Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report identified Cleveland's biggest hole as their rotation depth. One veteran he's urging the Guardians to sign to fill this need is LHP Ryan Yarbrough. "Yarbrough has been a successful swingman throughout his career, so he can fill a bulk relief role and wait in the wings for when a rotation need arises," wrote Reuter.
With about four weeks left before pitchers and catchers report, Guardians fans are wondering if the team will do anything else to improve their chances at making a second ALCS... and winning it this time.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Realistically, the Guardians never had a chance to sign Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki, though they did try. The Guardians were among the 20 or so teams that expressed interest in Sasaki right after the Chiba Lotte Marines, his Japanese team, posted him at the MLB winter meetings in December.
Cleveland's Major League franchise helped give Bob Uecker a cult following as "Harry Doyle." Read the MLB club's statement after Uecker death.
Others, meanwhile, are selling it in the personage of prospects who could make the difference over the coming years. CBS Sports is underway examining the top three prospects in each organization. Our definition of "prospect" is simple: does that player have rookie eligibility remaining for the 2025 season?
As it currently stands, Cleveland's payroll sits at $97,387,203. To put this in context, the Guardians finished the 2024 season with a payroll of $143,865,037, making this a difference of -$46,478,014. (All numbers are per BrooksGate on X .)
Straw, who won a Gold Glove award in 2022, was placed on waivers last Spring but was not claimed by any other Major League team. He spent the majority of the 2024 season in the Cleveland organization at Triple-A Columbus. The veteran outfielder posted a batting average of .240 with 3 home runs, 47 RBIs with 30 stolen bases.
Following a challenging 2024 season, Triston McKenzie is focused on contributing to Cleveland's starting rotation and postseason pursuits.
The Cleveland Guardians made another trade with the Toronto Blue Jays. This time sending an even worse hitting gold glove defender! Myles Straw was sent to Toronto along with international bonus pool money and the cash equivalent of his buyout.
The Guardians and Major League Baseball announced start times for contests during spring training and in the regular season.
Toronto acquired $2 million in international signing bonus pool allocation from the Cleveland Guardians that could be used in its pursuit of Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki as part of a trade that also brought underperforming outfielder Myles Straw to the Blue Jays.