Five Outstanding Moves Helped Deliver A Division Title To The Cleveland Guardians

The Cleveland Guardians started the MLB season with a new name and the youngest team in baseball.

Shedding their history playing as the Cleveland Indians, the Cleveland franchise had some rocky early moments becoming the Guardians.

Preparing to sell their new team goods at the club’s team shop, the Guardians merchandise sign crashed to the ground while being installed. It was an ominous beginning. And an embarrassing moment.

The team endured backlash from fans unhappy with the loss of the Indians nickname, as well as the choice of Guardians as the replacement name.

Fast forward five months, and those same Cleveland Guardians are the American League Central Division Champions.

For this scout, there are five major moves that have been instrumental in helping bring the Championship to Cleveland.

One-A Potential New Business Model

With less than a perfect start of the new Cleveland nickname, the front office embarked on spring training with a serious issue to resolve. All Star third baseman Jose Ramirez could become a free-agent following the 2023 season. Ramirez, the face of the franchise, has been a very popular teammate and is wildly popular with Guardians fans.

Would Cleveland have to trade Ramirez, 30, in fear of losing him to free-agency? Best to trade him now, while he still has time remaining on his current contract.

As spring training began, it was reported Cleveland was accepting trade offers for Ramirez.

Then it happened. To this writer, one day in spring training was the spark that ignited the Cleveland Guardians.

Jose Ramirez signed a contract extension to remain with the team he loves, the Cleveland Guardians. It is the only team he has played for. It is the team where he has enjoyed tremendous success.

A bit of context is crucial regarding Ramirez remaining with Cleveland.

As the Cleveland Indians, the team’s business model included removing a player from the payroll when the player’s salary became greater than ownership’s financial comfort level.

What might have begun as one or two players leaving in free-agency or being traded when they were poised to earn massive salary increases became an operating procedure-a way of doing business.

Here are this writer’s top Cleveland Indians players who were either traded or allowed to seek a new deal as a free agent. The players are listed according to their chronological departures:

1996-Albert Belle-outfielder- left as a free-agent and signed with the Chicago White Sox

2000- Manny Ramirez-outfielder-left as a free-agent and signed with the Boston Red Sox

2002- Roberto Alomar-second baseman, was traded to the New York Mets

2002- Jim Thome-first baseman-left as a free-agent and signed with the Philadelphia Phillies

2002- Bartolo Colon-pitcher- was traded to the Montreal Expos

2002- Omar Vizquel-shortstop-left as a free-agent and was signed by the San Francisco Giants

2008- C C Sabathia-pitcher-was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers

2009- Cliff Lee-pitcher-was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies

2018- Michael Brantley-outfielder-left as a free-agent and signed with the Houston Astros

2019- Corey Kluber-pitcher-was traded to the Texas Rangers

2021- Francisco Lindor-shortstop-was traded to the New York Mets

Each had been an All Star with Cleveland.

The business model may have changed in April.

On April 14, 2022, the Cleveland Guardians announced they had extended third baseman Jose Ramirez’ contract. He would play out the remaining two years on his existing deal, but he would sign a five-year extension. Signed for a total of seven years, Ramirez will earn $141M.

In today’s MLB salary landscape, Ramirez signed a very team-friendly contract.

Still, it was a departure from the norm established by the team’s ownerships.

Perhaps the Ramirez deal signaled a new approach, where ownership will reward their best players with valuable contract extensions.

Two-Bobby Bradley and Logan Allen Are Designated For Assignment:

As baseball began to regroup from battling COVID and the resulting protocols, the 2022 season began with big league rosters expanded to 28 from 26 players. However, on May 1, rosters had to return to 26 players.

The Guardians made two crucial moves. In cutting their roster, they designated first baseman Bobby Bradley and left-handed pitcher Logan Allen for assignment. Both were out of minor league options.

Bradley, 25, had the reputation as a potential power source for the club.

In 2021, Bradley hit 16 home runs in 279 plate appearances. It earned him first crack at the first base role this season. However, in spring training, Bradley struck out in 10 of his 38 plate appearances. He got eight hits and finished with a batting average of .211.

Still, Bradley was at first base to start the new season. He hit .118/.118/.118/.235 with no home runs and 0 RBIs in 17 plate appearances. He appeared to be lost at the plate.

The Guardians designated Bradley for assignment on May 2. He has since been released from the organization.

Left-hander Logan Allen, one of two lefties with the same name on the Guardians roster when the season began, is a big, strong, 6-3 former Boston Red Sox draft choice.

With Cleveland, Allen was being counted upon to be a consequential lefty on the pitching staff. Perhaps he could even get spot starts at some point.

However, Allen threw 6 innings in relief, yielded nine hits and walked three to start the season. His 4.50 ERA and 2.00 WHIP as a reliever were not acceptable.

Like Bradley, Allen was designated for assignment when the roster was cut to 26.

Designating both Bradley and Allen for assignment sent very clear messages about the Guardians organization. They were on a mission to give their young players an opportunity to play and learn at the major league level. Mediocre performances would not be acceptable.

Three: Stand Pat At the Trade Deadline:

While fans and the media expected the Guardians to be busy at the August 2 trade deadline, they chose not to make a major move. They were determined to evaluate the skills of their young players and build a team chemistry without disruption from new players.

Instead of making trades, the front office chose to play the hand they had dealt themselves with their own players. It worked.

The team bonded, prospects were promoted, and the rest is history. The Guardians are the American League Central Division Champions.

Four: Franmil Reyes Is Designated For Assignment

The new season opened with slugger Franmil Reyes hitting fourth at designated hitter. Bobby Bradley hit fifth, playing first base.

After the team designated Bradley in May, they took the same course with Reyes. On August 6, 2022, Reyes was designated for assignment.

The Guardians had seen enough.

Reyes came to spring training out of shape and overweight.

Reyes was supposed to work with Albert Pujols in the Dominican winter league. That didn’t happen. Reyes didn’t play ball in the offseason.

Listed at 6-5, 265 pounds, Reyes is a huge man. He hit 30 homers and drove in 85 runs for the Indians in 2021. Naturally, more was expected from him this season.

In the prime of his career at the age of 27, Reyes could never repeat the hitting mechanics that were so promising. Instead of game-changing offense, Reyes delivered nine homers and 28 RBIs before he was designated for assignment. His slash line was .213/.254/.350/.603 in 280 plate appearances. He struck out 104 times.

It can’t be easy to break the connection with a guy that hit 30 home runs the previous season. The Guardians did it. And they didn’t look back.

Reyes was claimed by the Chicago Cubs, and is in and out of their lineup.

Five: Trust The Young Rookies

At an average age a bit above 26, the Guardians are the youngest team in Major League Baseball.

There are currently eight members of the club’s roster earning their first MLB service time. They are learning on the job.

The list includes:

Steven Kwan-Age 25.1 (outfielder)

Oscar Gonzalez-Age 24.1 (outfielder)

Will Brennan-Age 24.7 (outfielder)

Gabriel Arias-Age 22.6 (infielder)

Tyler Freeman-Age 23.4 (infielder)

Will Benson-Age 24.3 (outfielder)

Cody Morris-Age 25.9 (pitcher)

Kirk McCarty-Age 27 (pitcher)

That group of young rookies has offered tremendous energy and talent to the big league roster.

The hitters are patient, make good contact, use outstanding speed on offense and defense and play very credible fundamental baseball. They make things happen.

The pitchers have offered very good mound demeanor, excellent pitch arsenals, and have shown good command and control.

The Guardians are not winning with the long ball. Rather, they put pressure on the opposing defense by taking pitchers deeply into counts, taking an extra base, hitting line-drive ropes to the gap or dunking balls in front of defenders.

The Guardians play as a team. They are not concerned with individual accolades.

To this writer, this has been manager Terry Francona’s finest season at the helm of a big league club. He molded a group of young, untested prospects into a closely-knit and cohesive team, which is led by All Star Jose Ramirez.

Summary:

The Cleveland Guardians are the American League Central Division Champions.

To this writer, they made five tremendous moves to spark a magical season.

During the course of the year, Cleveland:

-Signed All Star Jose Ramirez to a five-year contract extension, going against the team’s previous business model

-Designated Bobby Bradley and Logan Allen for assignment, freeing roster space for young, athletic, and talented players

-Refused to make a deal at the trade deadline that would have disrupted an emerging team chemistry

-Designated Franmil Reyes for assignment, choosing to spread designated hitter duties among several exciting, young players

-Trusted the team’s destiny to a band of athletic and talented young rookies

Great moves by the Guardians front office set the tone for the team’s success.