Cleveland Sports Forum

Cleveland has three positions where it can add power without disrupting potentially its best roster since the early 1990s when Sandy Alomar, Carlos Baerga, Albert Belle, Jim Thome, Kenny Lofton, Paul Sorrento, Charles Nagy, Jose Mesa and others were brought together. They could add pop at first base, DH or catcher.

Some of the potential free agents at DH and first base include: J. D. Martinez, Jose Abreu, Josh Bell, Trey Mancini, Carlos Santana and Anthony Rizzo. Abreu and Rizzo should stir some interest.

Abreu, 36, has had a great career with the White Sox. This year, however, he hit just 15 homers with 75 RBI compared to 30 and 117 in 2021. He still played 157 games and posted a .824 OPS, but there is speculation that the White Sox won’t bring him back.

Rizzo, 33, has a $16 million player option for 2023 with the Yankees. If he opts out, he would not be cheap, but he did hit 32 homers this year.

The Guardians under Francona have always been willing to concede offense for defense, and the care and handling of pitchers, when it comes to catchers. Austin Hedges, eligible for free agency, and Luke Maile are good examples. They also have to decide if Bo Naylor, who made his big league debut this season, is ready to play a role in 2023.

Naylor hit 21 homers and stole 20 bases in the minors before getting promoted to Cleveland.

The Guardians pushed hard for Oakland catcher Sean Murphy at the trade deadline, but couldn’t reach a deal. They could revisit those talks this offseason.

Willson Contreras, like Murphy, is a catcher who can hit. Unlike Murphy, he’s a free agent and is going to draw a lot of interest and a big salary.


“We’ll continue to look at opportunities to improve over the course of the winter,” said Chris Antonetti, president of baseball operations, regarding adding power. “Exactly what that looks like, we have a little bit of time to figure out.

“But to the extent that we can improve our offense and score more runs or keep the opponent from scoring as many runs through pitching, we’ll look to explore both of those avenues.”

This is an exciting time for the Guardians. They have a vibrant minor league system, a talented young team in the big leagues and room to expand the payroll.

If you’re into windows of opportunity opening and shutting, Cleveland’s is opening. A touch of power would only help.

Lloyd: Where do Guardians find more power next season?


By Jason Lloyd
6h ago
44


Here is the most encouraging part about where the Cleveland Guardians stand and the most important thing to remember as they enter another crucial offseason: They have everything they need to get whatever they want.

The trade assets are endless. The payroll should receive a bump just based on arbitration figures. Everything is in front of them and a new contention window has officially swung open.

Much of the lineup is set. This season began as a fact-finding mission to determine who could be part of the nucleus moving forward, and for that, the season was an emphatic success. José Ramírez, Andrés Giménez, Steven Kwan, Myles Straw and Oscar Gonzalez established themselves as everyday players for many years to come. Josh Naylor is probably in that group, too, but we’ll get to him and Amed Rosario in a moment.

As the offseason begins, one of the most pressing priorities is where to find more power.

Manager Terry Francona spoke throughout the postseason that this isn’t exactly the ideal way to win, this hell-on-the-bases, dine-and-dash style of creativity and chaos. It’s much easier and less stressful to just hit the ball over the wall.

When the homers come matters, too. Hitting 30 more solo shots in 5-0 games isn’t as impactful as a three-run homer in the seventh inning of a 3-2 game.

With so many roles on this team already answered for next season, how does a lineup that hit the second-fewest homers in baseball create more pockets of power?

The good news is power has dipped across the league for four consecutive seasons. While the Guardians might be behind, at least the rest of the league also is descending. Banning the shift next season could sap a little more power as well since batters theoretically should find more holes in the infield and don’t have to just aim for the bleachers.

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On average, teams hit about 173 home runs in 2022 — down from an average of 198 last season. The Guardians hit 127 this year, down from 203 the year before. For simplicity, let’s assume the power numbers for next year remain about where they are now and call it 170 home runs to reach the league average.

Where do the Guardians find 43 home runs — while acknowledging that the lack of power this year didn’t exactly equate to a lack of offense?

Cleveland was 12th in home runs in 2021 but 18th in runs scored. They were 29th in home runs this season but 15th in runs. Can they add a little muscle without sacrificing much aggressiveness and overall ability to get on base? And more importantly, without weakening a superior defense? Kwan and Straw received Fielding Bible Awards for being the best defenders at their positions. Giménez could soon join them on postseason defensive awards lists. Ramírez is marvelous at third, and Rosario has made significant improvements at short.

“I think one of our challenges is to increase our offense realizing defensively how much that helped us win. And not sacrificing that,” Francona said. “Part of the fun of watching the development of our guys (is) you don’t know if they hit for high average or do they hit for power? Do they do both? Does one rob the other? You don’t know all those, but they’re beginning to be answered. And fortunately for us, there were a lot of yeses and guys we think we can get better with.”

The vast majority of any offensive improvement will likely occur organically. For example, there is far more power in Oscar Gonzalez’s massive 6-foot-4 frame than the 11 home runs he hit this season. The same could be true of Naylor. He clubbed 20 home runs and doesn’t turn 26 until June. His production could be hurt by a future platoon role, but could he get to 25 home runs next season? It doesn’t seem unrealistic, particularly since only one of his home runs came against a lefty.

How much more power is in Giménez’s bat? Ramírez hit 29 with a painful thumb injury for half the season. It’s feasible he returns to 35ish with two working thumbs. Even a guy like Kwan, who will never be a slugger, could ultimately get to more power than the six home runs he hit this year.

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It has become the organization’s philosophy to identify contact guys (like Kwan, Owen Miller and Tyler Freeman) and develop the power, just as they seem to target control pitchers and then work on creating more velocity. It certainly seems to be a winning formula, particularly as baseball reverts to a more traditional defensive look next season.

“I think we want guys to learn how to hit and then they grow into power,” Francona said during the team’s exit interviews. “If they try for power before they know how to hit, that usually doesn’t work to their benefit. I think we have a number of guys who will grow into more power.”

In that vein, could Gonzalez, Naylor, Ramírez and Giménez combine for an additional 40 home runs next year? Possible but unlikely if only because of health factors over an entire season. Another 20-25 homers from that group certainly isn’t necessarily unrealistic.

Still, some upgrades are needed, starting with a new catcher and perhaps a platoon mate for Naylor at first. The Guardians are uniquely positioned to where nothing — except Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani — should be off-limits this winter.

They have a war chest of trade assets in their minors and further strengthened their position this season. Seventeen rookies made their major-league debut, but they can’t keep them all.

We haven’t even seen guys like George Valera, Daniel Espino, Gavin Williams or Brayan Rocchio yet. Meanwhile, a guy like Will Brennan certainly increased his trade value with a productive September in Cleveland.

Nolan Jones put the wheels back on his career with a healthy season at Columbus and an impactful stint in Cleveland. Jones seems to be a replica of Naylor (a lefty who struggles with left-handed pitching) and is an ideal trade candidate, particularly since his natural third-base position is now blocked for the next six years. Will Benson and Freeman also are duplicates of what is already established in the everyday lineup.

Ramírez is a fixture at third and Giménez flourished into an All-Star at second. The outfield appears set with Kwan, Straw and Gonzalez.

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“I’m not sure we’ve seen Kwan’s ceiling, as exciting as that is,” Francona said. “Same with Giménez. They’ve all proven that they can be really good major league players, but we still think there’s some growth there.”

There are still glaring needs.

Austin Hedges is a free agent, and while he certainly seems an ideal backup given his presence in the clubhouse and what he has meant to this pitching staff, it’s time to do better than his .489 OPS.


Oakland catcher Sean Murphy would add some pop to the Guardians lineup. (Kelley L Cox / USA Today Sports)
If Chris Antonetti, Mike Chernoff and Francona deduce Bo Naylor is not ready, they can rekindle talks with Oakland for Sean Murphy, who has three years of control remaining and is projected to earn $3.5 million next season (a $500,000 savings from Hedges this year). Murphy’s 18 home runs this year would’ve ranked third in Cleveland behind Ramirez and Naylor.

If another Matt Olson or Juan Soto becomes available this winter, the Guardians can feel more confident pushing more chips into the pile knowing they’re one bat away. Ohtani is certainly tantalizing if the Angels make him available, and the Guardians could make as competitive of an offer as any team to go get him. But unlike Soto, he’ll earn a mammoth $30 million this year and is down to his final year of control before free agency. That’s not a formula that works here.

This franchise is rarely active in free agency. Their most impactful free-agent signing of the last 25 years, Edwin Encarnación, fell to them amid a perfect storm of events. Could the same happen with a guy like Anthony Rizzo? Perhaps, but unlikely.

Naylor is adequate defensively and is serviceable as a designated hitter, but he needs help against lefties. Rizzo also is a lefty and would be more of a replacement than a platoon mate. Jose Abreu will become a free agent after his power dipped dramatically last season at age 35. During the playoff series with the Rays, The Athletic’s Zack Meisel suggested old pal Yandy Diaz as a perfect fit on this roster.

The decisions surrounding Rosario and Shane Bieber are far more complicated and deserve a deeper examination in the coming weeks. Rosario is down to one year of team control and Bieber has two remaining. Gabriel Arias hardly looked overmatched during the ALDS against the Yankees and could be the future at short, but the Guardians to this point have been unable to dislodge Rosario from the lineup.

As with most things this team does, the answers to both could be twisted together in a complex riddle. Rarely are decisions made in isolation here. Rosario is estimated to make $9 million in arbitration and Bieber nearly $11 million. Can they pay both? What they decide on Bieber very well could impact what they do with Rosario or vice versa.

The Guardians are projected to pay about $38 million this winter in arbitration to Rosario, Bieber, Naylor, Cal Quantrill, James Karinchak, Aaron Civale, Zach Plesac, Anthony Gose and Luke Maile. It’s unlikely they keep everyone, nor do they need them all.

The trade chest is stocked. They have everything they need to get whatever they want. Power has to be somewhere on the list. It’s almost time to start shopping.

Trade Candidates: Zach Plesac, Aaron Civale
By Mark Polishuk | October 30, 2022 at 10:39pm CDT

For the better part of the last decade, the Guardians have been as good as any team in baseball at identifying and developing young pitchers, which has kept the rotation strong despite several notable departures. Due to Cleveland’s limited payroll, the pattern has been pretty simple — the Guards trade away a prominent name (i.e. Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco, Mike Clevinger) when he gets too expensive, and then the club replaces that starter with a fresh face from the farm system, or perhaps a pitcher acquired in the trade. More often than not, that new hurler then becomes a quality arm in his own right, until his price tag also starts to rise and the pattern then repeats itself.

Zach Plesac and Aaron Civale are different kinds of possible trade candidates, as their status isn’t tied to their salaries. Both pitchers have just reached arbitration eligibility, with Plesac projected for a $2.9MM salary and Civale for $2.2MM in 2023. These modest starting points mean that even if Plesac or Civale have a pair of excellent seasons in 2023 and 2024, their salaries over his three remaining years of team control should still be manageable even for a cost-conscious organization like the Guardians.

On paper, these are the kinds of pitchers the Guards would seemingly want to hang onto as rotation depth, given their arb control and the decent track records that both hurlers have posted over their four MLB seasons. The two even have rather similar career numbers, though Plesac has 445 1/3 innings pitched to Civale’s 353 frames. However, the Guardians are one of the few teams who might have starting pitching depth to spare, and with Plesac and Civale sitting at the back of the rotation, at least one might be expendable enough to move for other roster needs.

Which is the more expendable of the duo? As noted, their resumes bear a lot of similarities, plus both right-handers are 27 years old (Plesac is about five months older). The innings gap is perhaps the most notable difference, and though Civale has been the less durable of the two, he might have the more upside.

Civale had a 60-day injured list stint in 2021 due to a sprained middle finger on his right hand. This limited him to 124 1/3 innings, and that number then dropped to 97 innings last year due to three separate 15-day IL visits. A wrist sprain, glute strain, and forearm inflammation all kept Civale off the mound, and the bigger-picture concern of the forearm problem dissipated when Civale was able to return after only a minimal absence. These injuries contributed to a 4.92 ERA for Civale, even if his 3.55 SIERA presented a much more favorable view of his performance.

Civale had an excellent 5.4% walk rate, and above-average strikeout and chase rates. With a fastball that averaged only 91.2mph, Civale relied on his curveball and sinker, and his spin rates (on his heater and his curve) were among the best in baseball. Unfortunately, Civale was hit hard in his lone postseason appearance, allowing three runs while only retiring one batter as the Game 5 starter in the ALDS. This put Cleveland in an early hole that it couldn’t escape, as the Yankees eliminated the Guards from the playoffs.

Plesac posted a 4.31 ERA/4.46 SIERA over 131 2/3 innings in 2022, with an above-average 6.7% walk rate but not much else in the way of secondary metrics. The right-hander also isn’t a particularly hard thrower and he doesn’t miss many bats (18.7% career strikeout rate). In fact, Plesac has posted some of the lower strikeout rates of any pitcher in baseball over the last two seasons, also sitting near the back of the pack in barrels, barrel rate, and hard-hit ball rate overall. With a career .265 BABIP, Plesac has gotten some help from the Guardians’ strong defense in limiting the damage from all that hard contact.

While Plesac has been healthier than Civale, Plesac has also spent some time on the IL over the last two seasons, which brings us to the other X-factor in this discussion of trade candidates. Only those inside the Guardians clubhouse and front office would know the truth of the matter, but there have been some rumblings that Plesac may have worn out his welcome in Cleveland due to concerns about his maturity level.

On the injury front, Plesac didn’t pitch in September of this season due to a fractured pinkie finger in his throwing hand, as Plesac reportedly hurt himself punching the mound in anger over allowing a homer to Seattle’s Jake Lamb on August 27. He also missed a little over six weeks in 2021 due to a right thumb fracture, which occurred while Plesac was “rather aggressively taking off his undershirt,” in the memorable words of manager Terry Francona. This made it two temper-related injuries in as many years for Plesac, and that followed his most well-publicized controversy during the shortened 2020 season.

In August of that year, Plesac and Clevinger violated league COVID-19 protocols by leaving the team hotel for a night out in Chicago. The two pitchers were subsequently placed on the team’s restricted list and then sent to the alternate training site that was served as a de facto minor league camp during the pandemic season. Plesac was eventually recalled back to the big league roster at the end of August, while the situation was one of the factors in Cleveland’s decision to deal Clevinger to San Diego.

The pitchers’ actions were very poorly received within the clubhouse, as multiple teammates were angered both by their lack of honesty about their actions as well as the health risk created by the protocol violation. As well, Plesac attempted to defend himself in an Instagram video by claiming the media had overblown the situation, and that ill-advised video also didn’t sit well with teammates.

This incident occurred over two years ago, and to reiterate, it isn’t known if any hard feelings still exist towards Plesac within the Guardians clubhouse. It may help Plesac that many members of that 2020 roster are no longer with the team, and he is now actually one of the longer-tenured players on a very young Cleveland team. Still, if weighing which of Civale or Plesac to move in a trade, this past situation might still be a consideration in the front office’s mind.

Prior to the trade deadline, reports suggested that the Guards were open to offers for controllable pitchers, at least as a matter of due diligence. This immediately sparked a plethora of Shane Bieber rumors, but it doesn’t really seem like a Bieber deal is on Cleveland’s radar in the near future (Steve Adams recently addressed the possibility of a Bieber deal in a piece for MLBTR subscribers). Triston McKenzie had a breakout year and is controlled through 2026, and Cal Quantrill is another 27-year-old pitcher in his first year of arb-eligibility. While Quantrill’s projected $6MM salary is significantly higher than Plesac or Civale, Quantrill has also done more to establish himself as a reliable arm. Cleveland turned to Quantrill for two postseason starts, while Civale and Plesac were both somewhat reduced to afterthought status in the playoffs.

Konnor Pilkington made 11 starts for the Guardians last season, and Hunter Gaddis, Xzavion Curry, and Cody Morris were among the other young starters who made their Major League debuts last season. Daniel Espino is one of baseball’s top pitching prospects and seems ready to make his debut at some point in 2023. Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams are also top-100 prospects who could be late-season callups, and there are other pitchers within Cleveland’s upper tier of arms that might factor into their 2023 plans. There is enough depth and potential here that the Guards might feel like they can readily replace Civale’s 1.3 fWAR or Plesac’s 0.9 fWAR from the 2022 season.

That said, quite a few teams would happily take Civale or Plesac’s contributions in their rotations. Either pitcher could be seen as a change-of-scenery or even a buy-low candidate, though the three seasons of arbitration control would still allow Cleveland to ask for an interesting return. The Phillies reportedly checked in on Plesac in July, and purely speculatively, Civale or Plesac might have particular appeal to ex-Cleveland staffers now working for other teams. Former Guardians assistant GM Carter Hawkins might want to reunite with either pitcher now that Hawkins is the Cubs’ general manager, or former Cleveland assistant director of pitching development Matt Blake might feel he can get either right-hander on track in his current role as the Yankees’ pitching coach.

As always, the “you can never have too much pitching” credo must be mentioned, as the Guardians aren’t under any real pressure to move any of their arms. A strong rotation is such a backbone of the Guards’ team, in fact, that they might even be a little less willing to deal from their surplus just in case the younger pitchers aren’t ready to contribute to a contending team. Still, teams in need of pitching will unquestionably be sending a lot of offers in Cleveland’s direction, and Civale and Plesac might be the two most logical names to be dangled.

I'm surprised no one is talking about upgrading Straw. I don't care how great a defensive player he is. Major Leaguers have to be able to hit a ball more than 300 feet. Kwan can play CF. Fine someone with some pop.

I would expect them to trade Plesac. At least hope they do.
They have other starter candidates who should be able to post 4.30 ERAs,lose 13 games and bash their hands against varying hard surfaces when frustrated.

The Athletic’s Zack Meisel suggested old pal Yandy Diaz as a perfect fit on this roster.

He doesn't get them any more power, His offensive approach fits into that of the current Guardians, except he can't get get from 1st to 3rd on a hit, Is his defense at 1st any better than Naylor's? I have no idea. I definitely prefer bringing back Yandy to bringing back Jake Bauers.

Cleveland Guardians boast franchise-record 4 Gold Glove winners

Apr 28, 2022; Anaheim, California, USA; Cleveland Guardians center fielder Myles Straw (7) makes a diving catch off a ball hit by Los Angeles Angels right fielder Taylor Ward (3) in the first inning of the game at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
By Zack Meisel
2h ago
6

Save Article
CLEVELAND — The Guardians’ bloop-and-scoot offense received plenty of attention this summer and fall. Their pitching staff, the eternal anchor of the franchise, silenced hitters during the team’s second-half ascent in the American League Central.

But the element of Cleveland’s 2022 campaign that contributed to the club’s cause, even though it didn’t garner many headlines? The defense.

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So, here’s a headline: Cleveland boasts a franchise-record four Gold Glove Award winners.

Myles Straw, Steven Kwan, Andrés Giménez and Shane Bieber all received the honor Tuesday. It’s the first Gold Glove for each player.

The winners are selected via voting from league coaches and managers (which counts for 75 percent of the equation) and SABR fielding data (the other 25 percent). José Ramírez was one of three AL finalists at third base.

The Guardians are the first AL team to claim four Gold Gloves since the 2003 Mariners. (The St. Louis Cardinals had five last season.) It’s the second time in the past 45 years that an AL team has had four Gold Glove recipients. Cleveland’s previous record was three, set in 2000 with infielders Roberto Alomar, Omar Vizquel and Travis Fryman.

Bieber is the first pitcher in team history to win the award. He finished second among AL pitchers in putouts and fourth in defensive runs saved with three.

Giménez joins César Hernández (2020) and Alomar (1999-2001) as the only second basemen in club history to win one. He led AL second basemen with 16 defensive runs saved, ranked in the 98th percentile in Statcast’s Outs Above Average metric and committed only nine errors. Giménez flashed his defensive acumen in the first inning of the All-Star Game when he snagged a sharp Manny Machado chopper that caromed off the mound and zipped toward center field. While in motion, he flung the baseball behind his back to Tim Anderson, who tapped second base and threw to first to complete a double play.

Straw, too, ranked in the 98th percentile in Outs Above Average. His 17 defensive runs saved were second among all center fielders. He led the AL with 12 outfield assists.

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Throughout the summer as Straw struggled at the plate, manager Terry Francona pointed to his defense as the reason he deemed it unwise to remove Straw from the lineup. He routinely noted how seemingly any ball hit to center field was an out, and that offered the team some comfort.

“Defensively, that was some kind of year,” Francona said. “He never once took his offense to the outfield. I mean, ever.”

In the spring, Kwan would have seemed to be the unlikeliest of the position players to capture a Gold Glove, but that fits the theme of his surprising, standout rookie season. Several coaches who worked with Kwan said he made improvements with his running form, lateral movement and pre-pitch stance, which helped him become a well-rounded fielder since he already possessed speed, a strong arm and a desire to work at his craft.

“He wants the information,” said J.T. Maguire, the organization’s outfield and base-running coordinator. “He’s a very cerebral guy.”

Kyle Hudson, who works with the team’s outfielders, marveled at Kwan’s ability to locate the ball, take his eye off it while he turns and dashes to the right spot, then pinpoint it and haul it in.

Related: More on Kwan’s defensive prowess

Kwan led all left fielders with 21 defensive runs saved. He totaled seven outfield assists. He joins Sandy Alomar Jr. (1990) as the only Cleveland rookies to win a Gold Glove. Alomar was also named AL rookie of the year that season. Only six rookies in the league have won a Gold Glove since then.

Kwan is the second left fielder in team history to win a Gold Glove and the first since Minnie Miñoso in 1959. He and Straw are the first Cleveland outfielders to win a Gold Glove since Grady Sizemore in 2008.

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“I think we all saw what that can do,” Francona said, “when you play defense the way we could at times.”

Great recognition

WoW

Guardians Chat
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Mark P
11:11
Good morning, let's talk Guardians! We'll wait another minute to get a few more questions flow in, and then begin
Jeff from Accounting
11:12
Some difficult decisions will need to be made this offseason. If you're the Cleveland FO, which prospects would you consider untouchable in trade discussions?
Mark P
11:13
Pretty much all of the top-100 guys, like Espino, Williams, Valera, Bibee, Naylor. The one exception might be if Naylor was dealt as part of a trade for a veteran catcher, though the A's and Blue Jays (the most logical candidates to move an everyday backstop) already have other catchers in the mix.
11:15
It's worth noting, however, that the Guardians rarely move any of their top prospects, so it might be surprising to see anyone in their top, say, 10-15 head out in a deal. Prospects are such a huge part of Cleveland's plan that you generally don't see the Guards make deals where they trade three good minor leaguers for a win-now piece
Darren
11:15
Abreu to a 2-year deal, trade for Murphy from A's and Burnes from Brewers and call it an off-season, right? They have the prospect capital to get it done and it's about time they took the shackles off if you ask me.
Mark P
11:17
The previous answer addresses this....acquiring one of Burnes or Murphy in a trade would be unlikely, but both seems far-fetched. Also, this offseason scenario boosts payroll to a level I'm not sure the team is yet ready to go, even though ownership has allowed some (relatively) higher spending in pursuit of a title
William
11:18
Would a package of Jordan Walker, Masyn Winn, and Matt Rajcic get Shane Bieber?
Mark P
11:19
That would get the Guards' attention, at least, but I doubt they're trading Bieber. Also, they'd probably seek out a more highly-regarded arm than Rajcic
Brandan
11:19
Poll Time: How will the Guardians fix the issue at catcher? Internally, free agency (includes Hedges), or trade
Mark P
11:19
How will the Guardians address the catcher position?
Internally (34.8% | 46 votes)

Free agency (including Hedges) (26.5% | 35 votes)

Trade (38.6% | 51 votes)

Total Votes: 132
Ryan
11:20
How concerning is the leftiness of the Guardians lineup? They already had some bad splits this year that were exposed in the playoffs, and that's without adding Bo Naylor, Nolan Jones, and George Valera to the mix. Can they avoid this haunting them for years to come, or is there a path to minimizing that Achilles' heel?
Mark P
11:21
This is a good point that I neglected to mention in my Outlook piece. If the Guards were to add a bat to the lineup (whether at DH, catcher, maybe in the outfield), you'd think they'd prioritize a right-handed hitter to add a little more balance
Guest
11:22
Who would be your #1 extension priority for Cleveland? I rank McKenzie #1 and Gimenez #2.
Mark P
11:22
I'd agree with this. I also wouldn't rule out an extension with Kwan, if the Guards are sold on him.
Mike
11:23
If the Guardians traded Bieber this offseason, what could be the expected return?
Mark P
11:23
For two full seasons of Bieber, the Guardians would want more than the Reds got for one year + two months and a postseason of Luis Castillo
Jay
11:24
Why do people think Clase could get traded? He just signed an extension and Cleveland won’t trade away arguably the best closer in baseball.
Mark P
11:25
Many fans seem to think the Guardians are perpetually on the verge of trading every good player on their roster. Which, to be fair, they often do, but only when the timing is right.
Ryan
11:25
Rank these Amed Rosario possibilities: Trade him this offseason, extend him this offseason, keep him for the final year of his contract and let him walk or trade him at the deadline.
Mark P
11:27
From least to most likely, in my view...
4) Extension
3) Deadline trade (mostly because I think the Guardians will be in contention, and because I think Rosario will be gone before July if he is dealt)
2) Let him walk next winter
1) Trade this offseason
Kate
11:28
What kind of role do you think Will Brennan starts the season with next year? Does he get everyday ABs with the big league squad? Platoon role? Or will he start in AAA?
Mark P
11:29
Platoon role, maybe getting some at-bats in place of Straw or O-Gon, or at the DH spot.
Benjamin, J
11:29
How much value would a Josh Naylor type player have on the open market? I like Naylor, but I feel like he's an injury risk and I would prefer to see a Jose Abreu at 1st than a Naylor. Could Cleveland get anything of value from Josh?
Mark P
11:30
Naylor has plenty of trade value. Young, lots of power potential, and controlled through 2025. It's for all of these reasons that Cleveland isn't likely to trade him, though
B
11:30
Bees?
Mark P
11:30
Beads?!
Allen
11:30
Any chance the twins could snag one of their SS in a trade?
Mark P
11:31
Never say never, though moving a prospect to a division rival carries some extra risk for Cleveland, and it might come at an extra cost for Minnesota
Jay
11:32
Why wouldn’t you extend Bieber over McKenzie or Gimenez?
Mark P
11:32
A Bieber extension would be way more expensive
Noah
11:32
Any potential FAs that Cleveland actually has a shot at landing?
Mark P
11:34
Depends on payroll. As I noted in the outlook piece, bumping the payroll up by even $10MM would allow the Guardians to explore a lot more options this winter. If they did move Rosario, then that's suddenly around $19MM of money to spend in 2023.
Duffy Scliff
11:34
Do you think this will be Tito’s last season as manager (due to age and health concerns)? Will the hire someone internally afterwards you think the carry on the foundation Tito has created?
Mark P
11:36
Only Francona knows that for sure, and while he'll manage for as long as he can, he's already hinted that he's nearing the end. Wouldn't be surprising if 2023 is indeed his final year, and it's difficult to see him still in the dugout beyond, say, 2025 at the most.

On paper, you'd think Hale or Alomar would become the new manager, to keep that continuity intact.
Criznit
11:37
A reunion with Carlos Santana? Cost shouldn't be an issue.
Mark P
11:38
Santana hasn't been productive for three seasons now. Familiarity aside, you'd think the Guardians would want more of a clear upgrade to the lineup
Taylor
11:39
Why should fans care about payroll?
Mark P
11:41
Generally a good idea to keep expectations realistic. Like, signing Aaron Judge would help the Guardians add more power, but that's obviously not going to happen.

Spending doesn't equal success, obviously, but fans should care about a team's payroll as a broader scope of what to expect from the organization. And, if spending is unusually low for no legitimate reason, this is certainly a reason to be critical.
Joey
11:42
Christian Walker seems like the perfect trade target to fill the power hole in this lineup. Do you think the D-Backs are open to dealing him?
Mark P
11:43
They'd be open for the right offer, but I suspect the D'Backs think they can contend for a playoff spot in 2023 if they play their cards right. Walker would come at a high price tag.
Colby
11:44
Guardians farm system is top what? 1, 3, 5? So many good young players about to hit the show, even after having the youngest team and 17 rookies play last year. The best is yet to come.
Mark P
11:45
That's maybe the most impressive part about the Guards' 2022 season....they did all this without even arguably getting to their real blue chip prospects. I don't think Kwan was even on the radar as a top-25 prospect and look what happened.

Cleveland's front office does an exceptional job of drafting and developing players, and also smartly acquiring good young players in trades
The Fed
11:46
If the Dodgers non tender Bellinger should Guardians pursue him on one
Mark P
11:47
I'm more down on Bellinger than some, since I think his hitting woes are more injury-related than "needs a change of scenery" related. Acquiring Bellinger might not be too useful for Cleveland, since they already have Straw as a great-glove, no-hit outfielder
Charlie O'
11:47
Murphy for Espino, Jones, and Allen? Or is Espino nearly untouchable do you think?
Mark P
11:48
Espino is almost certainly untouchable. No way the Guards make that offer for Murphy.
Guest
11:48
Is Arias ready for full time SS duty?
rickydo22
11:49
Is Arias ready for Full time duty @ SS?
Mark P
11:50
As a defender, seems like it. But his hitting is a question mark, and the Guardians don't need another position taken up with a great-glove/no-bat player.

Not that Arias can't unlock something at the plate, since he isn't even 23 yet. But the Guardians probably want to see him get some consistent numbers up at Triple-A before giving him a longer look in the majors.
Zach L
11:52
Think a combo of Oscar, Plesac or Civale, Jose Tena, and another prospect would snag Bryan Reynolds? Pirates are rebuilding and need talent all over the field. Oscar had a great year but was inflated by a .345 BABIP. Reynolds seems like an ideal fit for the lineup plus he's a switch hitter. Trade also helps with a 40 man crunch
Mark P
11:53
Unless that "other prospect" is Espino, Pittsburgh isn't accepting that offer. They're wanting the sun and the moon for Reynolds.
Guest
11:53
Is there any specific position you deem essential to fill?
Mark P
11:55
I guess DH, since that's the most obvious place to put a big bat (the team's biggest need). But naturally catcher is important since Hedges is a free agent, Bo Naylor may or may not be ready yet, and Maile might be a non-tender.
Guards guy
11:56
i remember the post about zach Plesac being a trade candidate from a few days ago, but that has me wondering: do you think any team will really give up (quality) assets to trade for a player with so many question marks and issues like him? I’ve actually seen him as more as a non-tender candidate because of that, and they have Morris and Pilkington who both pitched solid down the stretch to easily replace him
Mark P
11:58
They won't non-tender a player like Plesac, who does have trade value as a controllable and decent starting pitcher. The off-the-field stuff is a concern, true, but as I stressed in the outlook, it's all just speculation. I don't know how the Guardians feel about Plesac internally, or whether they do see him expendable or not.
Guest
11:58
SPEND MONEY
Mark P
11:58
I mean, I was just going to make my own lunch today, but fine, delivery it is.
Pete O'Brien
11:59
Wilson Contreras would sure look nice in a Cleveland uniform.
Mark P
12:00
Doesn't seem likely, due to both cost and fit. The Guardians have made such a priority of catcher defense that it would represent a hard pivot to sign Contreras.
Wayne Kirby
12:00
Are you a believer in Andres Gimenez, or was this a fluky season?
Mark P
12:02
I think he'll be a good everyday player, but there are enough outliers in his 2022 numbers that it was a "fluke" to some extent. But, Gimenez doesn't have to be a 140 wRC+ type to be successful....if he's even in the 110 wRC+ range next year and still plays excellent defense, that's a fine player to have in a lineup
whitfield
12:03
What are the odds of the Guardians signing a FA starter?
Mark P
12:05
Maybe depends on what they do with Civale or Plesac, but probably not very high. They simply have so many young pitchers on hand that spending even a few million for a veteran innings-eater might not be necessary.

Now, if they think some veteran is available at that price and he has a Jose Quintana-esque resurgence in him, they'll go for it. But in general, Cleveland has been more than happy just sticking with its farm system to generate pitching
Kevin
12:06
The Guards and Marlins seem like a solid fit as trade partners. Pablo Lopez and Garrett Cooper both make a lot of sense for the Guardians, while Cleveland has plenty of depth at the upper minor league level and on the big league club in the OF and middle infield that Miami is seeking. Thoughts?
Mark P
12:06
Makes sense to me!
I’m a Red Sox fan
12:07
JD at DH? Vazquez at catcher?
Mark P
12:08
I'm not sure what Vazquez will land in free agency, but considering that half the league needs catching, his asking price might take him beyond Cleveland's comfort zone.

Martinez is an interesting idea for DH, though he isn't coming off a good season. His power numbers being in decline is a particular concern for the Guardians, since the whole point of adding a DH-only type would be to see some serious home run pop
Pete
12:10
How close are Gavin Williams, Espino, Logan Allen, and Tanner Burns to making their debuts? Can that motivate a Bieber trade for mlb-ready power prospects? Francisco Alvarez may be a reach here, but someone in that mold
Mark P
12:11
It's one thing to ask these younger pitchers to "replace" a Plesac or a Civale, but it's another to have them step into Bieber's role.

Big picture, I do think the Guardians will eventually deal Bieber. But it won't be until next offseason, since he's still affordable now, and the Guards want another year to evaluate the younger arms to see if any do have front-of-the-rotation potential
Pablo Lopez
12:12
Pablo Lopez for Valera, which sides says no?
Mark P
12:13
The Marlins, who would want more than "just" one prospect for Lopez. But Valera would very likely be the first player they ask about from the Guardians, given Miami's need for hitting
Justin from Florida
12:14
I’m concerned that with the success they had this season, with their minuscule payroll, they won’t see the need to bring in a legitimate power hitter this offseason. Are there plans to address needs thru free agency or will let look internally?
Mark P
12:16
Power is such a glaring need that I find it hard to believe it wouldn't be addressed. Obviously the Guardians hope that Josh Naylor can hit another level as a power hitter, or maybe that Bo Naylor can add some pop from the catcher's spot. But, bringing in a slugger would be a more direct way of solving the problem.
Benjamin, J
12:19
What would an elite non-closer like Trevor Stephan get in an extension?
Mark P
12:20
Interesting concept. Since they've already committed a good bit of money to Clase, I don't see the Guardians also spending extra to lock up another bullpen arm, given the volatility of relief pitchers.

If I'm Stephan's reps, I'd basically ask for a Clase deal, but that's probably not something the Guards would do
12:22
We're past the hour mark, so time to wrap things up. Thanks for all the questions, and stay tuned to MLBTR as we continue these team-related chats!
fyi, if you're interested in more baseball Q&A, one of the many benefits of our Trade Rumors Front Office subscription is the exclusive weekly live chats. The more limited field means you're about 10 times more likely to get a question answered. For more on our memberships, check out this link:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/membersh ... at-11-3-22

that was interesting stuff.

3. Rule 5 Draft Protection Deadline Looms

As Mark Polishuk noted in his offseason preview, the deadline to add players to the 40-man roster in order to protect them from the Rule 5 draft is November 15th this year. Seeing as there was no R5 draft last offseason, teams will likely have more players to protect than usual, which could lead to roster crunches across baseball. This could also lead to some players getting cut from 40-man rosters a few days ahead of November 18th’s non-tender deadline, and some minor trades such as yesterday’s Sam Hilliard deal between the Rockies and Braves. Overall, with these dates being earlier on the offseason calendar, fans should expect a larger quantity of winter moves to happen in this first week of the offseason than in recent years, though said moves won’t necessarily be at the top of the free agent market.

Cleveland Guardians (prediction by Meisel)

The Guardians finally swing a long-awaited, noteworthy trade, packaging several prospects/young players for someone more established. It’s the sort of deal that makes Chris Antonetti sweat as his quivering index finger hovers over the “send” button on his phone’s keyboard before he submits the decisive text that confirms he’s in.

This seemed like a prudent move a year ago or at the trade deadline; instead, the team stood pat. But there doesn’t seem to be room for Nolan Jones and Gabriel Arias and Tyler Freeman and Will Brennan and Brayan Rocchio and Richie Palacios and George Valera, who are all big league-ready or close to it.

Cleveland could revisit Oakland’s asking price for Sean Murphy. They could survey the starting pitcher market. They will do something. Finally. Maybe.

-Zack Meisel

The Guardians’ unsung heroes: 4 coaches behind young players’ breakouts

Cleveland Guardians assistant hitting coach Victor Rodriguez during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, May 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Darren Yamashita)
By Zack Meisel
Nov 8, 2022


CLEVELAND — It takes a village. Ask a young Guardians player to name a coach or coordinator who helped steer him toward the big leagues and he’ll offer one name. And then another. And then six or seven more.

But for four Cleveland players who delivered breakout seasons — either in the majors or the upper levels of the minors en route to the majors — we highlighted one member of the organization who paved the way for a memorable 2022 season.
Left fielder Steven Kwan and outfield/base-running coordinator J.T. Maguire

Kwan had the wind knocked out of him when he dove into the stands in Seattle to haul in a foul ball in late August. It’s Myles Straw’s favorite catch of the year because of the impressive display of athleticism and determination and also because of the antics that ensued. Kwan had the wind knocked out of him, but Straw couldn’t resist the chance to mess with his outfield mate. As Kwan sat against the green wall and clutched his chest, he asked Straw if the catch counted.

“No, it didn’t count,” Straw said. “Uh-uh.”

Of course, the catch did count, and it ranks at or near the top of Kwan’s collection of impressive snags.

“I can’t even breathe and you’re still messing with me?” Kwan said, laughing, last week after he and Straw claimed Gold Glove Awards, two of a franchise-record four won by the Guardians.

Kwan’s approach at the plate garnered plenty of attention from the opening weekend of the season, when he racked up hits and demonstrated an unparalleled aversion to swings-and-misses. His defense, though, attracted more plaudits as the season unfolded.

Cleveland drafted Kwan in 2018 out of Oregon State. He made a brief stop in short-season Mahoning Valley and then visited the club’s Arizona complex for an offseason camp led by the recently hired Maguire. At the time, Maguire thought Kwan had a strong arm and enough speed to cover a bunch of ground. He worked on the efficiency of his running form and his lateral movement when corralling groundballs.

Maguire: “You tell him something, he’ll look at you, like, ‘OK, why did you say that?’ It’s good for a coach in that sense because it gives you an opportunity to give it a ‘why’ instead of just barking out orders. He wants to know why with a lot of things. Being able to give feedback that way, I thought it was a really good opportunity for him and I to build that trust.”

Kwan: “In college, the idea was basically, ‘Go out and get the ball.’ And so you just go on instinct. But I had always wanted something closer, more detailed stuff. He came with stuff I had never even heard of before, like working with ping-pong balls and tennis rackets, or squishy golf balls and catching them bare-handed, trying to simulate wind balls by doing wildly different stuff, hitting Wiffle balls, softballs. Different balls, catching them in your hand, I thought that was really cool, understanding there’s more to it than just instinct. There’s a real, meticulous thing about it. I thought he was like a mad scientist with it. Really new stuff but I thought it really helped.”

Their relationship evolved when Maguire was Kwan’s bench coach at Triple-A Columbus in 2021. On the morning the Guardians finalized their Opening Day roster in early April, a few fellow coaches told Maguire that Kwan was looking for him. Both had heard the news: Kwan was bound for Kansas City with the big-league club. They met outside the locker room and hugged. Kwan thanked Maguire, who shared how proud he was of Kwan’s rapid rise.

Now, when Maguire speaks to prospects about the organization’s emphasis on smart, aggressive base running, he regularly cites Kwan as a model example. He shows videos of Kwan advancing from first to third or scoring from third when the ball squirts away from the catcher.

Maguire bounces around the Guardians’ affiliates and works with minor leaguers in Arizona, but he did attend the team’s playoff games against the Rays.

“To see people wearing his jersey, to see a packed stadium cheering for him and him (excelling),” Maguire said, “honestly, it made me a little misty-eyed.”
Second baseman Andrés Giménez and assistant hitting coach Victor Rodriguez

One afternoon at Yankee Stadium during the American League Division Series, Andrés Giménez walked down the dugout steps to head to the indoor batting cage. Rodriguez trailed behind him.

“See?” Rodriguez said, pointing to Giménez and then himself. “Father and son.”

Giménez endured a mostly miserable 2021 season that included a demotion to Triple-A Columbus and desperation to transform his unsightly numbers into something more tolerable that would earn him a long-term roster spot. He messed with his pre-swing leg kick/toe tap routines. He feared a hitless showing would cost him playing time. The only consistency he demonstrated was kissing his bat on his way to the plate, a ritual he’s employed since he was in Double A.

Everything changed in 2022, as Giménez defined consistency and emerged as a core piece of Cleveland’s lineup. And he credited Rodriguez with guiding him to a breakout year. A Silver Slugger finalist, he enjoyed a well-rounded season at the plate and played Gold Glove defense at second base.

Rodriguez: “With young players like that, sometimes it’s a father/son relationship, because it’s not always happiness. You have to be rough. We can see that it’s not easy. But that relationship is so good. Last year was a process because we didn’t know each other that well and he was up and down. This year was more confidence and trust. He trusted me, the things I told him, the things we worked on. Whenever he got out of whack, he was able to come back because he trusted everything we did.”

Giménez: “It’s impressive everything he’s done with me. He’s been with me since Day 1, since I arrived in this organization. Maybe last year there were not the results to show it, but this year is a little different. I’m at a loss of words trying to thank him, how much he has helped me to be the player that I am right now.”

So what changed? What did Rodriguez emphasize this year that paid dividends?

“Mechanics, of course,” Rodriguez said, “but mechanically, he was solid all year. It’s more the mental side. All the changes he made, trusting them. Because a lot of times, when you make changes and you struggle, you want to go back to whatever you were doing in the past just to see if you can find a way to get hits. It was more the trust and confidence in the things we did and the changes he made to put himself into a good place.”
Right fielder Oscar Gonzalez and Double-A hitting coach Junior Betances

Gonzalez’s rise from Rule 5 draft would-be casualty to October hero and kids cartoon promoter has been well documented, and he insists it wouldn’t have materialized without Betances. The two have worked together the last three years, beginning in 2020 over Zoom during the pandemic. Gonzalez was at home in Sabana Grande de Palenque, Dominican Republic. He completed drills in the sand on the beach near his house in an effort to boost his lower half strength and mobility.

“He needed to use more of his lower body,” Betances said. “He told me he could feel the movement.”

Before the pandemic, the ultra-aggressive Gonzalez hit for average, but rarely drew walks and didn’t supply much power. He was a big kid with a bunch of natural might, but he needed help unlocking the home run ability.

“He was hitting a lot of groundballs,” Betances said. “So we worked on his bat angle and his swing decisions. He had a lot of trouble with swing decisions and having a good approach. We focused on his approach, cleaning up his mechanics, his bat angle to hit more fly balls and put the ball in the gap and hit more home runs. He started to get better and realize his (body) movements and what he needs to do, especially on breaking pitches.”

Gonzalez obliterated Double-A pitching at the start of the 2021 campaign, which earned him a ticket to Columbus. He totaled 31 homers, the most by a player in Cleveland’s farm system. The club left him unprotected for the Rule 5 draft, but the event was canceled, and his swing and approach changes ultimately vaulted him into consideration for the big-league roster.

He joined the Guardians in May and showcased those free-swinging tendencies. In 91 games, he logged a .296/.327/.461 slash line, with 11 home runs and 27 doubles.

“It sounds easy,” Betances said, “but it’s a lot of work, a lot of drills. He put in a lot of time in the cages and on the field. He had good engagement in the process.”
Catcher Bo Naylor and catching coordinator Luke Carlin

Some pivotal, developmental questions have followed Naylor along his path to the majors. Members of the organization initially wondered if he should play third base. (That experiment stopped after five games in 2018.) They wondered if they pushed him too soon in sending him to Double-A Akron in 2021, where he suffered through a nightmarish season at the plate.

“So many decisions we feel we’re doing a good job at, but we don’t really know until it happens,” Carlin said. “Nobody has a crystal ball at the end. But it’s a cool story when you think about the journey he’s on right now and what that could mean for 2023.”

Naylor started the 2022 season in Akron, where he posted a .612 OPS last year. But, equipped with more confidence this time, he made some mechanical tweaks at the plate, learned Spanish to help him communicate with pitchers and showcased significant defensive growth, starting with his arm strength. Through the organization’s velocity programs, he was regularly throwing 100 mph, Carlin said.

Carlin was Naylor’s manager at Class-A Lake County in 2019, Naylor’s first full professional season.

“That relationship speaks for itself,” Naylor said.

Why is that? Well, aside from Carlin sharing a catching background? (He spent 14 years in pro ball, including five with Cleveland.)

“He’s Canadian,” Carlin said. “I’m Canadian.”

Some of Naylor’s coaches in Canada were Carlin’s teammates.

With Carlin transitioning to the role of catching coordinator in recent years, he’s had a chance to continue to work with the organization’s star catching pupil.

Naylor: “He always knew how to explain something to me that I would be able to interpret in the best way. I think he knows how to speak to his players in different ways to get each individual player to be able to understand it. He did that across the board with everything in terms of (the physical side), but also the mental side. I think he does a really good job of taking care of the mental side as well.”

Carlin: “Bo’s always been ahead of the game on the mental side. In my experience, when you look at (certain) young major-league players, you’ll be like, ‘This kid’s got it.’”

Excellent story.
Great organization
And there’s the famous Cleveland Pitching Machine too