Time to begin the off season speculation, a couple weeks later than most winters.

Step 1: fixing the winter roster. With 4 pitchers on the 60-day IL we start with 44 to whittle down to 40. the 4 are Bieber Hentges Karinchak and Stephan.

since we have 4 pending free agents, they come off the roster unless or until signed: Bieber, Boyd, Cobb and Hedges.

So we're back to 40 before any free agents are signed including our own and minor leaguers added before the Rule 5 draft.

I can't imagine they'd sign Cobb, it certainly would not be a surprise if he retires.
They like Hedges but perhaps could get him back on a minor league contract.
It would be nice to have Boyd back for a full season.
Bieber and agent will probably play the field.

Of the other 40, who would I not mind dropping?

1. Peter Strzelecki, didn't realize he was still on thre roster.
2. Connor Gillespie ditto; he was OK but if they want him back he should be available as minor league invitee
3. Karinchak? He finally got some game time in the final few weeks in Columbus. If he's close to his old form we'd want hm back. Is he?
4. Myles Strawl they still have to pay him next year but he has approximately no value. I was really impressed with his 2024 debut: picked off base immediately after entering as a pinch runner.

The Guardians sent outfielder Myles Straw outright to Triple-A Columbus, according to the MLB.com transaction log. Cleveland successfully ran him through waivers once the offseason got underway, removing him from the 40-man roster.

Straw was a lock to go unclaimed because of his contract. A team would’ve needed to assume the remaining $14.75MM in guaranteed money. Straw has cleared waivers twice this year. Cleveland outrighted him just before Opening Day. He spent almost the entire season in Triple-A. The Guards reselected his contract in mid-September but presumably always planned to take him back off the roster at year’s end.

Cleveland inked Straw to that deal early in the 2022 season. He’d posted a solid year in ’21, hitting .271/.349/.348 while stealing 30 bases and playing plus defense in center field. The Guardians reasoned that his speed and glove gave him a solid floor despite minimal power. His bat completely cratered over the next two seasons. Straw combined for only one home run with a .229/.296/.284 line from 2022-23. He didn’t hit in Triple-A this year, either, running a .240/.321/.329 mark against upper minors pitching.

As a player with less than five years of major league service, Straw would forfeit his contract to test free agency. He’s obviously not going to do that, so the Guards can keep him in Triple-A as a depth option. He only made seven MLB appearances this year, collecting one hit in four at-bats. He stole two bases in as many attempts.

We can only hope he is part of the Josh Naylor trade package.

If they trade him they'll have to commit to paying nearly all his salary.
Next to go will likely be Szelecz and Gillesepie who I forgot were even on the roster.

No Fry for at least a couple of months give J.Rodriguez a role to claim in Spring Training. Of course it also opens a spot to fill by trade.

Of course G's decline offering Bieber a $21M qualifying offer. They would have feared he would accept it.

civ ollilavad wrote: Tue Nov 05, 2024 11:09 am No Fry for at least a couple of months give J.Rodriguez a role to claim in Spring Training. Of course it also opens a spot to fill by trade.

Do not see that role. Noel, Manzardo and DeLauter in front of him.

The role I'm looking at is someone who hits right handed to serve as DH. Noel is already in RF. Manzardo is the Lefty DH. When DeLauter is ready, he gets RF and Noel becomes DH if he resumes hitting [always a chance he'll be a one and done star like Oscar G and others]. At least for awhile there's a roster space for a RH bat. JRod will get a chance.

Vote for Silver Glove winners here:

https://www.rawlings.com/gold-glove-platinum.html

Kwan is excellent but I think Giminez deserves the award again this year so he got my vote.
Deadline is midnight tonight