Shane Bieber ($10.01 million) avoids arbitration with Guardians

Last updated 1/13/23

Right-handed ace Shane Bieber and the Cleveland Guardians reached agreement Friday on a one-year, $10.01 million contract to avoid arbitration.

Bieber won the American League Cy Young award in 2020. He's remained stellar throughout five seasons with Cleveland, last year going 13-8 with a 2.88 ERA in 31 starts. He threw 198 strikeouts in 200 innings, won his first Gold Glove and finished seventh in Cy Young voting.

In 113 career games (111 starts), Bieber is 54-26 with a 3.17 ERA and 831 strikeouts over 703 innings pitched.

He was joined by fellow righty starters Cal Quantrill ($5.55 million), Zach Plesac ($2.95 million) and Aaron Civale ($2.6 million) in reaching deals with Cleveland to avoid arbitration.

The Guardians also agreed to terms with first baseman Josh Naylor ($3.35 million), who hit a career-high 20 home runs last season, and shortstop Amed Rosario ($7.8 million), who batted .283 with a major league-leading nine triples, 11 homers and 71 RBIs last year.

That left only arbitration-eligible reliever James Karinchak without a deal.

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CLEVELAND -- The Guardians have avoided arbitration with six of their seven eligible players so far, leaving reliever James Karinchak's 2023 contract to be sorted out.

Sources told MLB.com that Cleveland settled on one-year deals with ace Shane Bieber ($10.01 million), shortstop Amed Rosario ($7.8 million), starter Cal Quantrill ($5.5 million), first baseman Josh Naylor ($3.35), starter Zach Plesac ($2.95 million) and righty Aaron Civale ($2.6 million). The team has not confirmed the agreements.

The deadline to exchange salary figures was at 1 p.m. ET on Friday, but the sides can come to an agreement after that mark, as we saw with news of the deals with Bieber and Rosario breaking Friday evening. Karinchak still needs to work out a deal with the Guardians. If one is not reached, he and the team must submit a salary figure each deems appropriate, and a hearing will be scheduled (usually in February). In the meantime, the two sides can continue to negotiate as usual and can agree to a deal before reaching a hearing.

The Guardians can at least breathe a sigh of relief for now, getting their star hurler’s contract out of the way. And the more time that continues to pass, the brighter the spotlight gets on Bieber. He has a 2020 AL Cy Young Award in his back pocket and just turned in an impressive bounce-back year in '22 after battling right shoulder problems the season prior. He’s undoubtedly established himself as the ace of Cleveland’s rotation and as one of the better arms in the Majors, which only means his price tag will continue to increase.

For now, the Guardians have Bieber locked up for another year. But can that turn into a long-term extension? Will he become trade bait with just one more year of control remaining in 2024? Will he ride out his time in Cleveland until free agency? These are the questions that will surround him all season long.

Rosario has been an interesting player for the Guardians since he was acquired two years ago. He never seemed like the right fit defensively for this team, yet he finds ways to keep earning his spot at shortstop -- mostly by helping the offense with his bat, which seems to only turn on when he’s at short. All-Star third baseman José Ramírez wasn’t shy in expressing his desire to have Cleveland agree to an extension with Rosario, his best friend.

The only player still waiting to work out his contract is Karinchak, who was stellar this past season, owning a 2.08 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 39 innings after struggling mightily in the second half of his ’21 season, which led to a demotion to Triple-A Columbus. However, he missed the beginning of last season due to a right back strain and made just 38 appearances.

Entering the day, Cot’s Baseball Contracts projected the Guardians’ Opening Day payroll to be just south of $90 million, with Karinchak at $2.15 million.

Quantrill has established himself as a reliable starter, with a 3.38 ERA in his first full season in the Guardians' rotation in 2022, while Naylor brought 20 homers to an offense that desperately needed power when Franmil Reyes didn't pan out. Plesac and Civale are trying to prove that they can remain healthy and pitch like they have in the past, but they still have the capability of being strong Nos. 4 and 5 starters.

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Cleveland has a great farm system and should not be afraid to trade from it

Hoarding prospects only gets you so far

By Chris D. Davies Jan 12, 2023

The cliche “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush” is an interesting thing to think about in the context of the Guardians.

When it comes to keeping proven talents in Cleveland, the team is certainly a proponent of holding on to the bird in hand. To wit, signing José Ramírez to a long-term deal might end up being the best thing Chris Antonetti does in his entire career. The strategy dates back to John Hart, however, who retained guys Jim Thome, Sandy Alomar, Manny Ramirez, and other young players to build a long-term contender. But even though it was rather novel when Hart was doing it, it’s something like conventional wisdom now and not a Cleveland-exclusive practice. Alex Anthopoulous, for example, is clearly using the strategy to build a perennial winner with the Braves.

The circumstances are a little different in Atlanta, with the Braves averaging about 20,000 more fans per game (in a market with >1,000,000 homes more than Cleveland, it feels important to note), making it easier for them to spend big money to retain top talent. Though we don’t have the luxury of knowing what the Guardians’ financials look like, unlike the Braves, we do know baseball is generally profitable and the owners would make hundreds of millions in profit should they choose to sell the team. Still, we can forgive the Guardians a bit for not playing in the deepest end of the pool and offering massive contracts to potential free agents. Not least we can grant this graciousness because the team has proven so adept at developing prospects.

But it’s here that the team is guilty of valuing its two in the bush too highly. To get Sean Murphy, a player the Guardians were long reported to covet, Atlanta had to part with talent. As Anthopoulous said afterward, “It’s always hard to trade guys away. It’s just a rare opportunity to get a premium defensive player at a premium position. We gave up a lot of talented guys that we like.” Murphy is clearly a premium player, with 10.6 fWAR accumulated in just 330 career games at a demanding position, and Anthopoulous was willing to make that hard decision and give away promising young (read: cheap) talent to secure a proven piece and then extend him.

For multiple years now, we fans have heard and read the plaudits of the Guardians system from various baseball press and opposing front offices. Just this week MLB published a poll of front offices that recognized the Guardians for being both the best at developing pitchers and hoarding prospects the most. At The Athletic, Zack Meisel detailed 14 prospects who could make an impact in Cleveland next year, after 17 debuted in 2022, but couldn’t even include highly rated prospects like Jose Tena because of the team’s logjam up the middle.

While past success is no guarantee of future success, previous success at the MLB level is a much better indicator of future success at the MLB level than pedigree and minor league numbers. And yet, Cleveland still has more middle infield prospects than the local T-shirt companies have designs and more promising pitchers than “fans” have complaints about the nickname change. As our pal Quincy pointed out on Twitter, some of this MiLB horde could have netted the team one of its long-term trade targets like yesterday:

@QuincyWheeler1
I'm not here to criticize Cleveland here, but I want to note the immense amount of confidence they have in Espino, Williams & Bibee and the value they've set on young, cost-controlled pitching. They could very likely have got Murphy or now Reynolds if they'd part with 1 of the 3
Quote Tweet
Jon Morosi

@jonmorosi
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Jan 11
The #Rangers are among the top remaining suitors for #Pirates OF Bryan Reynolds, as I just reported on @MLBNetwork.

The Pirates want high-upside pitching prospects for Reynolds, and Texas has 3 pitchers among the @MLBPipeline Top 100: Leiter, White, and Porter.

@MLB

And though Quincy isn’t trying to criticize anyone, I am. If the Guardians could improve with a player like Murphy or Bryan Reynolds (both of whom would’ve been at least the team’s 4th best player in 2022 by fWAR) at the cost of a potentially great player, they should do it.

I very much enjoy when the team produces a talent from within the organization, like Shane Bieber or Steven Kwan, but for every Bieber or Kwan there are two JC Mejías or Bradley Zimmers. So while we wait to see what the Tanners Bibee and Burns or Gavin Williams turn out to be, we do so with the knowledge they’re more likely to flame out than be an All-Star, Cleveland pitching pedigree be damned.

There’s a reason TINSTAAPP (there’s no such thing as a pitching prospect) is a baseball cliche, after all. Proven big league talent, the bird in the proverbial hand, is hard to come by, and a couple birds in a bush shouldn’t prevent the team from acquiring it if it results in wins.

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Fiery Guardians Star Learns His 2023 Salary

By Andres Chavez

january 13, 2023

Admit it: the 2022 Cleveland Guardians were one of the most exciting teams in baseball.

With a unique brand of baseball, a solid rotation, an elite bullpen, Jose Ramirez and a few talented complementary hitters, they won a playoff series against the Tampa Bay Rays and really made things complicated for the New York Yankees.

Oscar Gonzalez, Andres Gimenez, Steven Kwan and Amed Rosario took gigantic steps forward last season.

There was another breakout performer on the hitting side of things: Josh Naylor.

Naylor, who reached national and international audiences with his “rocking the baby” home run celebration, was a fiery presence in the middle of the Guardians’ lineup.

He hit 20 home runs for a team in dire need of power, and remains a valuable piece for 2023.

Speaking of 2023, his salary for the season has been decided on Friday.

He settled with the Guardians on a $3.35 million salary, per MLB insider Jon Heyman.

It was the first season of arbitration eligibility for the powerful corner outfielder/first baseman.

He sure made an impact in 2022 with his power and passionate celebrations.

His energy was felt in the entire Guardians clubhouse.

In 122 games, he slashed .256/.319/.452 with a solid 117 wRC+.

if he manages to stay healthy this upcoming season and plays 150 games, he has a true shot at becoming a 30-homer hitter.

The Guardians’ lineup is underrated, but it actually needs a 30-homer threat and Naylor can provide one.

If he can do that and new signings Josh Bell and Mike Zunino can hit at least 25, there is no way the Guardians lose the AL Central crown.

Not with their talented foundation.

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By Curt Bishop January 12, 2023

The Cleveland Guardians have been a fun team to follow recently.

The team defied preseason expectations in 2022 and captured their first American League Central title under their new name.

They also had some exciting moments in the postseason, such as Oscar Gonzalez’s walk-off home run to eliminate the Tampa Bay Rays.

Things ended with an ALDS loss to the New York Yankees, but that doesn’t mean that the future isn’t bright for the Guardians.

In fact, Progressive Field, the home of the Guardians, is set to undergo some changes in the near future that the team hopes will enhance fans’ experience of watching baseball.

The tweet below includes a video detailing what the Guardians are planning to do.

This is an exciting time to be a fan of the Guardians.

Not only is the team looking solid for the future, but the ballpark is set to become something even bigger.

One interesting thing they’re planning to add is the “Terrace Hub” out in left field.

That will feature some cool sets that are boxed in by glass and a sort of lounging area.

Those sections will reportedly include couches and comfortable chairs.

Below those seats will be an area that includes a bar and a TV viewing experience.

It will even feature an outdoor patio area.

There will also be grab and go concession stands and view box bars.

The concessions will include team gear, while the view box bar will have its own concession stand, with a nice view of the field.

There are so many things to look forward to for Guardians fans, and their beautiful ballpark will become even more exciting.

For multiple years now, we fans have heard and read the plaudits of the Guardians system from various baseball press and opposing front offices. Just this week MLB published a poll of front offices that recognized the Guardians for being both the best at developing pitchers and hoarding prospects the most

Yup !!

Why did Franmil Reyes fall so fast with the Guardians? Hey, Hoynsie

Jan. 14, 2023

Hey, Hoynsie: With all the improvements the Guardians made last year with the hiring of hitting coach Chris Valaika, what happened with Franmil Reyes? -- Jim Harris, Lancaster.

Hey, Jim: Reyes was supposed to be the big bopper in the middle of the lineup. He was guy who was going to complement the G’s contact-first approach with his power. But it was clear the Guardians were upset with his physical conditioning in the early days of spring training. Then he pulled a hamstring and spent the rest of the season caught between trying to make contact and hitting for power.

He certainly has enough power to play in the big leagues for a long time. He’s a free agent and he should get another chance.

Hey, Hoynsie: Based on Carlos Correa’s contract with the Twins, Amed Rosario will most likely be leaving after this season because he’s eligible for free agency. So will the strategy be to give him a qualifying offer at the end of the season or trade him at the deadline? -- Bill, Franklin, Tennessee.

Hey, Bill: Rosario’s status during the upcoming season will probably depend on where the Guardians are in the standings. If they’re in contention, I think he’ll finish the year in Cleveland. If not, he could be traded.

Should Rosario make it to the end of the season with the G’s, I don’t think he’ll receive a qualifying offer because he could take it. The qualifying offer this year was $19.6 million for a one-year deal.

Hey, Hoynsie: How would you compare the current Progressive Field home and visitor’s clubhouse to other MLB teams? Does it make a difference in attracting talent and retaining it? -- Mike, Avon.

Hey, Mike: They’ve above average and have been well maintained. I do think state of the art facilities play a part in recruiting talent. Not as much as money and a chance to win, but they play a part.

Hey, Hoynsie: The reimagined Progressive Field looks good -- for the most part. But doesn’t it seem that it emphasizes drinking and gathering -- far more than watching the game? -- Skip B, Broadview Heights.

Hey, Skip: I think the Guardians have realized that when fans come to Progressive Field, they’re going to watch the game in different ways. Some people are never going to leave their seats because they’re focused on every pitch. Others are going to stroll the ballpark and get something to eat and drink. Some are going to use it to socialize and catch up with friends, while watching some of the game on their iPhones or one of the wide screen TVs at The Corner.

The renovations are aimed at attracting a wider audience to the ballpark.

Hey Hoynsie: It looks like the renovations at Progressive Field focus on two types of ticket holders - corporate and GenZ/millennials. The true baseball fan isn’t important anymore. Do you agree? -- Mike L., Middleburg Heights.

Hey, Mike: GenZ and Millennials are a mystery to me. I keep asking my kids who they are and they just roll their eyes at me.

There’s plenty of room for “true’ fans at Progressive Field, but they haven’t exactly been knocking the doors down. In the last 13 years (minus the COVID years of 2020 and 2021), the Guardians have drawn over 2 million fans twice for a team that’s made the postseason seven times.

The work being done at Progressive Field is aimed at bringing a wider range of fans to the ballpark. There’s nothing wrong with that.

Hey, Hoynsie: What do you think of the continuing association between pro sports and gambling? It strikes me as an invitation to corruption and another Pete Rose situation. -- Bob Maistros, Lake Worth, Florida.

Hey, Bob: I’m old school when it comes to gambling and betting on sports, especially in baseball with its checkered history including the Black Sox scandal and Rose.

I know it’s legal and controlled in several states including Ohio. But I feel uncomfortable with the speed in which MLB jumped into bed with so many different gambling platforms after being against it for decades.

Hey, Hoynsie: What kind of equipment do the hitting coaches use to prepare hitters for particular pitchers they will be facing in a series? Can they simulate their deliveries, types of pitches and preferred locations? -- Arthur Greenbaum, Columbus.

Hey, Arthur: Well, hopefully, they have plenty of bats. (That’s a joke).

I’d say the biggest tool for a hitting coach is video. They have access to a backlog of the opposing pitcher’s appearances. They can mesh that with videos of their batter’s at-bats against that pitcher, breaking down pitches and swings frame by frame.

The information provided by Statcast for scouting reports goes hand in hand with the video resources. Not only does it identify a pitcher’s pitches, but the percentage of use, batting average against, the degree of break on those pitches and 100 other things. All that dovetails into the hitters meeting team’s have before every series.

Another important resource is the coaches themselves. The days of a team having one hitting coach are over. The Guardians have three with the big league club backed by a “hitting group” of people in the front office and minor leagues.

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A life lesson from former Tribe pitcher Jim ‘Mudcat’ Grant for all of us – Terry Pluto’s Faith & You

Jan. 14, 2023, 5:03 a.m.

CLEVELAND, Ohio –

I wrote a column about former Tribe pitcher Jim “Mudcat” Grant, who died in June of 2021. That led to this email from Gary Mast. This is part of it:

My father befriended Jim Grant. Mudcat got us tickets to an Indians game (souvenir bat day). After the game Mudcat took us (Dad, two brothers and myself) into the Tribe locker room. In those days the souvenir bat was standard Little League dimensions. Anyway, Mudcat spent an hour with us and got about 20 Tribe players to autograph one of our bats.

“Like young fools we used the bat to play backyard baseball and many of the autographs smeared. The autographs were signed with a magic marker. I believe my older brother (now 71 years-old) has that smeared autograph bat. It was an example of how considerate and kind Mudcat Grant was during his time in Cleveland.”

My column was about Grant being the first athlete I ever asked for an autograph. I believe it was in 1961, meaning I was about 6 years old. That means it was more than 60 years ago and I remember it clearly.

Grant had his hands full of luggage. It was the final home game of the season and he was taking his stuff home. He put everything down, asked my name, and signed my scorecard.

I HAVE A NAME

What is this doing in a Faith & You column?

It’s not about celebrities. Of course, they have an advantage because most people are thrilled to meet them and want to like them.

It’s about the gift of time. It’s about being polite. It’s about looking someone in the eye and seeing them as a person – not just a clerk or a waitress to serve us.

I was at a Culver’s, my favorite fast food place. It was near closing time. A young woman named Madison took my order. I thanked her, mentioning her name.

She later brought my order to my table. I tipped her, mentioning her name again. She thanked me, then said, “Thanks so much for calling me by my name.”

It was just like Mudcat Grant looking at me, asking my name – remember, I was a little kid. Then he signed my scorecard, “To Terry ... "

DOES ANYONE SEE ME?

There are times in life when we feel invisible – or we assume if anyone sees us, we’ll be rejected.

There’s a story in Luke Chapter 19 where Jesus sees a man named Zacchaeus sitting in a tree. Zacchaeus was physically small. He was despised by most of the community because he was a tax collector, a notoriously corrupt profession at that time.

He not only was in the tree to see better, but also to stay away from the people whom he believed hated him.

“Jesus looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’ ”

Simply using someone’s name in a positive context can often make them feel like Zacchaeus: “Hey, not everybody hates me!” Jesus also showed God will not reject those who are willing to come to him.


One of the few autographs Terry Pluto has is this card signed by Jim Grant, who has a special place in his heart.

THE BURDENS WE CARRY

I have a lot of friends who work in retail. They have their horror stories with customers. It’s more pronounced now because of the labor shortage. When you visit many stores and restaurants, check out the age of those working. Many are much closer to Medicare age (if not already there) than those who are new to the workforce.

We need to keep that in mind when we see them struggling on the job. If you knew some of them, you’d be shocked by some of their physical problems.

I was talking to an elderly employee at Walmart, where I have a lot of friends. Before work, I prayed for her as she handles a cranky knee. We then began talking about others on the job and their ailments: Bad backs, tendinitis of the hands, swollen ankles, recovering from cancer, lots of surgeries from knee to shoulder replacements.

It sounded like an injured list for an NFL team. She laughed when I said that.

I know, employees can rude. This doesn’t excuse that. But we have control over how we react to it. Sometimes, we can say, “Sounds like it’s been a hard day.”

That often breaks down the barriers.

It’s so tempting to think about our worries and problems. Other have them, too.

As for Grant, he died in 2021 at the age of 85. He pitched in the Majors from 1958-71 for seven different teams. He had a 145-119 record with a 3.63 earned-run average. He completed 89 games and also had 54 saves.

I lost the autographed scorecard from the 1960s. But a reader heard about that and sent me a signed baseball card by Grant. It’s proudly on display in my bookcase.

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Even as 2022 was a great season for the Cleveland Guardians, their future looks brighter all the time. Nobody has more ready-soon, major-league-level starting pitchers in their system, which is a nice fit because you could make a case that nobody is better at developing pitchers, particularly in the early stages of their major league careers. 

 

1. RHP Daniel Espino | 22 | AA | 2024

Injuries kept Espino sidelined for much of 2022, but he was around long enough to leave a loud impression, striking out 35 batters in 18.1 Double-A innings and posting a 0.71 WHIP across those four starts. He’s listed at 6’2” 225 lbs and looks like a bodybuilder. Upside is as high as any pitcher in the minors thanks to an 80-grade fastball and double-plus slider. I’ve got 2024 listed as the ETA just because he hasn’t thrown that many innings, and the team is deep in pitchers both in the majors and on the cusp, but Espino could almost certainly help the major league club this season if he’s healthy.

 

2. RHP Tanner Bibee | 24 | AA | 2023

Bibee’s currently my favorite of Cleveland’s pitching prospects for dynasty purposes in terms of cost v. value. That’s probably changing as I type, but for now it’s still cheap enough to at least ask about Bibee in your leagues. He’s coming off 73.2 innings in Double-A with a 0.88 WHIP. He allowed just four home runs there and wound up with a 1.83 ERA. He’s good enough to the naked eye that I think he’ll make waves this spring. His 122.2 innings pitched last year sets him up perfectly to step in whenever the Guardians need help. People still seem to be underrating his physical gifts. At 6’2” 205 lb, Bibee can sit comfortably in the mid-90’s deep into games and has that Cleveland specialty skill of commanding his off-speed pitches. In case you can’t tell from the blurb, I want him everywhere I can get him. You could more or less say that for every Cleveland pitcher, which I try to remind myself any time I’m making moves or building lists.

 

3. OF George Valera | 22 | AAA | 2023

Since an early career surge fueled by Wander-mania and Ben Badler identifying Valera as a name to track, George Valera has seen his prospect stock fluctuate as any non-Dominguez in the game. Interesting that he’s the name that’s quick to mind. Jasson Dominiguez and maybe Marco Luciano sort of fit this bill as an early-shine international signing who’s since traveled a fairly typical path toward the majors. Could throw Orelvis Martinez in here, too. Get those Austin Butler clicks. I’ve been comparatively low on all these guys throughout their baseball lives. I tend to value my own eyes and the numbers over the hype and reports from other public-facing outlets. To my eyes, George Valera is fine. A fairly good but fairly typical outfield prospect. Always has been. Patience-driven profile. Good power, especially for his age, Enough speed. I have no idea where anyone got the sense that he was some kind of superstar in the making, but hey I’m not around these kids trying to pick winners and losers among 14-year-olds, so I can’t really speak with any authority on the matter. What I can tell you is that he’s always been a sell for me. I’m not sure if he still is because I don’t think he trades for all that much today. I’d probably hold him if I had him. Any player with talent can make a leap, he’s in one of the game’s best organizations, he’s always been young for his level, and he bats left-handed in one of the best left-handed power parks. A few takeaways from the mini rant: part of the reason I don’t love patience-driven profiles is that most hitters add patience across time. Age is like that. Makes you smarter in some ways. Most players also add power across time. Another age thing. So if what you bring best in your teens is patience and power, I’m happy to see it, but there’s gotta be more.

 

4. RHP Gavin Williams | 23 | AA | 2023

A huge man with an equally enormous fastball, Williams checks in at 6’6” 255 lbs and hasn’t run into much competition as a professional since being drafted 23rd overall in 2021. Cleveland likes to slow-roll their pitchers to help them master off-speed command. Some have whispered that Espino and McKenzie were both deemed more injury prone than accurate because the organization slow-played their rehab to focus in the pitch lab. Williams will challenge any efforts to control his timeline this spring when he’ll almost certainly look better than Zach Plesac and Aaron Civale.

 

5. OF Will Brennan | 25 | MLB | 2022

The only thing between Will Brennan and fantasy relevance is the organization itself, particularly its commitment to Myles Straw and its perception of Brennan or Steven Kwan as corner outfielders On offense, it’s pretty clear that the team’s best lineup does not include Myles Straw, but he’s such a good defender that he’s probably locked in (not to mention the contract), which leaves Brennan on the outside looking in for the foreseeable future, just as he was during the club’s playoff run. On the field, he’s a bit like Steven Kwan with some power, and he made a similar splash in his first few looks at major league pitching, slashing .357/.400/.500 with four strikeouts and two walks in his first 11 games (42 plate appearances). The plate skills might settle in around where they landed in Triple-A, where he posted a 12.2 percent strikeout rate, a 7.6 percent walk rate, hit nine home runs and stole 15 bases in 93 games. For what it’s worth, I don’t think a good organization should let an empty bat like Myles Straw keep them from finding out what Will Brennan can be in the majors, but Cleveland certainly likes Straw more than me and loves how many runs he saves their pitchers, who seem to be their primary focus in most things, which has clearly worked for them. I just don’t think the math supports surrendering three-plus outs a game on offense on the chance that you save enough runs on defense.

 

6. C Bo Naylor | 23 | MLB | 2022

Unique skill set here. Tailor made for our game thanks to above average speed and a good idea of how to use it. Hardest part will be carving out the actual playing time. Cleveland doesn’t suffer mediocrity behind the plate on defense. Francona seems truly delighted to have landed Mike Zunino, and while that’s just a one year deal. Naylor will have to demonstrate above average framing skills to earn the majority-share of this gig. Even in a part-time role, ten homers and ten steals would be nothing to sneeze at for a second catcher.

 

7. OF Chase DeLauter | 21 | NA | 2025

Had sort of an Espino feel on draft night when DeLauter fell to Cleveland. Wasn’t as crazy as the Espino thing to me because DeLauter was a college bat, and unlike the Espino draft, where pretty much the whole league had a crack at him and passed to let the draft’s most talented arm go to the team most ready to weaponize that talent, DeLauter went 16th overall. He offers a quick look at the downsides of separating studs from duds too young, as he wound up playing at James Madison University after going undrafted out of high school. Along the way, he grew into a 6’4” 235 lb center fielder with double-plus speed and power. For what it’s Wuertz, DeLauter has played 100 total games since 2020: three short seasons with JMU and one in the Cape Cod League, where he was good with the wooden bat: .298/.397/.589 with 21 walks and 18 strikeouts across 34 games (146 plate appearances). That small sample with the ash and maple is where I’m hanging this hat. Cleveland has made a concerted effort to minimize strikeouts. If they think DeLauter can keep doing it, I’m here to find out.

 

8. SS Angel Martinez | 21 | AA | 2024

In a different organization, Martinez might be the heir apparent at shortstop as a solid defender and switch-hitter coming off a successful season covering two levels against older players. He played just 24 games at Double-A last year, and that’s probably where he’ll open 2023, but he’ll be knocking on the door by spring of 2024 on the strength of plus plate skills and a well-rounded game that could make him a five-category player in our game for standard or OBP leagues.

 

9. RHP Cody Morris | 26 | MLB | 2022

The code man is already 26 after the pandemic and some injuries delayed his arrival. Whenever he’s pitched, he’s been excellent. His 2.28 ERA in 23.2 major league innings was a little deceptive considering the 1.39 WHIP, but he was pitching around a stop-and-start schedule and had been dominant in Triple-A (0.72 WHIP, 51.7% K). After catching some dynasty shine last off-season, Morris is pretty cheap for a potential Guardian of the Galaxy. Aaron Civale and Zach Plesac are currently the fourth and fifth starters. Civale might be salvageable. Nobody will be sad to see Plesac go, just speculating wildly from a distance.

 

10. SS Jaison Chourio | 17 | DSL | 2027

Name-value juice here. Can’t let it pass if you get the chance to add him. I almost broke protocol to include the next five: Juan Brito, Brayan Rocchio, Logan Allen, Jhonkensy Noel and Gabriel Arias, but I eventually decided not to mention them. Lots of value in limiting it to ten each time no matter how deep the talent goes, and holy cow it goes James-Cameron deep here. I probably prefer Brito of the six, to be honest, but I can’t in good conscience do this list without mentioning Chourio. His older brother Jackson made a huge leap in functional athleticism in his late teens, and I think we’d be foolish to ignore the possibility that blood always tells. On the field, Chourio posted a 140 wRC+ and .446 OBP in the Dominican Summer League, but we don’t talk about DSL stats if we can help it, which, I suppose we could have here, but the 40 walks in 40 games against 22 strikeouts are interesting in any context and warrant a mention.

Thanks for reading!

I’m @theprospectitch on Twitter.

Former Indians All-Star second baseman Carlos Baerga throws out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 3 of the ALDS against the Yankees on ,October 15, 2022 at Progressive Field.

Former Cleveland 2B Carlos Baerga goes from hits to scoops: The week in baseball

Jan. 14, 2023

By Paul Hoynes

CLEVELAND, Ohio --

Baerga, 54, also was first with Boston signing third baseman Rafael Devers to a 11-year $331 million extension after losing free agent shortstop Xander Bogaerts to San Diego.

Carlos Baerga always had time for reporters when he played for the Indians. Now he’s become one.

Baerga, who spent 14 years in the big leagues, hosts a popular podcast in Puerto Rico called “I Love Sports with Carlos Baerga and Friends.”

During the winter meetings in December, Baerga was first with the news that Cy Young winner Justin Verlander was signing a two-year $86.8 million deal with the Mets. He posted the news on his Instagram account.

He just missed a two-fisted blockbuster when he reported that Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa were considering signing with the Giants. Judge, of course, returned to the Yankees after breaking bread with the Giants. Correa agreed to a 13-year, $350 million deal with the Giants, but he didn’t pass their physical and eventually signed a six-year $200 million deal with the Twins.

Last season Baerga was first with the trade that sent third baseman Matt Chapman to Toronto before the start of the regular season.

“I’ve been doing the podcast for the last 2 1/2 years,” said Baerga, from Puerto Rico. “I have good contacts with players and reporters. Plus I worked for ESPN for seven years and that helped a lot.”

Baerga talks to players, coaches and managers on his nightly podcast.

“I’ve had Hall of Famers Ozzie Smith, Paul Molitor, Robin Yount, Dave Winfield, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and Juan Marichal,” said Baerga. “I have almost all the Latin players. I’ve done 187 interviews.

“It’s something I love to do. I always respected what reporters did. When I went to work for ESPN after I retired, I realized the job reporters do and how they prepare. I like it.”

@Ken_Rosenthal

Source confirms: Rafael Devers in agreement with Red Sox on 11-year, $331M extension that begins in 2024. Deal includes $20M signing bonus. First with agreement was Carlos Baerga. Amount is indeed $331M, not $332M.
4:15 PM · Jan 4, 2023

The Indians acquired Baerga, Sandy Alomar Jr. and Chris James from the Padres for Joe Carter at the 1989 winter meetings. Baerga and Alomar formed the foundation of a team that would dominate the AL Central for much of the decade.

Baerga went to three All-Star Games and won two Silver Slugger awards with Cleveland before he was traded to the Mets during the the 1996 season. He rejoined the Indians briefly in 1999.

When asked what feels better, getting a big hit or a big story, Baerga laughed and said, “Getting a big hit is what I like. I loved preparing myself for spring training, having a good year, going to the playoffs and the World Series ... I wouldn’t change that for anything.”

Cleveland reached the World Series for the first time in 41 years in 1995. Baerga hit .314 (175 for 557) with 87 runs, 15 homers and 90 RBI that season.

Baerga, a member of Cleveland’s Hall of Fame, works with the Guardians as part of their Youth Baseball & Softball Ambassadors program. He also works with the minor leaguers.

“I really like what the Guardians did last season,” said Baerga. “I think it’s going to be better this year because they’re going to be more mature and they know the league now.

“Adding Josh Bell, to hit behind Jose Ramirez, that puts them at another level. We’re going to be a lot better than last year and that’s scary because we were really good last year.”

The Guardians debuted 17 rookies last year on the way to winning the AL Central with a 92-70 record. Their 26-man roster just might be the most talented since manager Mike Hargrove’s clubs of the 1990s that featured Baerga, Alomar, Omar Vizquel, Kenny Lofton, Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, Paul Sorrento, Charles Nagy, Orel Hershiser, Dennis Martinez, Jose Mesa and others.

Baerga agreed to a point.

“The only thing that we had over them was the power,” said Baerga. “They have great players and they come to play every day. I have to give credit to Terry Francona and his coaching staff.

“It’s not easy to work with that many young players. They did a great job.”

Aside from scoops and podcasts, Baerga says he’s never felt better. As a player he fought to keep his weight under control. When he retired, Baerga said his weight soared to 318 pounds

He had sleep apnea, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

“The doctor said, ‘You’ve got to do something with your life or you’re going to have a heart attack,’” said Baerga.

Baerga said he’s lost 84 pounds and counting.

“I did it because of my family,” said Baerga. “I’ve got two grandchildren and I want to watch them grow. I’ve got my energy back. Now I’m back to being Carlos Baerga.”

Names to remember

OF Alex Ramirez, who played 92 games with the Indians from 1998 through 2000, was inducted into the Japanese Professional Baseball Hall of Fame on Friday. He hit 380 home runs in Japan and 508 in his entire career.

INF Yandy Diaz, who played with the Indians from 2017 to 2018, did not reach an arbitration settlement with the Rays.

OF Anthony Santander, former Indians farmhand, settled with the Orioles on a one-year $7.4 million deal.

OF Lee Tinsley, who played in Cleveland’s minor leagues in 1991 and 1992, died on January 12. He was 53.

UT Nick Maton, brother of former Indians right-hander Phil Maton, was traded to Detroit by the Phillies.

C Sandy Leon, who caught for the Guardians last season, will be in spring training with Texas on a minor league deal.

OF Greg Allen, a sixth round pick by the Indians in 2014, will be in spring training with Boston on a minor league deal.

LHP Wade Miley, one of a record three pitchers to no-hit the Indians in 2021, has signed a one-year deal with the Brewers.

RHP Craig Stammen, who pitched at Class AA and Triple A for Cleveland in 2016, has signed a minor league deal with the Padres.

[ I was a big fan of Alex Ramirez back in the day. Hated to see him get traded.

Ramírez made his MLB debut with the Cleveland Indians in 1998. On 28 July 2000, the Indians traded Ramírez and Enrique Wilson to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Wil Cordero.[4] Across three MLB seasons, Ramírez batted .259 with 12 home runs, 48 runs batted in (RBI), 38 runs scored, 17 doubles, three triples, and three stolen bases in 135 games played.

After the 2000 season, Ramírez signed with the Yakult Swallows (2001–2007) and was their cleanup hitter. The rest was history for Ramirez.

In 2000, the Indians were pretty well stacked with Thome, Alomar, Vizquel, Fryman, Sexon OF, Lofton OF, Ramirez OF, and Russell were the starters.

Outfielders rostered for that season were Alex Ramirez, Justice, Cabrera, Cordero, LeDee, Cruz, Perry, Roberts, and Whitten. Little room for many, including Ramirez.

In the end, it all worked out for the slugging outfielder. ]

<

Welcome to another installment of the Guardians Newsletter. As a reminder, I’m Mandy Bell and I’m entering my fifth season covering Cleveland. Let’s get into the good stuff.

Here's how the Guardians stack up against AL Central rivals

58 minutes ago

By Mandy Bell

THE AL CENTRAL OUTLOOK

Last year at this time, the Guardians weren’t expected to be contenders.

The roster was young (spoiler alert: it still is). Many were expecting moves to be made. A limited window to do offseason shopping after the lockout made it difficult to execute anything, which led the Guardians to stick with their farm system. That move caused many pundits to count them out. The roster was fueled by it, and the team relied on its jovial enthusiasm to carry it to the ALDS.

The foundation is set. A roster that was so successful in 2022 added a big bat this offseason in Josh Bell to fill the void that Cleveland hoped Franmil Reyes would have filled last year. That means the Guardians should be better in ’23, right?

The problem with youth is uncertainty. Although a year of experience under everyone’s belts should be a benefit, the Guardians need to see last year’s rookies are here to stay. Here are a few "what if?" questions that need to go in Cleveland’s favor to end up on top of the AL Central again this season:

• Is Oscar Gonzalez as impactful as he was in 2022? Or will his all-or-nothing approach at the plate catch up to him this season?

• Will Mike Zunino be healthy? If so, will he get back into his offensive ways from 2021 (33 homers, .860 OPS) to improve production from the catching position?

• Can Zach Plesac and Aaron Civale stay healthy? If so, can they be reliable enough to help this rotation be elite?

Regardless of how this plays out, the Guardians are in a much different position going into 2023 than they were last offseason. No longer is this team expected to struggle or fall into a rebuilding phase. Cleveland is favored by many outlets to retake the AL Central crown.

What have the other teams in the division done to try to prevent that from happening?

White Sox (81-81 in 2022, second place)

Before last September, it was a foot race between the Guardians, White Sox and Twins, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see this trio battling until the bitter end again in 2023.

With a new manager and healthier players, the White Sox can probably be penciled in for a few more wins this year. Losing José Abreu to the Astros will certainly be a big blow for the offense, while the club has replaced the 2020 AL MVP’s production with outfielder Andrew Benintendi (who has three seasons with at least 15 homers) thus far. The rotation boasts a familiar face in Mike Clevinger, after Chicago signed him to a one-year deal in December. But with his injury history after leaving Cleveland in ‘20, it’s hard to predict exactly what he’ll bring to the table.

Like we say every year, this could finally be the time the White Sox take off.

Twins (78-84, third place)

Even more than the White Sox, the Twins will benefit greatly from simply having healthy players. With their roster at full strength and additions like Joey Gallo, Kyle Farmer, Christian Vázquez and, most recently (and dramatically), a reunion with Carlos Correa, Minnesota is making a strong push to get back to the top of the division. If the Twins make any more moves, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more outlets putting the them as the AL Central favorites.

Tigers (66-96, fourth place)

The Tigers are expected to be … well, the Tigers again in 2023. They’re now without All-Star closer Gregory Soto after trading him to the Phillies, and Casey Mize is still working his way back from Tommy John surgery. Detroit reunited with lefty Matthew Boyd and added righty Michael Lorenzen to the mix this offseason, but the club hasn’t reached the end of this rebuilding tunnel just yet.

Royals (65-97, fifth place)

The Royals have excitement surrounding some of the young players who have finally reached the big leagues like Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino, but Kansas City still has a lot of needs to be addressed. Although the team added righty Jordan Lyles and lefty Ryan Yarbrough (who is looking to earn a starting spot), the Royals need more quality starting pitching and at least one bat (preferably a right-handed veteran) to start to turn things around.

TRIVIA
Which Cleveland player won the ALCS MVP in 1995?

A.) Dennis Martinez
B.) Orel Hershiser
C.) Manny Ramirez
D.) Jim Thome

IN THE NEWS



• In case you missed it, the Guardians announced more details regarding their plans for renovations at Progressive Field on Thursday.

• Spring Training workout dates have been announced. Click here if you missed it

Grapefruit League

Atlanta Braves: Feb. 16, Feb. 21
Baltimore Orioles: Feb. 16, Feb. 21
Boston Red Sox: Feb. 15, Feb. 20
Detroit Tigers: Feb. 15, Feb. 20
Houston Astros: Feb. 16, Feb. 21
Miami Marlins: Feb. 16, Feb. 21
Minnesota Twins: Feb. 16, Feb. 20
New York Mets: Feb. 15, Feb. 20
New York Yankees: Feb. 16, Feb. 20
Philadelphia Phillies: Feb. 16, Feb. 21
Pittsburgh Pirates: Feb. 15, Feb. 20
St. Louis Cardinals: Feb. 15, Feb. 20
Tampa Bay Rays: Feb. 15, Feb. 20
Toronto Blue Jays: Feb. 16, Feb. 21
Washington Nationals: Feb. 15, Feb. 21

Cactus League

Arizona D-backs: Feb. 15, Feb. 20
Chicago Cubs: Feb. 15, Feb. 20
Chicago White Sox: Feb. 15, Feb. 20
Cincinnati Reds: Feb. 15, Feb. 20
Cleveland Guardians: Feb. 17, Feb. 21
Colorado Rockies: Feb. 15, Feb. 20
Kansas City Royals: Feb. 15, Feb. 20
Los Angeles Dodgers: Feb. 16, Feb. 20
Los Angeles Angels: Feb. 15, Feb. 20
Milwaukee Brewers: Feb. 16, Feb. 21
Oakland Athletics: Feb. 15, Feb. 20
San Diego Padres: Feb. 16, Feb. 21
San Francisco Giants: Feb. 16, Feb. 20
Seattle Mariners: Feb. 16, Feb. 21
Texas Rangers: Feb. 15, Feb. 20

• The Correa saga is over. How did he end up back in Minnesota? Do-Hyoung Park has the details.

FINAL CALL



Guards Fest is quickly approaching. The ninth annual event will be held at Huntington Convention Center on Jan. 21. Season-ticket holders will have exclusive access to the fun from 8:30 a.m. ET until 12:30 p.m., while the general public can funnel in from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at CLEGuardians.com/GuardsFest.

Last week, the Guardians detailed the biggest reason that so many fans rush downtown for Guards Fest. There will be 28 players from the 40-man roster in attendance, along with three members of the coaching staff and four alumni.

TRIVIA ANSWER

B.) Orel Hershiser. Two starts, 14 innings, three runs (two earned), 15 strikeouts, two wins and a 1.29 ERA led to Hershiser taking the honors.

<

Here are the Top 10 RHP prospects for 2023
1:45 PM EST
Sam Dykstra
Sam Dykstra

@SamDykstraMiLB
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MLB Pipeline will reveal its 2023 Top 100 Prospects list at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, Jan. 26, with a one-hour show on MLB Network and MLB.com. Leading up to the release of the Top 100, we'll examine baseball's top 10 prospects at each position.

Now, this is a fun debate.

Grayson Rodriguez finished 2022 as our top pitching prospect. Andrew Painter shot out of the gate to win MLB Pipeline’s Pitching Prospect of the Year Award in his first full season. Eury Pérez flashed potential from his towering 6-foot-8 frame in Double-A at just 19 years old.

So who’s the top right-handed pitching prospect in baseball? In the end, we went with the guy in Phillies red. But it was close. Very close.

It’s a debate we could be having for some time, albeit at the Major League level soon. Nine of the 10 hurlers named to MLB Pipeline’s 2023 preseason Top 10 RHP Prospects list have estimated times of arrival of 2023. The only one who doesn’t is No. 9 Mick Abel, who finished 2022 with five Double-A starts and could still cut the line to make a debut this summer in his own right. If these graduations all come to pass as expected, next year’s list will have a very different look. We have a full season ahead to study for that debate too.

The Top 10 (ETA)
1. Andrew Painter, Phillies (2023)
2. Grayson Rodriguez, Orioles (2023)
3. Eury Pérez, Marlins (2023)
4. Daniel Espino, Guardians (2023)
5. Taj Bradley, Rays (2023)
6. Bobby Miller, Dodgers (2023)
7. Gavin Williams, Guardians (2023)
8. Hunter Brown, Astros (2023)
9. Mick Abel, Phillies (2024)
10. Gavin Stone, Dodgers (2023)
Complete list »


Top tools
Fastball: Espino (80)
The 2019 24th overall pick looked like he was on his way to an eye-popping season in the spring of 2022 when he was sitting 98-100 mph -- while touching 102-103 -- in Spring Training, and he kept the heat coming over four starts with Double-A Akron, striking out 35 batters in 18 1/3 innings before injury ended his season prematurely. As if the velocity wasn’t enough, Espino’s fastball comes with lots of carry, further solidifying its 80 grade.

Espino spins 4 2/3 hitless frames
Apr 16, 2022 · 0:37
Espino spins 4 2/3 hitless frames
Curveball: Brown (65)
The 24-year-old right-hander climbed to the Majors and made Houston’s postseason roster, in part because of the dominance of his low-80s curve. The 12-to-6 offering has plenty of power and bite to generate whiffs. Without a quality changeup, Brown used his curveball as his featured secondary against lefties in the Majors. The results: a .148 opponents' average against and 30.4 percent whiff rate.

Hunter Brown's three strikeouts
Sep 19, 2022 · 1:14
Hunter Brown's three strikeouts
Slider: Espino (70)
Espino doesn’t only throw his fastball hard. Last spring, he was zipping the breaking pitch in the low-90s, giving him a more horizontal pitch, albeit one with heater velo. Before that, the Cleveland righty had shown an ability to manipulate the speed of the pitch, depending on how much depth he wanted on it; the wealth of options left hitters befuddled. So much for anyone even trying to sit on the triple-digit fastball.

Changeup: Rodriguez, Pérez, Stone (70)
Lefties beware. These righties have something in store for you too. All three showed off mid-80s changeups that looked close to their fastballs out of their hands, only to tumble and fade below waving bats. Neither Rodriguez (.157), Pérez (.204) nor Stone (.216) had lefties bat higher than .220 against them in 2022, on account of those impressive cambios.



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Eury Pérez compiles 10 strikeouts
Jul 7, 2022 · 1:16
Eury Pérez compiles 10 strikeouts
Control: Painter (65)
Hitters are meant to be more patient as you climb the ladder, right? Consider this: the 19-year-old Painter finished out his first full season at Double-A Reading, where he was more than five years younger than the average player. He walked only two batters in 28 1/3 innings during his time there. His 6.2 percent walk rate across three levels was the lowest among teenage pitchers with at least 70 frames in 2022. The 6-foot-7 righty’s ability to pitch in the zone improved as the season wore on, and it could be plus-plus by the end of 2023 if he continues on this trajectory.

Superlatives
Highest ceiling: Painter
The 2021 13th overall pick gave everyone a taste of his ceiling with a 1.56 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 155 strikeouts in 103 2/3 innings across those three levels in his first full season, and he has the stuff to back up the results with a fastball that can touch triple-digits, a plus high-spin slider and two more pitches in his curve and change that keep hitters guessing. That’s just the start. Painter only turns 20 in April and likely has some development ahead of him still. Be scared, National League East.

Andrew Painter's 2022 highlights
Oct 1, 2022 · 0:45
Andrew Painter's 2022 highlights
Highest floor: Rodriguez
The O’s hurler almost certainly would have debuted in the Majors in 2022 if not for a Grade 2 lat strain that held him out for three months. He looked nearly ready by his return to the Triple-A rotation in September too, before the season ran out on him. The 23-year-old’s deep four-pitch mix and plus control have long made him a potential ace, but even if the stuff takes a slight step back at some point, he’s likely still a mid-rotation option for Baltimore.

Rookie of the Year Award candidate: Rodriguez
If he can get through this spring healthy, Rodriguez is a strong candidate to open the season in the Orioles' rotation and would be a ROY candidate from his first pitch. His innings might need to be managed some -- he’s yet to throw more than 103 in a Minor League season -- but he’s a better prospect than Spencer Strider was at this time last year. We saw what he accomplished when given a full year in the bigs.

Rodriguez strikes out 11
May 17, 2022 · 0:41
Rodriguez strikes out 11
Highest riser & humblest beginning: Stone
The Dodgers selected the Central Arkansas right-hander in the fifth round of the shortened 2020 Draft, meaning he was their final pick that year. Stone signed for just $97,500 (well below the $327,200 assigned to his slot as the penultimate pick in the whole process) and he wasn’t considered among the Dodgers’ Top 30 prospects entering his first full season. He’s fanned 306 batters in 212 2/3 innings over four full-season levels since then and now fits comfortably on the Top 100 overall list with three above-average pitches and good control.

Stone strikes out career-high 13
Jun 8, 2022 · 1:08
Stone strikes out career-high 13
Most to prove: Espino
We’ve already listed how wicked the Panama native’s stuff can be. Now, can he be healthy? Espino first missed time with a knee issue in 2022 and a shoulder injury kept him on the shelf throughout the summer. He finished the year with only four Double-A starts. In our recent Executive Prospect Poll, front-office members thought he’d be the most likely Minor Leaguer to become a dominant closer someday, partly because the injury concerns might move him to the bullpen. It’s on him this year to prove he can take regular turns in the rotation and become Cleveland’s next homegrown starting star.

Keep an eye on: Tink Hence, Cardinals
St. Louis has been very careful in how it has utilized the 2020 63rd overall pick to this point -- first giving him only eight complex-level outings in 2021 and then capping him at 60 pitches down the stretch in Low-A last year. The arsenal is incredibly good, however. Hence was around 94-97 mph with his fastball with Palm Beach and got lots of swings-and-misses on his curveball and changeup, to say nothing of his slider with good depth. The kid gloves will come off a little more in 2023, and if the stuff holds up deeper into starts, Hence could easily find his way onto a Top 10 RHP list soon.

AL Central outlook post-Carlos Correa deal: How do Guardians, White Sox, Twins stack up?

Aug 24, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa (4) hits a RBI sacrifice RBI against the Houston Astros in the third inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
By Zack Meisel, James Fegan, and Dan Hayes
Jan 16, 2023

With the dust settled on most of the offseason moves, including a certain $350 $315 $200 million shortstop returning to Minnesota, our beat writers got together to assess the three contenders in the American League Central (with all due respect to the Tigers and Royals). Zack Meisel (Guardians), James Fegan (White Sox) and Dan Hayes (Twins) discussed where each of their teams stand and gave their early thoughts on the 2023 season.

Fegan: Let’s give a little peek behind the curtain to provide a view of the creative process and also establish what is being discussed in this forum.

Dan Hayes proposed doing this roundtable after publishing his 76th Carlos Correa story of the offseason, then pushed it to Monday because he was busy publishing his 77th Correa story of the offseason. The topic of this roundtable is how the return of Correa affects the balance of the AL Central … or how it affects the balance of Dan Hayes. He covers the team that employs Correa, if you were not aware.

Meisel: Dan, true or false: You were the one who administered Correa’s physical with the Twins.

Hayes: True. I walked into the room, asked him if he was breathing and held up two fingers. When he said, “Two,” I yelled out, “Welcome to the Twins!” And while that development is great for fans and perhaps ticket sales, TV and radio ratings, and the organization’s business model in general, the real winners here are the media, who now have a go-to quote/storyteller, interesting dude guaranteed to be around for the next six seasons. If you two thought I was annoying before, just wait.

Also, I’d like to clear this up before we go any further. James, that was my 86th Correa story of the offseason, and I’ve already written 11 more in the last two hours. Now it’s about figuring out when to publish them for maximum effect.

In all seriousness, what do you guys think this does for the division’s competitive landscape? How much of an effect can one move have?

Meisel: Correa was on the Twins last season, right?

Hayes: Yes, but with the way injuries unfolded, you could have played for them in that mid-September Twins-Guardians series, my dude.

Meisel: So shouldn’t you be celebrating the arrival of the new team trainer and not the shortstop whose surgically repaired right ankle is supposedly comprised of graham cracker crumbs?

Fegan: If there’s one thing I know, it’s that a team that got mega-injured last season definitely won’t just go and get mega-injured the next season all over again. Folks, that simply doesn’t happen.

Hayes: I’d like to clear up any misconceptions right here and now. Correa doesn’t even have a leg there anymore. It’s just a hologram.

Meisel: It’s amazing what they can do with those now. I watched Tupac perform with Snoop Dogg that way a few years ago.


Carlos Correa (Ken Blaze / USA Today)
Hayes: It is undoubtedly strange how an organization that has such little financial margin for error compared to San Francisco and the New York Mets, would just leap into this deal after Correa failed two physicals. But here’s why the Twins did it, the short version: It’s a lot easier to forecast how a player will age for six years versus 12 or 13, like the deals those other teams were offering. Also, Correa is 28 and hasn’t had issues to this point. The Twins also saw the way he physically prepares for the season and for each game — how he manages himself during the season — and they got a good look at the ankle during their first physical last March. They know there are questions, but accessing him for six years is worth the risk. There’s nobody out there they could have brought in for $200 million who has as much potential for positive impact.

Fegan: Wow, fascinating. You should write an article about this!

Hayes: I’ve written two. Thanks for reading. I just copied and pasted everything from the first and slapped on a new headline and photo before publishing. Pretty much anything Correa is popping. Next I plan to ask him his favorite snack food and write about it just to do a heat check.

Fegan: OK, to finally address the premise of this piece: Yes, to borrow one of the terms all my readers use 800 times as often as they should, I viewed the Twins’ AL Central hopes as a little “unserious” before they made the move to retain Correa. Without him, there seemed to be — for all of these teams really — a wave of trades they might still pull off to make everything look more fully realized. But crystallizing the middle of the order at the most premium position on the infield, while providing more of a bridge to relying on Royce Lewis and Brooks Lee as up-the-middle producers, really ties the room together.

I’m back to thinking three teams can win the division when they play to their capabilities. In a completely on-paper world, I might be most skeptical of the Guardians, but they’re the team that seems to be the best at actually playing to their capabilities.

Meisel: I think people get mired too often in the thought process of, “Team A did this last year and then this during the offseason, so that equates to this.” Every year is its own animal, especially in the somewhat sorry AL Central. The White Sox have a new manager (Pedro Grifol) and, perhaps, just a new vibe in general. The Guardians will rely on a bunch of kids to either maintain their production from last year or take another step forward. A lot could happen there. And the Twins have new … uniforms. OK, yes, if they’re healthy, they’re certainly more formidable than they demonstrated in September. At minimum, Minnesota’s lineup is legitimate.


Josh Bell (Orlando Ramirez / USA Today)
I’ll say this about the Guardians: They addressed their primary deficiencies by adding first baseman/DH Josh Bell to replace the Franmil Reyes/Owen Miller disaster and catcher Mike Zunino to replace the Austin Hedges/Luke Maile disaster. And even though they had 17 major-league debuts last season, we still haven’t seen their top prospects, who could arrive this summer. All of that said, there’s still a wide array of potential outcomes for the Guardians. They’ll be leaning on some significant question marks, such as Oscar Gonzalez, Aaron Civale, Zach Plesac and Myles Straw. They do have depth, though, if things go awry. I still think another established starting pitcher (a No. 2-3 type) or another right-handed bat would help, but I suspect those moves will be addressed, if needed, in July. (For what it’s worth, Cleveland’s payroll is projected to be in the neighborhood of $85 million, or a little more than half of the Twins’ payroll.)


Christian Vázquez (Erik Williams / USA Today)
Hayes: I really liked a few of the Twins’ pre-Correa transactions that most fans weren’t moved by. Catcher Christian Vázquez will handle the staff better than Gary Sánchez did and hit 200 fewer grounders to shortstop. Joey Gallo is an elite outfield defender in the corners, runs the bases very well and is a horrible season removed from averaging 3.1 WAR in non-COVID seasons from 2017 to 2021. Plus, the Twins plan to put him in center. In Kyle Farmer, they added a utilityman who can play shortstop.

But even with that trio and Correa, I don’t consider the Twins the division favorites. The White Sox’s power potential, should they reach it, along with their rotation, makes them extremely dangerous, even if they are flawed and currently down a closer with Liam Hendriks beginning treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Cleveland was so impressive last year despite its youth, and seemingly always develops pitchers. The Guardians have already done this; they know how to get there.

Those factors can’t be overlooked. Neither should the questions surrounding the Twins.

Kenta Maeda is coming off Tommy John surgery in September 2021 and Tyler Mahle had shoulder trouble after the Twins acquired him at the trade deadline. Jorge López needs to rebound or the bullpen will have questions (that’s not at all daunting), and the 26-man roster features a number of position players who had health issues last year.

Yes, the Twins did add a new trainer with great credentials in Nick Paparesta. But it’s hard to easily wipe away the images from last season of their Double-A roster in the majors in September and October. The Twins have to do a lot to be taken seriously.


Luis Robert (Thomas Shea / USA Today)
Fegan: I watched too many games to not understand the rampant White Sox cynicism, but a core with the talent level of Luis Robert, Eloy Jiménez, Tim Anderson, Dylan Cease, Lance Lynn — all right, I’m not going to list the whole roster, but this team should have a reasonably high ceiling. And I’m more than willing to entertain the idea that the difference a new manager could make with this group is … significant. Talking about hitting home runs is the first step toward actually hitting them, perhaps.

But Cleveland’s potential to respond to shortfalls in performance with major-league-ready farm depth is not something the White Sox can presently match. Whether it’s catcher, the back of the rotation or right field, there are a few more spots on this roster teetering on uncertainty than is becoming for a contender, let alone a team that viewed itself as a perennial division contender before last year’s shipwreck. And the news about their beloved, dominant closer — who made a lot of threadbare leads stand up last year — is certainly not the opening to 2023 that fans wanted to see to believe that everything is going to break right this year.

Any team that can actually play makes the playoffs these days, though. So if this coaching staff can get their core guys to bang, I think they should be there. Even if the Guardians are still feisty, or Correa is dumping a bottle of champagne over Hayes’ head in October.

Hayes: I hope not. I hear champagne burns your eyes. That’s rude, James. You’re just being mean now and hoping for a player to inflict pain upon me. First you mocked me, now you’re wishing me bodily harm. I will not forget this.

Jose Ramirez Recently Gave Back In A Big Way

By Andres Chavez

January 17, 2023

Cleveland Guardians infielder and perennial MVP candidate Jose Ramirez is more than just a baseball star.

He understands his position and the responsibilities that come with it: he is not just there to lead the Guardians on the field.

A superstar of his status is idolized by thousands of young, aspiring baseball players both in the Cleveland area and the Dominican Republic, his home country.

That’s why Ramirez is known for being involved with the community, helping others that don’t quite have as much as he has.

“This past weekend, together with @CleGuardians, I partnered with @PIFBS to help over 100 kids play ball in my hometown of Baní, DR With support from @wilsonballglove, we were able to donate $40,000 worth of equipment to kids who share the same love for the game of baseball,” he tweeted.

Jose Ramirez
@MrLapara

This past weekend, together with
I partnered with @PIFBS
to help over 100 kids play ball in my hometown of Baní, DR

With support from @wilsonballglove
we were able to donate $40,000 worth of equipment to kids who share the same love for the game of baseball

PIFBS means Pitch In For Baseball & Softball, an organization that provides baseball/softball gear to leagues to help grow the sport.

Baseball gear is not exactly cheap, depending on the location and on the acquisition power of some young players.

That’s why organizations like PIFBS, the Guardians, and players like Ramirez are so important.

They have the means to distribute bats, balls, gloves, mitts, masks, and other equipment to young players.

If more teams and players do this, baseball will be in a good place for years to come.

It’s important for players to play competitively from a young age, and having the right equipment is crucial.

Ramirez, as it turns out, is the Guardians MVP at all levels: both on the field and off it.


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Zack Meisel

Staff Writer, Guardians

The Guardians have seven prospects on Baseball America's new Top 100 list. Only the Orioles (8) have more.

19. SP Daniel Espino
20. SP Gavin Williams
68. C Bo Naylor
72. OF George Valera
77. SS Brayan Rocchio
85. SP Logan Allen
86. SP Tanner Bibee

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I posted the BA writeups on those 7 in Minor Matters

and commenting delayed by my week away on the 14 who could debut this year, basically ANYONE on the 40 man roster is a reasonably likely candidate at least as a 27th man for a doubleheader since they all are using up one of their 3 options this season anyway That means those kids who will be at AAA are all awfully likely:

Valera OF
Rocchio SS
Tena IF probably in Columbus in April or soon after
Brito IF who could be in Akron to start maybe Columbus later
Angle Martinez another IF who will be in Akron but has already surpassed Tena and Brito and Noel on prospect lists.

J Noel 1N/RF/DH will be in Akron but he's already on his second option so again can't hurt his development path to be recalled.

Among pitchers, only lefties Herrin and Cantillo are have no major league experience. Herrin is very likely to debut as lefty in the pen. Cantillo is less likely since the AAA roster will have experienced 27th men Pilkington, Curry and Gaddis as well as Morris if he doesn't make the team out of spring training

Anyone else added will both require clearing a 40 man roster spot [easy if someone goes on the 60 day IL) otherwise not so easy.
The likely candidates in this category would be either:
Guys like Curry and Gaddis last summer who were going to have to be added to the 40 man roster after the season anyway; [that could include Battenfield but no one wanted in Rule 5 in December or Mikojchack who might have been eligible last year too] or
Guys like Williams and Bibee who may be too good to hold back.