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Steven Kwan Steven Kwan Settles with Cleveland
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 3:24 PM
Kwan agreed to a one-year, $4.175 million contract with the Guardians on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: Kwan slashed .292/.368/.425 with 14 homers, 44 RBI and 12 stolen bases over 122 games last season -- good enough to earn himself a $3.4 million salary bump in his first year of arbitration eligibility. While reaching 10 home runs again in 2025 is far from a guarantee for the 27-year-old outfielder, he's still worthy of fantasy attention based on his contact skills. |
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Lane Thomas Lane Thomas Avoids arbitration with Cleveland
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 12:42 PM
Thomas agreed to a one-year, $7.825 million contract with the Guardians on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: The 29-year-old will receive a modest raise in his penultimate year of arbitration eligibility after making $5.45 million last season. Thomas had 15 homers and 32 stolen bases with a .709 OPS in 130 games between Washington and Cleveland in the regular season last year, and he should be a key piece of the Guardians' outfield mix again in 2025. |
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Luis Frias Luis Frias Joins Cleveland as NRI
Thu, Jan 2, 2025, 11:22 AM
The Guardians signed Frias on Thursday to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to spring training.
Analysis: Frias, 26, battled a shoulder problem in 2024 and struggled during his 9.2 major-league innings, yielding 16 runs (15 earned) with a 12:7 K:BB. He's collected a 28.4 percent strikeout rate at the Triple-A level, so the Guardians felt Frias was worth a shot on a no-risk, minor-league pact. |
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Carlos Santana Carlos Santana Returning to Cleveland
Sat, Dec 21, 2024, 6:01 PM
The Guardians signed Santana to a one-year, $12-million contract Saturday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Santana's signing came shortly after Cleveland traded Josh Naylor to Arizona for pitcher Slade Cecconi, so Santana appears set to take over as the starter at first base for the Guardians. The $12-million contract represents a nice pay raise for the veteran slugger, who joined Minnesota on a one-year $5.25 million dollar deal last February and enjoyed a solid campaign with a .748 OPS -- his highest since 2019 -- while slugging 23 homers and notching 71 RBI over 594 plate appearances during the regular season. Santana is nearing the end of his career -- he'll turn 39 years old in April -- but should provide a decent amount of run production in the middle of Cleveland's lineup while serving as a bridge to the team's future. |
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Slade Cecconi Slade Cecconi Sent to Cleveland
Sat, Dec 21, 2024, 5:40 PM
Cecconi was traded from Arizona to the Guardians on Saturday in exchange for Josh Naylor, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Cecconi appeared in 20 games for the Diamondbacks last season, with 13 of those outings coming as a starter. He put up poor numbers with a 6.66 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 18.9 percent strikeout rate over 77 innings, but his FIP was better at 5.02, and he ranked in the 92nd percentile leaguewide with a 5.0 percent walk rate. Cecconi could begin 2025 at the back end of Cleveland's rotation or continue to serve in a swingman role. |
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Dom Nunez Dom Nunez Back with Cleveland as NRI
Mon, Dec 16, 2024, 9:21 AM
The Guardians re-signed Nunez to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training.
Analysis: Nunez slashed .202/.330/.339 with five home runs over 68 games with Triple-A Columbus in 2024. The 29-year-old will give the Guardians some catching depth with big-league experience. |
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Shane Bieber Shane Bieber Throwing from 90 feet
Wed, Dec 11, 2024, 4:21 PM
Bieber (elbow) said Wednesday that he has been throwing from 90 feet three times per week, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.
Analysis: Bieber is encouraged by the progress he's made since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April, though he also said "there's a long way to go." The 29-year-old agreed to a one-year deal Friday to remain in Cleveland for 2025, and his rehab is expected to extend a few months into the regular season. |
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Luis L. Ortiz Luis L. Ortiz Dealt to Guardians
Tue, Dec 10, 2024, 10:24 PM
The Pirates traded Ortiz to the Guardians on Tuesday alongside Josh Hartle and Michael Kennedy in exchange for Spencer Horwitz, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Ortiz took a massive leap in 2024, posting a 3.32 ERA and 1.11 WHIP alongside a 107:42 K:BB in 135.2 innings. The Pirates used him as both a starter and reliever last year, though Shane Bieber's (elbow) injury and a general lack of starter depth could prompt Cleveland to keep Ortiz in its rotation full time. |
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Spencer Horwitz Spencer Horwitz Traded to Guardians
Tue, Dec 10, 2024, 5:56 PM
The Blue Jays traded Horwitz and Nick Mitchell to the Guardians on Tuesday in exchange for Andres Gimenez and Nick Sandlin, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: In 97 games with the Blue Jays last year, Horwitz slashed .265/.357/.433 while mashing 12 homers and driving in 40 RBI. With second base now open in Cleveland following Gimenez's move to Toronto, Horwitz's clearest path to playing time is likely at the keystone, though he could also be used at first base and DH over the course of the season. |
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Shane Bieber Shane Bieber Staying in Cleveland
Fri, Dec 6, 2024, 4:28 PM
Bieber (elbow) agreed to a one-year, $14 million contract with the Guardians on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Bieber's new deal also includes a $16 million player option for 2026. The 29-year-old righty was dominant in two starts last season, pitching 12 shutout innings while striking out 20 batters and walking one, but his campaign was cut extremely short by Tommy John surgery in mid-April. He's expected to miss the first couple months of the 2025 season while he finishes up his rehab process, but the 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner is still a safe bet to be a strong fantasy asset once he returns. |
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George Valera George Valera Staying in Cleveland
Mon, Nov 25, 2024, 5:25 PM
The Guardians signed Valera (knee) to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training.
Analysis: Valera will remain in Cleveland after being non-tendered by the Guardians on Friday. The 24-year-old outfielder underwent surgery on his right knee in September to repair a ruptured patellar tendon, and he is unlikely to be ready for the start of the 2025 regular season. Valera will likely be assigned to Triple-A Columbus when he is fully healthy. |
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Ben Lively Ben Lively Inks new deal with Guardians
Fri, Nov 22, 2024, 7:43 PM
Lively signed a one-year, $2.25 million deal with the Guardians to avoid arbitration Friday, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Analysis: Lively was an effective member of the Guardians' rotation in 2024, maintaining a 3.81 ERA with a 118:49 K:BB across 151 innings. He battled some inconsistency due to his contact-heavy approach, but he is a strong candidate to begin the season in the rotation. |
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Sam Hentges Sam Hentges Avoids arbitration with Cleveland
Fri, Nov 22, 2024, 4:45 PM
Hentges (shoulder) agreed to a one-year, $1.337 million contract with the Guardians on Friday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: Hentges is set to miss the entire 2025 campaign after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder in September. His new contract will ensure he remains with the Guardians organization for the duration of his rehab process, and the 28-year-old will look to return for the start of 2026. |
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Triston McKenzie Triston McKenzie Avoids arbitration
Thu, Nov 21, 2024, 5:10 PM
McKenzie agreed to terms on a one-year, $1.95 million contract with the Guardians on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: McKenzie spent the first half of 2024 with the Guardians, posting a 5.11 ERA and 1.56 WHIP across 75.2 innings (16 starts). He continued to struggle to the tune of a 5.23 ERA after being demoted to Triple-A Columbus in June. Despite his poor performance, the 27-year-old righty will receive a $350,000 raise in 2025, but he should remain off fantasy managers' radar until he's able to regain command over his pitches. |
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George Valera George Valera Loses spot on 40-man roster
Tue, Nov 19, 2024, 6:46 PM
The Guardians designated Valera (knee) for assignment Tuesday.
Analysis: Valera underwent surgery in September to repair a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee, and his absence is expected to extend into the first portion of the 2025 campaign. Rather than keeping him on the 40-man roster until then, the Guardians will attempt to pass the 24-year-old through waivers and hand his roster spot to fellow outfielder Petey Halpin. |
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Connor Gillispie Connor Gillispie Booted from 40-man
Tue, Nov 19, 2024, 6:41 PM
The Guardians designated Gillispie for assignment Tuesday.
Analysis: Gillispie yielded just two earned runs over eight MLB innings in 2024, but he also logged a 4.05 ERA and 1.24 WHIP over 113.1 Triple-A frames. His 40-man spot will be handed to Nic Enright, who consequentially is protected from the upcoming Rule 5 Draft. |
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Peter Strzelecki Peter Strzelecki Ousted from 40-man roster
Tue, Nov 19, 2024, 6:35 PM
The Guardians designated Strzelecki for assignment Tuesday.
Analysis: Strzelecki was effective during his time in the majors last season, allowing just three runs over 11.2 innings with the Guardians. However, his 5.01 ERA at Triple-A Columbus makes him significantly less reliable than his MLB statline would suggest, so the team will strip him of his 40-man spot and use it to protect fellow right-hander Franco Aleman from the upcoming Rule 5 Draft. |
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Nic Enright Nic Enright Grabs spot on 40-man roster
Tue, Nov 19, 2024, 6:15 PM
The Guardians selected Enright to their 40-man roster Tuesday.
Analysis: Enright missed four months of last season due to an injury, but he was dominant when healthy, putting up a 1.06 ERA and 0.82 WHIP alongside a 31:5 K:BB through 17 innings with Triple-A Columbus. The 27-year-old righty's performance has now earned him a spot on Cleveland's 40-man roster, and he could have a chance to make his MLB debut in 2025 if he turns in similar results to begin the minor-league season. |
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Parker Mushinski Parker Mushinski Inks deal with Cleveland
Fri, Nov 8, 2024, 7:34 PM
Mushinski signed a minor-league contract with the Guardians on Friday and received an invitation to spring training, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Mushinski allowed eight earned runs over 11 innings in the big leagues with Houston last season. However, most of his time was spent at Triple-A, where the 28-year-old southpaw posted a 5.44 ERA over 44.2 frames. He will most likely fill in as organizational bullpen depth for the Guardians. |
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Austin Hedges Austin Hedges Re-signing with Cleveland
Wed, Nov 6, 2024, 3:10 PM
The Guardians agreed to a one-year, $4 million contract with Hedges on Wednesday, Buster Olney of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Hedges will return to Cleveland as Bo Naylor's backup. The 32-year-old slashed only .152/.203/.220 with two homers in 66 contests for the Guardians this season but is lauded for his defense and handling of a pitching staff. |
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