The Guardians had a powerful season in 2024 however got here up simply shy of the last word purpose, falling to the Yankees within the ALCS. They now head into offseason mode with some inquiries to be answered. Zack Meisel of The Athletic relayed a couple of attention-grabbing notes on X in the present day, arguably with probably the most notable element being that David Fry goes to see Dr. Keith Meister about his injured elbow. On prime of that, Meisel additionally says that your complete teaching workers will likely be again until somebody will get a promotion with one other membership, and that the Guards have some extent of mutual curiosity in reunions with free brokers Shane Bieber, Alex Cobb, Matthew Boyd and Austin Hedges.
Fry had a powerful season in 2024, hitting 14 residence runs in simply 392 plate appearances and drawing walks at a ten.7% clip. That led to a .263/.356/.448 batting line and 129 wRC+. Most of that harm got here in opposition to left-handed pitching, because the righty hitter had a large 18.2% stroll price with the platoon benefit however simply 5.3% with out it, whereas 9 of his 14 lengthy balls have been in opposition to southpaws. That created lopsided platoon splits with Fry slashing .287/.430/.566 in opposition to lefties for a 179 wRC+, whereas these numbers have been .248/.302/.374 and a 94 wRC+ in opposition to righties.
Whereas Fry was restricted by these splits this yr, he was additionally restricted in one other approach. He’s able to enjoying varied spots on the diamond, with some previous expertise at catcher and within the 4 nook spots. However in late June, he was identified with proper elbow irritation, as Meisel relayed on X at the moment. Within the latter half of the season, he largely served as a chosen hitter or pinch hitter, solely not often taking the sphere. He didn’t play a place apart from first base after the month of July.
This left supervisor Stephen Vogt a little bit bit hamstrung down the stretch and into the postseason, as he couldn’t however Fry behind the plate. That left the Guards with a catching tandem of Bo Naylor and Hedges. Naylor had a powerful yr defensively however didn’t hit a lot. As for Hedges, he’s been on the acute fringe of that profile for a very long time, having spent a decade within the massive leagues as one of many worst hitters however among the best backstops when the gear is on.
Fry’s elbow difficulty was manageable sufficient that he may hit by means of it, but it surely appears he would possibly do a deeper dive now that the season is completed. Meister is an elbow specialist who has carried out dozens of Tommy John surgical procedures and inside brace procedures. The truth that Fry goes to see him doesn’t imply that surgical procedure is inevitable, as it’s going to clearly rely on the situation of his elbow, however the assembly is notable nonetheless.
If surgical procedure is required, he’d naturally be in line for a prolonged rehab. Place gamers can usually return from main elbow surgical procedures a bit faster than pitchers, with hitting a risk earlier than throwing. Bryce Harper was one excessive instance, present process Tommy John surgical procedure in November of 2022 after which being reinstated in Could of 2023, lower than six months later. Harper served as a DH for some time after which began enjoying some first base in July.
After all, every case is exclusive and it’s not even a assure that going beneath the knife will likely be obligatory, however that gives a tough guideline of one thing that may very well be thought of. Nevertheless, if such a situation does come to go, then it is smart that Guardians would have some curiosity in bringing again Hedges.
As talked about, Hedges is an excessive case of a glove-first backstop, which he confirmed once more in 2024 by placing up a line of .152/.203/.220 in his 146 plate appearances. His wRC+ of 20 was the worst within the majors amongst guys with that many journeys to the plate, aside from MartÃn Maldonado’s 11 wRC+ in 147 plate appearances.
However Hedges has persistently been atop defensive leaderboards for catchers. He has 91 Defensive Runs Saved from 2015 to the current, simply probably the most in baseball with Roberto Pérez second with 75. He’s additionally tops by way of Statcast Fielding Run Worth for that stretch and second solely to Yasmani Grandal by way of FanGraphs’ framing metric. If Fry is about to overlook a while subsequent yr, it could make sense to have Hedges come again and share the catching duties with Naylor, at the least till Fry is as soon as once more an possibility behind the plate. Hedges signed for $4MM coming into this yr and is probably going in line for a pay minimize, as his hitting in 2024 was beneath even his personal low requirements.
As for the opposite free brokers, it’s comprehensible that Cleveland could be desirous about bringing them again as they’re all beginning pitchers. The Guardians have lengthy been identified for his or her capability to develop rotation choices on bushes however struggled in that division in 2024. Bieber required Tommy John surgical procedure whereas pitchers like Triston McKenzie, Carlos Carrasco, Logan Allen and others struggled to publish first rate outcomes.
That led to the membership within the uncommon place of getting to seek out midseason additions. They signed Boyd, who was recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure, to a significant league deal in June. He was nonetheless on the injured listing on the commerce deadline once they acquired Cobb and added him into the combo.
Each of these two and Bieber are actually heading into free company. The Cleveland rotation for 2025 initiatives to be fronted by Tanner Bibee with loads of query marks after that. Ben Energetic posted a 3.81 earned run common in 2024 however that was regardless of a low strikeout price of 18.7%. He could have been helped by a .265 batting common on balls in play and 78.4% strand price, which have been each on the lucky facet. His 4.66 FIP and 4.58 SIERA counsel he could have issue repeating that ERA. Gavin Williams is a little bit of the inverse, as he had a 4.86 ERA in 2024 however with a low 66.9% strand price, resulting in a 3.67 FIP and 4.19 SIERA.
Past these three, it will get actual murky. Joey Cantillo had a 4.89 ERA in his first main league motion however did so with a 9.2% stroll price round league common. Since he’s walked 13.4% of minor leagues confronted for the reason that begin of 2021 and was at 15% on the farm in 2024, it won’t be smart to anticipate him to maintain up that stage of management. McKenzie and Allen had ERAs above 5.00 each within the majors and minors this yr.
Briefly, bringing in beginning pitching is a logical plan for this offseason. Mutual curiosity between the pitchers and the membership is good however a good value will seemingly be required in every case. Boyd has been injured quite a bit lately however goes into free company on a excessive notice. He posted a 2.72 ERA with the Guards down the stretch, together with a 27.7% strikeout price and seven.8% stroll price, then had a 0.77 ERA in his three playoff outings. He may maybe parlay that sturdy end right into a stable two-year deal in free company and can seemingly be trying to maximize his assure after so many damage absences in his profession.
Bieber and Cobb can have much less momentum by way of their incomes energy. As talked about, Bieber had Tommy John surgical procedure early within the 2024 season and will likely be slated to overlook at the least the early elements of the 2025 season. Pitchers recovering from Tommy John typically signal two-year offers, however these guys are often on a path to overlook most or all the first season in these instances. Since Bieber went beneath the knife in April, he may maybe play a major function in 2025 and would possibly attempt to return to the open market a yr from now, both by signing a one-year deal or a two-year pact with an opt-out.
Cobb is coming off an injury-marred season that noticed him throw simply 22 innings between the common season and playoffs. He got here into 2024 recovering from hip surgical procedure and ultimately battled by means of shoulder discomfort in addition to fingernail/blister points on his pitching hand earlier than his season was ended by a decrease again pressure. Now 37 years outdated and coming off that yr, he’ll should accept a reasonably modest deal, maybe heavy with incentives.
RosterResource initiatives the Guardians for a $95MM payroll in 2025, which is lower than $10MM shy of their 2024 quantity. That may not go away them quite a bit to work with this winter until they’re planning on a notable spending enhance. With the membership’s broadcast take care of Diamond Sports activities Group now executed and MLB taking up in that division, they could have much less TV cash coming and will not have a lot urge for food for an enormous bump within the finances.
Nevertheless, Josh Naylor and Lane Thomas are every slated for notable salaries of their respective last seasons of membership management. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz initiatives Naylor for $12MM and Thomas for $8.3MM. The Guardians usually commerce notable gamers earlier than they attain free company, with Francisco Lindor, Corey Kluber and Trevor Bauer being some current examples. Maybe they’d contemplate the identical with Naylor and/or Thomas as a approach of liberating up cash whereas additionally maybe bolstering the rotation that approach. Any free agent pursuits may additionally hinge on how that market performs out for them.
