Cleveland Sports Forum

Guardians add prospects Angel Martinez, Tim Herrin and Joey Cantillo to 40-man roster, deal Carlos Vargas to Arizona
Updated: Nov. 15, 2022, 7:27 p.m.|Published: Nov. 15, 2022, 7:03 p.m.
Baseball Field at a Major League Baseball Game
Guardians prospects Angel Martinez and Joey Cantillo have been added to Cleveland's 40-man roster.Getty Images

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By Joe Noga, cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Infielder Angel Martinez and left-handed pitching prospects Tim Herrin and Joey Cantillo were added to the Guardians’ 40-man roster on Tuesday prior to Major League Baseball’s deadline to protect prospects in advance of next month’s Rule 5 draft.

Cleveland also sent right-handed reliever Carlos Vargas to the Diamondbacks in exchange for minor league righty Ross Carver. The club designated lefties Anthony Gose and Kirk McCarty for assignment in order to make room on the roster.




Last year, Cleveland added 11 players, including six who eventually made their big league debuts during the 2022 season. Steven Kwan, Tyler Freeman, Richie Palacios, Bryan Lavastida, Cody Morris and Konnor Pilkington joined the roster and saw playing time with the major league club while George Valera, Brayan Rocchio, Jose Tena and Jhonkensy Noel remained in the minors for the duration of the season.

Right-hander Tobias Myers was also among those added last year, but was released in July.

Several of Cleveland’s young prospects that would have needed to be added to the roster by Tuesday’s deadline already made their debuts in 2022. Will Brennan, Bo Naylor, Xzavion Curry and Hunter Gaddis would have faced exposure to the Rule 5 draft if the Guardians had not already promoted them during the season.

Martinez, Herrin and Cantillo were the only players added Tuesday. The 20-year-old Martinez is the son of former big league catcher Sandy Martinez. Cleveland signed the switch-hitting infield prospect as an international free agent in July, 2018.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Martinez split time between High-A Lake County and Double-A Akron where he hit .278 with 13 home runs and a .849 OPS in 101 games.

Cantillo, 22, was part of Cleveland’s massive haul in the Mike Clevinger trade with San Diego in August, 2020. He turned in a strong season for Akron before a shoulder injury limited him to just 14 appearances. Cantillo posted a 1.93 ERA in 60 2/3 innings while striking out 87 batters and allowing a .178 opponent batting average. During a five-game stretch in May, Cantillo did not allow a run across 22 innings.

Herrin, 26, is a 6-foot-6 lefty that caught manager Terry Francona’s eye in spring training. In September, Francona talked about Herrin prior to a series against the Royals. He said the long and lanky left-hander reminds him at first glance of a former dominant Cleveland reliever.


“He looks like Andrew Miller, throws like Andrew Miller,” Francona said. “We saw him this spring, I remember he came in a game, Brian Sweeney called down and said ‘Wait till you see this.’”


Herrin went 1-4 in 46 appearances between Akron and Columbus with a 4.02 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP, but his strikeout potential is off the charts. In 69 1/3 innings he punched out 101 batters. Control was an issue as Herrin walked 23 and allowed seven home runs, but Cleveland’s development staff seems to be impressed with his stuff.

“We’re trying to figure out why it’s not matching up yet,” Francona said. “But when it does, look out.”

Vargas, who missed the 2021 season while recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery, went 4-3 with a 3.67 ERA in 34 1/3 innings with 37 strikeouts between Akron and Columbus. He was promoted to the big league club in September, but did not appear in a game for the Guardians. The 22-year-old Dominican native signed with Cleveland as an international free agent in October, 2015.

Carver, 23, pitched at High-A Hillsboro and Double-A Amarillo last season, compiling a 2-5 record in 24 appearances with a 5.06 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 117 1/3 innings. He was a 20th round selection of the Diamondbacks in the 2021 draft out of Dallas Baptist University.

As was Joey Cantillo LHP who does just fine when he's not hurt. He's the 6th man from the Clevinger deal.

And surprisingly Tim Herrin a LHP who maybe replaces Kirk McCarty and Anthony Gose both of who were DFAd

I better look him up.

So added to the roster:
Martinez SS age 20
Cantillo LHP age 22
Herrin LHP age 26, 2 years older than Clase; 1 year older than McKenzie; 1 year older than Sandlin; 1 year yunger than Bieber, Civale, Quantrill
Brito 2B, age 21; was only No. 30 on the Rockies prospect list. Report says his lack of speed restricts his defensive possibiity to 2nd base
Hasn't reached AA

Removed from the roster:
N Jones 3b/of
Gose LHP
McCarty LHP
Vargas RHP

Added to the farm system:

Carver RHP age 23

Tim Herrin 2018 draft pick. 6 foot 6 230 An only slightly smaller version of Sam Hentges

13 innings in Rookie ball in 2018 6.19 ERA 1.16 K/IP
43 innings in 2 levels of A ball 0.00 in Mah Valley 4.85 in Low A .65K/ IP
74 innings in High A in 2021 2.57 ERA 1.15 K/IP
22 innings in AA in 2022 2.01 ERA 1.65 K/IP
47 innings in AAA in 2022 4.98 ERA 1.37 K/IP
checked for AFL work but he did not pitch there

I give the team the benefit of the doubt on past experience and on the development it looks like he made in 2021 and 2022. could be a useful lefty in the pen.

Baseball America comments on players added to rosters:

Arizona added Vargas after the trade, it sounds like he can be helpful soon, but I guess Cleveland doesn't think so:
Carlos Vargas, RHP: Acquired by the D-backs prior to the roster deadline, Vargas had Tommy John surgery at the beginning of 2021 and returned to the mound this summer. Over 27 appearances Vargas struck out 37 batters across 34.1 innings. Vargas relies on a two-pitch mix consisting of an upper-90s fastball with two variations and a low-90s slider with tight gyro spin. Vargas could move quickly over the next year, eventually fitting into a high-leverage bullpen role.

Angel Martinez, SS: Few teams do a better job of scouting the international market than the Guardians do, and in recent years their success has led to tough roster decisions. Martinez hit .278/.378/.471 with 23 doubles and 13 home runs between High-A and Double-A, though a majority of his season was spent with High-A Lake County. Martinez finished his season in the Arizona Fall League and hit .260/.341/.343 over 21 games with Peoria. Martinez is a well-rounded player who displays above-average bat-to-ball skills and plate discipline that should lead to high batting averages and on-base percentages in the future. At present his raw power is below-average, but he will flash average power upside due to his advanced plate skills and optimal launch angles at contact.

Joey Cantillo, LHP: The lefthander was left unprotected last season in the Rule 5 draft that never happened. A year later, Cantillo has pitched his way onto the crowded Guardians 40-man roster. Cantillo was acquired from the Padres in the 2020 trade that sent Mike Clevinger to San Diego. He was placed on the injured list with a shoulder injury on Aug. 6, but had performed in 13 starts prior to that with Double-A Akron. In fact, Cantillo was enjoying a breakout season as his 4-3 record, 1.93 ERA and 35.5% strikeout rate prior to the injury indicated. From a stuff perspective Cantilo mixes four pitches, a four-seam fastball that sits 91-93 mph with ride and cut, an upper-70s changeup with Bugs Bunny shape that plays off of his fastball, a mid-80s slider-cutter hybrid and a low-70s curveball with tremendous depth. While Cantillo’s arsenal lacks average power, his variety of shapes does translate to high stuff rankings, as his fastball, changeup and slider all grade out as above-average to plus according to Stuf+. The biggest question remaining for Cantillo is whether he can stay on the field for a full season.

Tim Herrin, LHP: The 6-foot-6 lefthanded reliever is a former 26th-round pick in 2018, and after five years in the Guardians organization he’s earned a spot on their 40-man roster. Herrin mixes three pitches with two variations of his fastball. His four-seam and two-seam sit 95-97 mph, touching 98. His four-seam is clearly his primary pitch, generating above-average spin rates and cut on the pitch. He pairs his fastball variants with a high-80s cutter, his best bat-missing pitch, and a low-80s slider that’s used less than his cutter but drove strong results in 2022. Herrin saw success out of the pen in the upper levels of the minor leagues in 2022 as the lefthander struck out 34.1% of batters he faced in 2022 between Double-A and Triple-A.

Juan Brito, 2B: The infielder was acquired by the Guardians from the Rockies in exchange for Nolan Jones in the hours leading up to the deadline. Brito fits an archetype the Guardians have had success with in recent years—a switch-hitter with advanced plate discipline and strong bat-to-ball skills. This style of player is so synonymous with the Guardians that a longtime scout texted me in the aftermath of the trade saying “Brito was always a Guardians prospect, they just needed to make it official.” In this way Brito fits the Guardians style of play—a high-contact hitter with developed skills as a hitter looking to add impact as he ages. If Brito is able to grow into more strength and power he could develop into an above-average hitter in the major leagues at peak.

Sounds pretty good, but still not sure why we dealt for an IF with those skills rather than perhaps a catcher with Hedges type skills; or the same kind of talent but an OF where we are not as deep as middle infielders.

And Colorado's share of the trade:

Nolan Jones, OF: Acquired by the Rockies prior to the deadline for infielder Juan Brito, Jones has been a prospect for several years and was formerly ranked as a Top 100 Prospect. In recent years his swing and miss and passivity at the plate have led to increased concerns around his profile. He has a combination of elite on-base skills and power, but has run high strikeout totals in recent years without much value defensively. Jones’ change of scenery and the less crowded Rockies 40-man roster could lead to increased opportunities for him in 2023.

Hmm, that doesn't say much good about Jones! I guess BA thinks we got the better of the deal!

Jones debuts on Rockie's prospect list at No. 11 Brito No. 30 for Cleveland

Ethan Hankins, CLE (22): Despite reaching Rule 5 eligibility, Hankins has barely pitched professionally. He’s totaled just 64 career innings across five seasons. He returned from Tommy John surgery at the end of 2022. At times, he has flashed multiple plus pitches. Hankins would rate as an extreme selection – he has yet to appear in High-A. Orgs lacking in both Major League and prospect talent – like the Nationals – might take an interest.

Micah Pries, CLE (24): Although he’s flown well-below the radar, Pries has done nothing but hit since his debut in 2021. A 2019 draftee, he missed that season due to a pre-draft hamstring injury. COVID restrictions cost him his 2020 campaign. Pries seems unlikely to be selected on so short a track record and modest scouting grades. In 504 Double-A plate appearances, he batted .266/.341/.473 with 18 home runs and 20 stolen bases. If there are underlying metrics supporting his success (I have no such info on him), a data-savvy team might give him a try.

Big Hype Prospects: Ward, Vodnik, Lavigne, Murray, Sikkema
By Brad Johnson 2 | November 18, 2022 at 12:11pm CDT

It’s time to shift our attention to the frozen wasteland of the offseason. With luck, the baseball gods will provide us with an amply warm stove to survive this bleak period without baseball. Already, we’ve seen a number of interesting, tinkering-on-the-margins trades. Teams are also preparing for the Rule 5 draft, set to take place on December 7.

Today, we’ll check in on some players who were not protected per MLB.com. By nature, none of these are consensus Top 100 prospects. In some cases, they had a better prospect pedigree in the past. In others, scouting reports don’t agree with the statistical output. Still others are clearly talented but have struggled to stay on the field.

We’ll cover half today and the other half next week.

Five Big Hype Prospects

Thad Ward, 25, SP, BOS (AA)
33.1 IP, 11.07 K/9, 3.78 BB/9, 2.43 ERA

Ward has scarcely pitched in official game action since 2019, accruing just 59.1 innings over the last three seasons due to Tommy John surgery. He appeared in the Arizona Fall League, adding 12.2 innings to his season total. He held opponents to a 2.84 ERA with 15 strikeouts and six walks.

Any team thinking about drafting Ward will have to consider his readiness for a full campaign after so much lost development time. The right-handed starter has a five-pitch repertoire. It’s believed he could play up in the bullpen as a cutter-slider specialist – they’re his best offerings. He also has a sinker, curve, and changeup, none of which are relief-quality offerings.

Victor Vodnik, 23, RP, ATL (AAA)
27.2 IP, 10.73 K/9, 5.20 BB/9, 2.93 ERA

Vodnik is a relief prospect with a cutting fastball. He has an adequate changeup and a work-in-progress slider. He pitched to a 2.93 ERA at Triple-A last season. He had issues with walks but made up for it by inducing over 50 percent ground balls. He’s allowed high BABIPs – a sign he might not have a high leverage future. He appears to be big league ready. Teams can look at him as comparable to the typical non-roster invitee.

Grant Lavigne, 23, 1B, COL (AA)
242 PA, 5 HR, .245/.347/.370

Lavigne had a strong AFL showing, but it wasn’t enough for the Rockies to protect him from the upcoming draft. The left-handed hitting first baseman is a discipline-first hitter. Although he has plus raw power, he doesn’t access it in-game very often. His swing path could use work, especially since his upper-cut hack has yielded a high ground ball rate. Between his size and discipline, a team might believe there is something salvageable here with the right instruction. A flatter, more adaptable swing plane could yield immediate rewards.

Jayden Murray, 25, SP/RP, HOU (AA)
108 IP, 8.3 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, 3.50 ERA

Part of the Trey Mancini trade, Murray profiles as a high-probability future big leaguer based on his command of a plus slider. His eventual role remains uncertain. He’s spent his entire career starting – with mostly positive results. His ERAs are consistently more than a run below his FIP, a symptom of the aforementioned slider command. Few minor league pitchers have a fine touch with their offspeed stuff. Murray has made only one appearance in Triple-A. Clubs could be curious to try him in a relief role to see if the stuff plays up. Even if it doesn’t, he looks like a plausible innings-eating, low-leverage reliever for any non-contender.

T.J. Sikkema, 24, SP/RP, KC (AA)
69 IP, 10.8 K/9, 3.1 BB/9, 4.83 ERA

A former 38th-overall pick, the Royals acquired Sikkema as part of the Andrew Benintendi trade. After dominating at the Yankees High-A affiliate, Sikkema struggled to a 7.44 ERA with the Royals Double-A crew. While his performance doesn’t appear to be that of a plausible Rule 5 pick, he fits a historically favored profile for the draft. A southpaw with a 50 percent ground ball rate, he’s worked almost exclusively as a starter. A team in need of a lefty specialist could be interested to see how he performs as a reliever.

Five More

Ethan Hankins, CLE (22): Despite reaching Rule 5 eligibility, Hankins has barely pitched professionally. He’s totaled just 64 career innings across five seasons. He returned from Tommy John surgery at the end of 2022. At times, he has flashed multiple plus pitches. Hankins would rate as an extreme selection – he has yet to appear in High-A. Orgs lacking in both Major League and prospect talent – like the Nationals – might take an interest.

Chase Strumpf, CHC (24): Strumpf has topped out at Double-A where he’s mixed solid power and excellent discipline with a serious strikeout issue. Ironically, he was originally considered a hit-over-power prospect. Strumpf could be seen as a development project, especially if a club thinks they can unlock better results by teaching him selective aggression.

Yolbert Sanchez, CWS (25): Sanchez is a contact hitter who would have been valued more in past eras of baseball. His low-angle contact approach yields a high average at the expense of power and on-base skills. He’s mostly of interest for his value as a utility infielder who can put the bat on the ball – not unlike a Ronald Torreyes type.

Jeremiah Jackson, LAA (22): One of the younger and toolsier options available, Jackson made some notable gains at Double-A last season – specifically his rate of contact. The Angels don’t have a well-regarded development system. Jackson is young and talented enough that a team with better resources – might opt to sacrifice a roster spot for a season to see if they can unlock another level.

Micah Pries, CLE (24): Although he’s flown well-below the radar, Pries has done nothing but hit since his debut in 2021. A 2019 draftee, he missed that season due to a pre-draft hamstring injury. COVID restrictions cost him his 2020 campaign. Pries seems unlikely to be selected on so short a track record and modest scouting grades. In 504 Double-A plate appearances, he batted .266/.341/.473 with 18 home runs and 20 stolen bases. If there are underlying metrics supporting his success (I have no such info on him), a data-savvy team might give him a try.