I expect pitchers to work around him. The bigger question on him is his position. He’s played mostly shortstop with some second base; he has the range to stay at short but his arm is below-average, while he’d be more than adequate at second. I think he’s a soft regular with a high floor, but without power I don’t think he’s a starter on a contender.

8. Logan T. Allen, LHP
Age: 23 | 6-0 | 190 pounds
Bats: Right | Throws: Left
Drafted: No. 56 in 2020

Allen is a clear starter with three pitches highlighted by a plus changeup that might be the best in the system now that Eli Morgan is in the majors. Despite that mix, with just an average slider, Allen destroyed left-handed batters last year, with a 37 percent strikeout rate and hilarious 52 strikeouts against three walks, because he has some deception in his delivery that makes it hard for lefties to see the ball. He’s a plus control guy with at least average command right now. The only real concern about Allen as a starter is the fastball, which is just average and doesn’t have great secondary traits. It hasn’t been an issue through Double A, but it’s the kind of pitch that can make a pitcher homer-prone, especially with the big-league baseball. If that’s not an issue, he looks like a league-average starter in the making.

9. Jhonkensy Noel, 3B
Age: 20 | 6-1 | 180 pounds
Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Noel is huge, more like 6-foot-4, 240 now rather than his listed 6-1, 180, but runs well for his size, and thanks to a swing change before 2021, he hit so well that the Guardians had to put him on the 40-man. Noel hit .393/.426/.693 in Low A and then hit .280/.351/.550 in High A, with 19 homers in just 273 plate appearances between those levels, making a lot of very loud contact without many strikeouts or walks. He’s big for the infield but is an average defender at third. His swing really lets him get into his power now, although he still covers the zone well even with his size. He played only about half a season around hand and ankle injuries, but if he does this again in a full season in Double A, he’ll end up a top three prospect in this system next year.

10. Nolan Jones, OF/3B
Age: 24 | 6-4 | 195 pounds
Bats: Left | Throws: Right
Drafted: No. 55 in 2016

Jones hit .238/.356/.431 in Triple A last year with a strikeout rate over 30 percent, a disappointing performance given his experience in Double A in 2019 and his demonstrated ability to at least make hard contact against right-handers. He has real trouble with anything moving away from him, which pitchers have already begun to exploit, and his defense at third hasn’t progressed enough to leave him on the dirt, which is why Cleveland started playing him in right field last year. He may just be a good platoon right fielder who can hit 15-20 homers a year against right-handers, needing a big adjustment to be more than that, a disappointing comedown for a former top 100 prospect who showed power and discipline in the lower minors.

11. Richie Palacios, OF
Age: 25 | 5-10 | 180 pounds
Bats: Left | Throws: Right
Drafted: No. 103 in 2018

Drafted in the third round in 2022, the diminutive Palacios can really hit – he has great bat control, enough bat speed to hit velocity, a strong eye, the ability to drop the bat head on pitches in – and has done so consistently, hitting .290 or better with an OBP of .385 or better at High A, Double A, Triple A, and even the Arizona Fall League. He has below-average power, with a swing that’s more geared to put the ball on a line than to produce big flies, and because he’s a fringy defender at second base at best, he’s a corner outfielder who might have only 10-12 homers a year. There’s definitely a role for him in the majors, but it may not be a full-time one.

12. Gabriel Arias, SS
Age: 22 | 6-1 | 217 pounds
Bats: Right | Throws: Right

Arias has the tools to be a better player, but his approach continues to lag, especially in terms of pitch recognition, which may keep him from becoming an everyday player. He can play shortstop and he has 15-20 homer power, so the foundation exists for him to be a regular even if he has just a .300ish OBP, but he’d have a hard time getting there with his pitch recognition issues. He’s had multiple iterations of his swing in the last few years as well, which probably hasn’t helped matters. He turns 22 in late February, so he has time to improve his approach and become an everyday guy, but he hasn’t made any progress there yet.

13. Bo Naylor, C
Age: 22 | 6-0 | 195 pounds
Bats: Left | Throws: Right
Drafted: No. 29 in 2018

Naylor did not hit at all last year, with a .189/.280/.332 line for Double-A Akron at age 21 that is just a huge, across the board disappointment. He hasn’t hit well since rookie ball, but this was a big step down from his Low-A performance in 2019. He’s swinging uphill now, trying to get to more power, but the result has been less contact and less power. Behind the plate, he has athleticism and throws well, but perhaps the work of developing as a catcher is inhibiting the work he needs to do as a hitter? He’s only 22 and so athletic that you can’t give up on him, but he’s not going to get better with that uphill approach.

14. Angel Martinez, SS
Age: 20 | 6-0 | 165 pounds
Bats: Both | Throws: Right

Martinez has started to fill out now, putting on 30-35 pounds since he signed, which is leading to some more raw power that started to show up a little in games last year. He’s a good hitter for contact already but the quality of contact hasn’t caught up yet, so his final line of .241/.319/.382 isn’t that promising. He can play shortstop right now, playing a lot of second base last year because the Guardians have so many players needing reps at shortstop, and if he has to slide to second full-time he’ll be a 55 defender there. He can run a little and might peak at 20 homers, so now the key is to turn the added strength into more consistent hard contact.

15. Bryan Lavastida, C
Age: 23 | 6-0 | 200 pounds
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Drafted: No. 463 in 2018

Lavastida looks like a bat-first backup catcher who continues to perform despite some effort to his game and a lack of any great tools. He has performed, though, with a .289/.380/.456 line last year, mostly in High A and Double A, and he does seem like he’ll at least draw some walks and hit for some power. The comparison that comes up often with him is Mike Napoli, maybe a Napoli with a bit better defense but less power. Napoli had a hell of a career, with over 25 WAR in 4,500 plate appearances, and if Lavastida becomes that, then I have him underranked.

16. Isaiah Greene, OF
Age: 20 | 6-1 | 180 pounds
Bats: Left | Throws: Left
Drafted: No. 69 in 2020

Greene was one of the four players Cleveland got for Francisco Lindor, as well as Amed Rosario, Andrés Giménez and right-hander Josh Wolf. The Mets’ second-round pick in 2020, Greene made his pro debut in 2021 in the ACL and posted a .421 OBP, drawing walks but also swinging at good pitches while playing above-average defense in center. He still has room to fill out as he’s 6-1 and only about 175-180 pounds, so there could be power down the road, and at the least he should start hitting the ball harder as he gains strength. There’s everyday upside here.

17. Tanner Burns, RHP
Age: 23 | 6-0 | 180 pounds
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Drafted: No. 36 in 2020

Burns’ pro debut was solid, with a 3.57 ERA and good-not-great peripherals in High A, pointing to a back-end starter future unless his stuff changes. He’s mostly 90-93 mph and will touch 95 with an average changeup and 45 slider that projects to get to average. He has average control now with 45 command, maybe getting to 55 and 50, respectively, after he gets some more experience. The issue with his outlook is that he lacks much projection, and it’s hard to forecast him getting more velocity, and he was already a little homer-prone in High A. I think he’s a fifth starter who could be a fourth if the command comes on.

18. Petey Halpin, OF
Age: 20 | 6-0 | 185 pounds
Bats: Left | Throws: Right
Drafted: No. 95 in 2020

Halpin played just 54 games last year, starting his season at the very end of June, but did hit well, .294/.363/.425 with a perplexing 55 percent success rate on the bases (11 of 20). He’s still in center field and made a lot of contact last year, so while his swing and setup aren’t going to lead to power, he still has a path to be a regular with the contact and up-the-middle defense. Now he needs to play a full season.

19. Carson Tucker, SS
Age: 20 | 6-2 | 180 pounds
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Drafted: No. 23 in 2020

Cleveland’s 2020 first-round pick and brother of Pirates infielder Cole, Tucker played just six games due to a hand injury. He’s a shortstop who’ll have to improve to get to average there and has a good swing for contact without power. He’ll enter his age-20 season this year with just 25 plate appearances in the last two years.

20. Cody Morris, RHP
Age: 25 | 6-4 | 205 pounds
Bats: Right | Throws: Right
Drafted: No. 223 in 2018

Morris has had a ton of arm trouble, including shoulder soreness that kept him out for half of 2021, but he has a three-pitch mix to be a starter and a long track record of above-average control. He had no platoon split in 2021 and could probably be a fifth starter right now if he’s able to handle the workload.

Others of note
Shortstop Jake Fox, the team’s third-round pick in 2021, had a hell of a pro debut, going 17 for 42 with six walks in the ACL. Scouts liked the swing but don’t forecast power, and he’s not that projectable to point to it in the future. He did show a solid approach and above-average speed but is much more likely to end up at second base than stay at short … Johnathan Rodriguez has raw power with some bat speed, but so far he hasn’t shown the ability to pick up or adjust to decent secondary stuff. Drafted in the third round in 2017 from Puerto Rico, he’s a right fielder who has to hit for power since he won’t get on base and won’t provide much defensive value, but with his current approach he’s going to have a hard time getting to the plus power in games… Right-hander Ethan Hankins had Tommy John surgery and missed the 2021 season. The 35th overall pick in 2018 has thrown just 60 innings in pro ball, and this was his second significant arm injury in five years … Right-hander Lenny Torres came back from Tommy John surgery with reduced stuff and command, getting rocked in Low A and especially suffering for his lack of an average breaking ball … Gabriel Rodriguez is an athletic third baseman with solid defense there and a chance to get to an average hit tool with fringy or below-average power … Outfielder Oscar Gonzalez swings very hard with an unorthodox approach, producing plus-plus power without much selectivity. He hit 31 homers last year, which is good, but when you have more homers than walks drawn (22), that’s less good, and he’s limited to a corner … Yordys Valdes can really play shortstop, but he hasn’t hit at all in pro ball and there isn’t a ton of reason to think he’s going to … The Guardians took Ole Miss right-hander Doug Nikhazy in the second round in 2021. He’s a competitive guy with a four-pitch mix of all average stuff, with good deception and solid-average control. He didn’t pitch in pro ball after Ole Miss worked him very hard at the end of its season… Right-hander Tommy Mace was the Guardians’ pick after Nikhazy, with a competitive balance selection. He’s 90-94 but the fastball got hit in the SEC last spring, and his cutter was his only effective pitch. He was better as a freshman than he was as a senior, but maybe Cleveland can get him to go back to what used to work for him … Right-hander Nic Enright is a former 20th rounder who’s 90-92 mph with a big slurve, pounding the zone and getting some deception from a high slot. He struck out 35 percent of batters in relief in Double A and could end up a middle reliever … Second baseman Aaron Bracho hit just .174/.269/.299 in 70 games, because he was hurt yet again; he looked like he was going to hit when he was younger, but if he can’t stay healthy or has to move to first base to stay healthy, I don’t see a major-league future for him. … Mason Hickman, Hunter Gaddis and Xzavion Curry are all depth starter prospects who have a chance to see the major leagues, perhaps just as swingmen, but are worth mentioning in case any sees a velo jump or another significant change.

2022 impact
The Guardians at least have a lot of options among their prospects for 2022 roles, even if they don’t have an obvious opening right now. Tyler Freeman could handle second base if they choose to make Andrés Giménez a utility infielder. Steven Kwan could take over in left field depending on Josh Naylor’s recovery, or if Oscar Mercado can’t recapture his 2019 form. The major-league team is six or seven starters deep already, but Cody Morris and Logan T. Allen are probably the next two in line. And Gabriel Arias is behind Freeman, but not far from a call-up either.

The fallen
Their first pick in 2017, speedy outfielder Quentin Holmes, has never hit in pro ball, with a .226/.284/.302 line in High-A as a 21-year-old last year.

Sleeper
Jhonkensy Noel seems like he’s on the verge of a breakout thanks to the new swing, and just has to go do it for a full year.

Much more of a fan of Steven Kwan than most evaluators, his 2021 performance sure did look good at AA and AAA and in case there's a season deserves a good shot to beat out flops like Zimmer and Mercado. Most rated him around 12.

Much less of a fan than most on Gabriel Arias whose spot is flip flopped with Kwan on other lists.

He's more of a fan of Tena who certainly did hit well last summer; and less of Freeman who some like for his consistant singles and doubles.

Interested to see an old favorite of mine Johnnathan Rodriguez still listed as worth considering although he needs to hit homers some day.

Among a bunch of outfielders who hit well in Arizona summer league he's in on Petey Halpin [18] and Isaiah Greene [16] but not Jose Burgos [little power so far] and Luis Durango [tons of steals]

Cleveland Guardians’ 40-man roster snapshot: Making sense of the depth chart and puzzles they still must solve

By Zack Meisel 3h ago 4

CLEVELAND — At some point, maybe, the lockout will end and the offseason will resume. And about five minutes after that, spring training will begin. In those five minutes, front offices will frantically address the deficiencies on their rosters.

Before any of that transpires, let’s revisit the Guardians’ depth chart. Can you name all 40 players on their 40-man roster, or just the 39 middle infielders? Chris Antonetti and company will have plenty of work to do, and in rapid fashion, to set up the roster for spring training. For now, let’s examine what that puzzle looks like and what pieces are missing.

Areas of confusion
The middle infield: Infielders account for 35 percent of Cleveland’s 40-man roster (40 percent if you include catchers). If we presume Amed Rosario and Andrés Giménez will open the season as the starting middle-infield pairing, that could leave Gabriel Arias at Triple-A Columbus, where he spent all of the 2021 season (and where he posted an .802 OPS). That also leaves Owen Miller and Yu Chang with limited opportunities to prove they deserve more than an occasional plate appearance. Ernie Clement figures to factor into the utility infielder mix as well. And the Guardians better get a quick handle on what each of those players can offer, because Tyler Freeman and Brayan Rocchio, two of the organization’s top prospects, aren’t far behind. Both ought to spend time in Columbus this year, but Freeman, especially, could be ready for a major-league look by the summer. A trade involving one or two middle infielders to address an area of need would make a lot of sense.

The corner outfield: Myles Straw is the only sure thing in the outfield. Other outfielders on the 40-man roster include Franmil Reyes (who’s really the club’s designated hitter), George Valera (still a year or so away from the majors), Josh Naylor (recovering from major surgery and might be better suited for first base), Oscar Mercado and Bradley Zimmer (one of them could fit as a backup, but employing both seems redundant), and Steven Kwan and Richie Palacios (intriguing prospects, but limited track records). Nolan Jones could eventually join this conversation, too.

This team needs at least one more established outfielder before Opening Day, whether obtained via trade, free agency or cloning. Kwan and Palacios haven’t exactly been helped by the lockout, which prohibits them (and all members of the 40-man roster) from using the team’s facilities and communicating with the coaching staff. If the lockout significantly shortens spring training, it wouldn’t aid their cause, either.

Kwan in 2021: .328/.407/.527 slash line, 12 home runs, 36 walks, 31 strikeouts in 77 games (Double A/Triple A)

Palacios in 2021: .297/.404/.471 slash line, 33 doubles, 58 walks, 20 stolen bases, 70 strikeouts in 103 games (Double A/Triple A)

At the moment, Mercado, Zimmer, Naylor, Kwan, Palacios and perhaps Jones could compete for the two starting corner spots. Oscar Gonzalez, who led the farm system with 31 homers last year, could even enter the mix. But all of that underscores how imperative it is for the club to add a high-caliber player or two to the outfield pool once the lockout ends.

Naylor and Jones could also vie for opportunities at first base should Bobby Bradley falter at some point. Miller and Chang could collect at-bats at that spot against left-handed pitchers, too.

One point of emphasis
Keep in mind: The 40-man roster is full, so if the Guardians add a player, it will cost someone else a job, barring a trade. Unless Bryan Lavastida wins the backup catcher job in spring training (unlikely, though he certainly could debut this year), they’ll have to add someone to pair with Austin Hedges. Even if they resort to Sandy León, who is a much better fit as Triple-A depth, they would have to add him to the 40-man roster. If the Guardians want to add to their crop of six relievers — yes, they have only six relievers at the moment, which surely must be costing manager Terry Francona sleep — they’ll have to cut ties with some players. If they want to sign a free agent or deal a non-roster prospect for a big leaguer, someone must go. And there aren’t a lot of candidates to dismiss, since the team added 11 prospects to the 40-man roster before the lockout.

The better-equipped rotation
The five starters are in place, and unlike last year’s debacle, there’s depth behind them. The quintet of Shane Bieber, Cal Quantrill, Aaron Civale, Zach Plesac and Triston McKenzie has loads of potential, but there’s room for variance. It’s difficult to forecast how the non-Bieber bunch will fare, given those pitchers’ fluctuations in performance. Plesac flashed front-line ability in 2020 but struggled in stretches last season. Despite pedestrian peripherals, Quantrill thrived in the second half in 2021. McKenzie couldn’t survive the first inning and then couldn’t stop stymying opposing hitters.

Beyond them, the 40-man roster includes Logan S. Allen, Eli Morgan, Cody Morris, Tobias Myers, Konnor Pilkington and Carlos Vargas. Allen is out of minor-league options, so he’ll have to either land a bullpen spot or he could be a trade candidate. Morgan debuted last season and Morris and Myers seem poised to follow suit this year. Last summer, a rash of injuries forced J.C. Mejía (who had barely pitched above A-ball) and Sam Hentges (whose most recent showing was an abysmal season in Double A two years earlier) into action and required Quantrill to pitch on short rest. The Guardians are better equipped to handle any nightmare scenario that surfaces in 2022.

Needed: Relievers
Where did everybody go? At the moment, this is a skeleton crew, a thin group filled with boom-or-bust candidates. Emmanuel Clase is the unquestioned anchor at the back end, but there are few certainties after that.

James Karinchak is the key; the Guardians need him to be dependable, to revert back to anything remotely resembling the dominant force he was before MLB’s crackdown on sticky substances. Anthony Gose offers a 100 mph heater and a wicked slider, but he pitched a grand total of 6 2/3 innings for Cleveland in September. Nick Sandlin is coming off a season-ending shoulder injury, which cut short an impressive rookie campaign. Those could be the club’s core four relievers, with Hentges and Trevor Stephan also in the mix.

And that’s it. There are six relievers on the 40-man roster. So, the bullpen is an area the front office must address. They always sign a veteran or two to a non-roster deal. Scott Atchison, Jeff Manship and Bryan Shaw traveled that route to the big-league roster. Perhaps they’ll shift a starting pitcher or two (Morris? Allen?) to a relief role at the start of the season. Devoting roster space to 11 starters and only six relievers is a bit odd, and the front office will have limited time to straighten out those numbers.

[ Thought I'd copy this one over from the winter ball folder also ]

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Andrés Giménez, stability and defense for the Cardenales infield



Friday 11 | 12:19 p.m.

William Linares

The Cardenales de Lara obtained Andrés Giménez , a major leaguer who plays for the Cleveland Guardians, in the exchange that sent Oswald Peraza to the Leones del Caracas . The infielder from Barquisimeto will have the opportunity to make his debut in the LVBP , where he has not yet played.

Giménez is a big league infielder. He made his Major League debut in 2020 with the New York Mets , a team where he played 49 games and hit .263 in his rookie season. What most caught the attention of his talent is the defense he has, showing great range and good reading of the hits that went through his fields.

José "El Chato" Yépez , Cardenales sports manager, assured after the change that the shortstop promised him to play next season.



"Andrés told us that he would be where the manager needed him (2B, 3B or SS), that his intention was to collaborate and win the games, he will help us defensively," the executive told Lara's press department after the change was completed. .

Andrés Giménez has not played with Leones and because of his desire to be close to his family in Barquisimeto, he was a piece that had all the ballots to be traded to the Cardinals . Nowadays, many players request changes to be able to play where they were born, as happened with Asdrúbal Cabrera or Víctor Reyes when they left for Caribes de Anzoátegui . It is something that has become a common denominator in the teams that are part of the circuit.

"These are similar players: Barquisimetanos, defenders of the short and contemporaries, although Giménez is a little more done," said Carlos Miguel Oropeza, general manager of the crepusculars, in conversation with the digital media Triángulo Deportivo and the journalist Carlos Valmore Rodríguez.

Giménez has two seasons in MLB. In 2020 he was seventh in the Rookie of the Year voting and came to Cleveland in the transaction involving Venezuelan pitcher Carlos Carrasco and Puerto Rican shortstop Francisco Lindor last year.



If his desire to wear Lara's jacket at 22-23 is a reality, the twilight will have won insurance in his infield.

"Giménez has the profile to help us with that and we believe that, in the short and medium term, the possibilities of Giménez playing with us are more real than Peraza's, even if there is no guarantee on that, naturally. Giménez is very motivated by wear the Cardinals uniform and there is the commitment and the desire to play in front of his family and in the team he always was a fan of, in the stadium he used to go to as a child to see his club It is not easy to deliver the third prospect of the New York Yankees, but you receive a player who has already been in the Major Leagues and who was among the top 100 prospects in the majors,” Carlos Miguel Oropeza also told Carlos Valmore Rodríguez.

Juniel Querecuto, Ildemaro Vargas, Carlos Rivero (although voices assure that he is in the market), Andrés Giménez and other names make Cardenales gain stability and good defense in their infield.

[ Oswald Peraza is a 21-year-old shortstop. He is a prospect for the New York Yankees, where he is considered one of the five best promises that the Bronx team has (third, according to MLB Pipeline). The scouting reports indicate that he is a hitter "with a lot of ability to work the strike zone, and the ability to take the ball to different areas of the field. In addition to being able to count on occasional power when he learns to elevate the ball." According to expert projections, he could hit 15 or 20 home runs in MLB at the time. ]

[ Here's Another one I'll copy over from the winter ball folder ]

LVBP: Brayan Rocchio says goodbye to the Tiburones de la Guaira

By VICTOR BRICENO November 21, 2021

The LVBP lost one of its promising players this season. Cleveland infielder and prospect Brayan Rocchio ends his year with Tiburones in Venezuela.

In case you don't know yet, the Venezuelan Brayan Rocchio is the #7 prospect of the Cleveland Guardians organization in the MLB and this 2021 he made his debut in the Venezuelan Winter League with the Tiburones de La Guaira. Rocchio, a young man of only 20 years, showed from game 1 all his talent and solvency both at shortstop of the Sharks, and in the batting box.

[ 20yr old (SS) prospect Brayan Rocchio had a single in the 8th inning tonight in the Venezuelan Winter League. Rocchio reached base 4x (3-4 BB) & is now hitting .458 through 12 games. ]

https://twitter.com/CleGuardPro/status/ ... -guaira%2F

22-48 10R 5(2B) 1(3B) 2HR 6RBI 4BB .458 AVG 1.229 OPS

However, it was more than clear that his internship at the LVBP was not going to last long and that moment has sadly arrived . The Cleveland Guardians recently released their 40-player roster for the 2022 season and Brayan Rocchio is included. Therefore, the team ordered him to finish his performance in Venezuela so that he can prepare for next year's Spring Training.

Brayan Rocchio showed his talent to the LVBP.

Rocchio played 66% of the games within the Tiburones de La Guaira lineup this year and during that tour he showed those skills that make him worthy of his status with his organization in the United States. An ambidextrous hitter with a great vision of the game , with important speed on the bases that makes him aggressive when he is in circulation.

[ Check out the play by #Indians 20yr old (SS) Brayan Rocchio made today in @LVBP_Oficial action. To top it off Rocchio had 3 more hits (3-5 R 2B SB) including his 6th double in 15 games. ]

https://twitter.com/CleGuardPro/status/ ... -guaira%2F

"The Professor", as he is called in the Cleveland Guardians organization , leaves incredibly respectable numbers in the 2021-2022 LVBP and even more so when it comes to a rookie of his caliber: 16JJ - 69AB - 27H - 2HR - 6RBI – 2SB – .415AVG – 1,000 OPS.

Now, being on Cleveland 's 40-man roster makes not only him but all Venezuelans dream of seeing him debut in the Major Leagues at some point in 2022. Perhaps this is his first and last year in the Venezuelan League, but the imprint and identity that this boy leaves with the Tiburones de La Guaira this year, makes us dream big of a bright future in the MLB from now on.

https://twitter.com/JL_Baseball/status/ ... -guaira%2F

The translation to English of these articles leaves a lot to be desired. Couldn't understand a thing in the Gimenez article.

Are these guys still playing?

Hi Seagull,

These guys are not playing. The winter leagues have concluded.

I forgot to edit the translations.

Triston McKenzie, Guardians

Sometimes, it really is as simple as the story the radar gun tells us.





When Triston McKenzie came back from the minor leagues, he threw harder. Those last couple of starts are a little worrisome, but the trend is clear: He threw slower than 92 before he was sent down and faster than 92 when he came back.

Not only is that an important number because the average starter threw 93 mph this year, but it’s important for McKenzie himself. On fastballs 93 mph and above, McKenzie has allowed a .168 batting average and a .294 slugging percentage. On fastballs 92 mph and below, he’s allowed a .260 batting average and a .535 slugging percentage.

That’s a whopping 200-plus points of slugging percentage hanging on a single mile per hour on the gun, but it fits with past research that says there’s a shelf at which fastball velocity becomes way more important, usually around 94 mph.

The trick for McKenzie, who still rates around average by Stuff+, even with the harder fastball, will be for him to successfully locate while he’s throwing as hard as he can. If he pulls that trick off, though, he’ll be yet another win in a long line of wins for the Guardians’ pitching player development process.

So, what's the verdict...keep or trade bait?

See what he does in 22