Cleveland Guardians

Reigning American League Cy Young winner Shane Bieber reported to Cleveland's spring training Saturday. 

Per the Associated Press, Bieber took part in on-field drills at Cleveland's spring training complex in Goodyear, Arizona. 

Cleveland president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti told reporters Thursday that Bieber's arrival was delayed after he tested positive for COVID-19. 

Antonetti noted Bieber had "very, very mild symptoms" and the team was expecting him to arrive in camp in a few days.

A fourth-round draft pick by Cleveland in 2016, Bieber has emerged as one of the best pitchers in baseball since making his big league debut in May 2018. The 25-year-old led the AL with three complete games and two shutouts in 2019. 

Bieber took his game to another level in the shortened 2020 season. He led MLB with a 1.63 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 77.1 innings to win the AL Cy Young award and finish fourth in AL MVP voting. 

Cleveland will be counting on Bieber if it wants to make the postseason in 2021. The team traded star shortstop Francisco Lindor and Bieber's fellow pitcher Carlos Carrasco to the New York Mets during the offseason. 

Cleveland will have its first full-squad workout Monday. Its first spring training game will be against the Cincinnati Reds on Feb. 28. 

 

Cleveland manager Terry Francona revealed he had an extended stay in the hospital during the offseason because of a staph infection. 

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Francona said he was in the hospital for 10 days with an infection in his toe and is currently using a crutch and walking boot to get around after doctors removed part of the bone.

"I wasn't all that mobile to begin with, so it's not necessarily really killing my mobility," Francona joked.

Francona has dealt with a number of health issues in recent years. He underwent a cardiac ablation in July 2017, which came after he had to leave the dugout in the middle of a June 13 game against the Texas Rangers after feeling lightheaded and having an increased heart rate. 

Last season, Francona was only able to manage 14 games because of gastrointestinal issues and a blood clot. Cleveland president Chris Antonetti told reporters last October the team was expecting to have the 61-year-old back for the 2021 season. 

Cleveland made the postseason last year with Sandy Alomar Jr. serving as interim manager. Alomar has been a coach with the organization since 2010 after playing with the team from 1990-2000. 

Francona is entering his ninth season as Cleveland's manager. The team has made the postseason in four of the past five years and won three consecutive American League Central titles from 2016-18. 

 

Cleveland ace Shane Bieber tested positive for COVID-19, president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti announced Thursday. 

Antonetti told reporters the 2020 American League Cy Young winner experienced "very, very mild symptoms" and is expected back soon once he completes the league's return protocols.

Bieber made 12 appearances last season, going 8-1 with a 1.53 ERA and a 2.07 FIP, per FanGraphs.

Cleveland opens its spring training slate Feb. 28 against the Cincinnati Reds.

Even if Bieber is cleared to return to the mound with plenty of time to prepare for the regular season, he could still potentially feel the effects of COVID-19 long after his recovery.

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum told reporters earlier this week he doesn't think he has made a full recovery with more than a month gone since being diagnosed.

"Just running up and down the court a few times, it's easier to get out of breath or tired a lot faster," Tatum said. "I've noticed that since I've had COVID. It's just something I'm working on."

As Cleveland heads into the 2021 campaign, it will be relying heavily on Bieber to anchor the starting rotation.

Chris Antonetti asked how can #Indians still compete within their current economic climate? "Shane Bieber and Jose Ramirez"

— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) February 18, 2021

The team tied for 26th in weighted on-base average (.303) in 2020, per FanGraphs, and proceeded to decline Carlos Santana's option and trade Francisco Lindor (along with Carlos Carrasco) to the New York Mets. Signing Eddie Rosario doesn't help cover all of the production Cleveland lost, so its offense might be even worse.

Unless it has the best pitching staff in baseball, Cleveland could miss the playoffs for the second time in three years.

Having already traded Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco to the New York Mets, Cleveland isn't going into fire-sale mode.

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported Saturday that Cleveland "want[s] to compete" and "is not interested in moving" Jose Ramirez.

Cleveland signed veteran left fielder Eddie Rosario to a one-year, $8 million deal this week to provide much-needed support to the lineup. The team also brought back Gold Glove Award winner Cesar Hernandez with a one-year, $5 million contract that has a $6 million option for 2022.

Even without Carrasco, the rotation still boasts 2020 American League Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber, Zach Plesac and 23-year-old Triston McKenzie. Assuming nobody else is dealt before Opening Day, contending for the postseason isn't out of the question.

When it comes to Ramirez, the odds he will be traded are low more so because of his contract than his production.

In March 2017, the two-time All-Star signed a four-year, $26 million extension that has club options of $12 million and $14 million for 2022 and 2023. That's a massive bargain for a player with a .281/.354/.494 career slash line.

Rosenthal explained how much bang for the buck Ramirez provided in 2020, when his 3.4 WAR led all position players, per FanGraphs:

"Ramirez's estimated value in 2020, when extrapolated to 162 games, would have been $73.4 million, making the surplus that much greater. Entering his age-28 season, he also would appear likely to outperform the rest of his contract, which includes a $9 million salary in 2021."

Cleveland has MLB's lowest payroll ($36.6 million) in large part because it moved Lindor and Carrasco and declined options for Brad Hand, Domingo Santana and Carlos Santana that totaled $32.5 million.

The fanbase has grown agitated with ownership over a lack of spending to augment a squad that reached the 2016 World Series. From 2016-20, the franchise didn't finish higher than 15th in year-end payroll.

Dumping Ramirez would only inflame those emotions given his relatively cheap salary.

The Cleveland Major League Baseball team has agreed to a one-year, $8 million contract with ex-Minnesota Twins outfielder Eddie Rosario, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic and Fox Sports.

Rosario, 29, posted 13 home runs, 42 RBI, a .257 batting average and a .792 OPS in 57 games last season. He posted career highs with 32 home runs and 107 RBI the year before.

Here's how Cleveland's lineup could look with Rosario in the lineup, per RosterResource (via FanGraphs):

      

Projected Cleveland Batting Order

1. 2B Cesar Hernandez

2. 3B Jose Ramirez

3. LF Eddie Rosario

4. DH Franmil Reyes

5. 1B Josh Naylor

6. C Roberto Perez

7. SS Andres Gimenez

8. CF Oscar Mercado

9. RF Daniel Johnson

          

Bench

C Austin Hedges

SS Amed Rosario

OF Jordan Luplow

OF/1B Jake Bauers

   

Notes

The Twins non-tendered Rosario in December, making him a free agent. He ultimately decided to sign with an AL Central rival, which is hoping for improved offense after posting a .689 OPS, third-worst in the American League.

The lineup has arguably gotten worse after Cleveland dealt star shortstop Francisco Lindor to the New York Mets. Lindor (.258 AVG, .750 OPS) had a down year in 2020, but the 26-year-old had a .288 average and .840 OPS during the first five years of his career.

Rosario brings some much-needed pop to the lineup, though, and he should be featured prominently in the lineup. He'll be expected to anchor the offense alongside Jose Ramirez, Cesar Hernandez and Franmil Reyes.

The offense may not need to improve much for Cleveland to find success again.

Shane Bieber, the staff ace and 2020 American League Cy Young Award winner, is back. The same goes for Zach Plesac (2.28 ERA) and Triston McKenzie (3.24 ERA).

Cleveland did lose Carlos Carrasco in the Mets deal, and closer Brad Hand is now a Washington National after he left via free agency.

Still, the top half of Cleveland's lineup is promising, and the same goes for its starting pitching. A return to the postseason after finishing fourth in the American League last year is certainly feasible, especially if Rosario can post numbers close to his 2019 form.

Veteran outfielder Eddie Rosario and Cleveland agreed to terms on a one-year, $8 million contract on Friday, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. 

The 29-year-old was among the notable players non-tendered by his team. The decision reflected both his performance and the financial climate in MLB amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Athletic's Aaron Gleeman reported the Minnesota Twins had exhausted all avenues to move him:

"The Twins shopped Rosario last offseason, but found his trade market lacking and hung onto him. They shopped him again this offseason, seeking a modest return because of his projected arbitration figure, eventually making Rosario available on outright waivers for nothing in return when they found no takers. He went unclaimed by all 29 other teams."

Rosario finished 2020 with 13 home runs, 42 RBI and a .257/.316/.476 slash line in 57 games. His on-base and slugging percentages were on par with his career averages (.310 OBP, .478 SLG), and therein lies the problem.

The Puerto Rican seems to have maxed out as a very good but not elite slugger at a time when finding very good sluggers isn't particularly hard.

From 2017 to '19, Rosario averaged just under 28 home runs and 88 RBI per season. He also ranked a modest 45th among outfielders in weighted on-base average (.339) and 42nd in weighted runs created plus (112), per FanGraphs.

His home and road splits were probably part of the equation when teams decided whether to make a claim after the Twins placed him on waivers. His production in six years at Target Field outpaced what he did away from Minneapolis.

• Home: 348 games, 67 home runs, 202 RBI, .289/.319/.518
• Away: 349 games, 52 home runs, 186 RBI, .266/.300/.440

This is all to explain why the Twins—and every other franchise—chose not to pay what MLB Trade Rumors' Tim Dierkes projected to be anywhere from $8.6 million to $12.9 million for Rosario in arbitration. He can still be a valuable contributor in the middle of the order.

The 2020 season was also encouraging in terms of his defense. Rosario was 42nd of 50 qualified outfielders in defensive runs saved (minus-eight) and 45th in ultimate zone rating (minus-5.6) in 2019, per FanGraphs. He was 15th and 24th in those categories last year.

Cleveland might have gotten a nice bargain in Rosario.     

Cleveland was apparently willing to sign Francisco Lindor to a contract worth more than $200 million before eventually trading him.  

According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, Cleveland offered the shortstop such a contract last spring even though he was looking for more than $300 million. That is apparently when the American League Central team "understood" an extension was not going to happen.

Cleveland announced it traded Lindor and pitcher Carlos Carrasco to the New York Mets on Thursday for infielders Andres Gimenez and Amed Rosario, outfielder Isaiah Greene and pitcher Josh Wolf.

From Cleveland's perspective, this trade at least means it landed something in return for Lindor before he potentially departed in free agency following the 2021 season.

Still, it is shocking to see one of MLB's best overall players traded in the middle of his prime at age 27. It is even more shocking to see a contender make the trade after reaching the playoffs last year and not that far removed from an appearance in the 2016 World Series.

The move means Cleveland currently has the lowest payroll in the league at $22.95 million, which is less than some individual players make elsewhere, per Spotrac. That number will go up when salaries for players such as pitcher Shane Bieber are determined, but it is still stunningly low.

Cleveland's loss is New York's gain as the Mets landed a four-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glover and two-time Silver Slugger who can anchor their infield defense and lineup as a power and speed threat.

The Mets missed the playoffs in each of the last four years, and Lindor is the type of generational talent who can help change that in 2021 and beyond if they sign him to a long-term contract extension.

Heyman suggested they are more likely to do so than Cleveland was following this trade.

Following Cleveland's trade of shortstop Francisco Lindor and pitcher Carlos Carrasco to the New York Mets on Thursday, Cleveland owns the lowest payroll in Major League Baseball by a significant margin.  

Cleveland dealt Lindor and Carrasco to New York in exchange for shortstops Ahmed Rosario and Andres Gimenez, as well as prospects Josh Wolf and Isaiah Greene. That leaves it with a payroll of $22.95 million, which is more than $19 million less than the Baltimore Orioles, who rank 29th in that regard, per Spotrac.

While Cleveland's payroll will go up when the salaries for key players such as reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber are determined, 23 MLB players currently have a higher salary in 2021 than Cleveland has as an entire payroll.

According to Spotrac, those players are:

• Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels: $37.1 million
• Jacob deGrom, SP, New York Mets: $36 million
• Gerrit Cole, SP, New York Yankees: $36 million
• Stephen Strasburg, SP, Washington Nationals: $35 million
• Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies: $35 million
• Zack Greinke, SP, Houston Astros: $35 million
• Max Scherzer, SP, Washington Nationals: $34.5 million
• Justin Verlander, SP, Houston Astros: $33 million
• Manny Machado, 3B, San Diego Padres: $32 million
• David Price, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers: $32 million
• Clayton Kershaw, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers: $31 million
• Albert Pujols, 1B, Los Angeles Angels: $30 million
• Chris Sale, SP, Boston Red Sox: $30 million
• Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Detroit Tigers: $30 million
• Giancarlo Stanton, DH, New York Yankees: $29 million
• Jose Altuve, 2B, Houston Astros: $29 million
• Anthony Rendon, 3B, Los Angeles Angels: $28.1 million
• Bryce Harper, OF, Philadelphia Phillies: $27.5 million
• Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals: $26 million
• Joey Votto, 1B, Cincinnati Reds: $25 million
• Patrick Corbin, SP, Washington Nationals: $24.4 million
• Jason Heyward, OF, Chicago Cubs: $23.5 million
• Justin Upton, OF, Los Angeles Angels: $23 million

That list illustrates the divide between the haves and have-nots in MLB as five franchises have multiple players making more individually than Cleveland's entire payroll.

The Los Angeles Angels have the most with four, followed by the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros with three each and then the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers with two apiece.

While some of the players on the list are truly elite players such as Angels outfielder Mike Trout, Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom and Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole, others are veterans in the twilights of their careers such as Angels first baseman Albert Pujols and Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Teams like Cleveland can ill afford to have an older player making that type of money.

Cleveland didn't have the resources to pay Lindor the kind of money he figures to demand in free agency next year, which opened the door for a big-market juggernaut like the Mets to step in and acquire him.

The lack of a salary cap in MLB has put small-market teams at a significant disadvantage for years, and Cleveland may have a long rebuild ahead, especially if it parts ways with other stars such as Bieber and Jose Ramirez in the near future.

The New York Mets announced Thursday they acquired Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco from Cleveland in return for Amed Rosario, Andres Gimenez, Josh Wolf and Isaiah Greene.

Many wondered how Steve Cohen would operate in his first offseason since purchasing the Mets from the Wilpon family. This move represents a statement of intent from Cohen.

Cleveland, meanwhile, continues to tear down a roster responsible for three straight division titles from 2016 to 2018 and a wild-card berth in 2020.

Rosario figures to be Cleveland's everyday shortstop in 2021 with Lindor gone. He's a .268 career hitter and boasts a .403 slugging percentage. Likely of particular importance to Cleveland's front office, the 25-year-old is under team control through the 2023 season.

Gimenez debuted in the majors in 2020, finishing with three home runs, 12 RBI and a .263/.333/.398 slash line. He played at short, second and third, so his defensive versatility will come in handy.

MLB.com ranked Wolf as the No. 9 prospect in New York's minor league organization. A second-round pick in the 2019 draft, the right-handed pitcher allowed three earned runs over eight innings in the Gulf Coast League in 2019. Greene, a 19-year-old outfielder, was the club's 10th-best prospect behind Wolf and has yet to make his minor league debut.

Many expected Lindor to head elsewhere before Opening Day, but Carrasco's inclusion is a big surprise. The 33-year-old right-hander has consistently been one of Cleveland's best pitchers and went 3-4 with a 2.91 ERA and 3.59 FIP in 12 appearances this past season.

Carrasco is also under contract through 2023, so Cleveland didn't have to worry about losing him to free agency anytime soon.

The Mets have a projected starting rotation that includes Carrasco, Jacob deGrom and Marcus Stroman. Even with Noah Syndergaard recovering from Tommy John surgery, that's a formidable unit.

Lindor finished 2020 hitting .258/.335/.415 with eight home runs, a down year for one of the best all-around players in baseball. 

The 27-year-old entered last year with four straight All-Star selections while getting MVP votes in each year, adding two Silver Slugger awards and two Gold Gloves. 

He is just one season removed from posting a .284 batting average, .854 OPS, 32 home runs and 22 stolen bases. The switch-hitter is an above-average defender at a premium position, helping Cleveland remain in the playoff hunt seemingly every year, including its 2016 run to the World Series.

Despite his success, the club moved on with just one year remaining on his contract.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported in early November the team wanted to trade him before Opening Day 2021 because it was "strapped for money."

The franchise seemingly had no interest in signing the shortstop to an extension, with owner Paul Dolan discussing the limited future in March 2019.

"Enjoy him," Dolan said to fans, per Zack Meisel of The Athletic. "We control him for three more years. Enjoy him, and then we'll see what happens."

Cleveland fans didn't get the three full years to enjoy him. But the deal at least helps restock the farm system in a rebuild that began with trades of pitchers Trevor Bauer, Corey Kluber and Mike Clevinger over the past couple of years.

Meanwhile, the Mets add elite talents to help them compete for a playoff spot. The squad has gone four years without playing in October but came close in the last couple of years.

The addition of Lindor in particular represents a boost to all phases of the game, especially strengthening a lineup led by Pete Alonso and Michael Conforto. The below-average team defense also gets a reliable fielder up the middle.

It could be enough to help New York contend in the increasingly difficult NL East.

Outfielder Yasiel Puig did not play during the shortened 2020 season, but that reportedly has not stopped interest in his availability as a free agent this offseason. 

On Monday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Houston Astros, Miami Marlins and Baltimore Orioles "appear to have varying levels of interest" in Puig.

Ryan Morik of SNY noted Puig nearly played in 2020 and was going to join the Atlanta Braves heading into summer camp until a positive COVID-19 test ended those developments.

Puig played for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2013 through 2018 and was a reliable source of power in their lineup. He was an All-Star in his second season with a .296/.382/.480 slash line, 16 home runs, 69 RBI and 11 stolen bases and hit double-digit long balls in each of his six seasons with the team.

He played for the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland during the 2019 campaign and slashed .267/.327/.458 with 24 home runs, 84 RBI and 19 stolen bases.

It marked the third straight year he hit at least 23 home runs while providing speed on the base paths and a strong arm in the outfield. He is also just 30 years old and would theoretically still be in his prime for the 2021 campaign, although there are fair questions about whether his numbers would carry over after sitting out the 2020 season.

Of the teams reportedly interested in Puig, the Red Sox, Orioles, Astros and Marlins finished a middling 12th, 15th, 19th and 25th, respectively, in home runs last year. He could provide an additional power bat as they all look for more production from their lineups.

As for the Yankees, who finished fifth in home runs, he could provide injury insurance for Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. Both sluggers missed time over the past two seasons with various ailments.