2022 Cleveland Guardians Regular Season Thread

A package Amed, Plesac, and Hedges isn't coming close to an all star outfielder

Looking into the 23 season, I honestly feel that all of Rocchio, Brennan, and Naylor will make the Guardians even better than they are now. Arias has more potential to bust, but he also has a high offensive ceiling so we'll see. I'm not opposed to dealing him at this point. Valera might also be a significant addition at some point.

I believe that Vargas and Herrin will make one of the best BP in the league even better.

The rotation could be bolstered by numerous prospects like Morris, Battenfield, Bibee, Williams, Espino, Cantillo, Allen, Burns and even guys like Curry and Pilkington taking the next step.

Yes, some will underperform, but some will surpass expectations as well. There's just too much talent to come up empty IMO.

The only things I would pursue this offseason is a big RHH 1B and a good backup C. They might be able to kill both birds with one stone if they could pry Jansen from Toronto.

Odds are whoever replaces Amed next season in the lineup will be worse in the short-term (meaning 2023). It’s rare for young guys to hit the ground running.

Still, Amed is an average bat with a below-average glove. No sense in extending him. Seeking a trade partner this winter is the right thing to do.

Derek said:

Odds are whoever replaces Amed next season in the lineup will be worse in the short-term (meaning 2023). It’s rare for young guys to hit the ground running.

Still, Amed is an average bat with a below-average glove. No sense in extending him. Seeking a trade partner this winter is the right thing to do.

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Am I wrong for saying I think Freeman could put up similar numbers in 23 at 2B?

If you have what will soon be 4 top 100 prospects who play 2B/SS (Freeman, Arias, Rocchio, Martinez) and can't find a single one who can post a better OPS than .726 at the MLB level then you have deep developmental problems.

BimboColesHair said:

If you have what will soon be 4 top 100 prospects who play 2B/SS (Freeman, Arias, Rocchio, Martinez) and can't find a single one who can post a better OPS than .726 at the MLB level then you have deep developmental problems.

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At least one of them probably will eventually. I just doubt any of them will in 2023 at the MLB level.

I’m still 100% ready to give them a chance though.

Derek said:

At least one of them probably will eventually. I just doubt any of them will in 2023 at the MLB level.

I’m still 100% ready to give them a chance though.

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I can absolutely see one of them able to post Amed's current .721 OPS in their debut season. Amed has been floating in the .705 to .710 OPS range all season long until this past series. Not hard to replicate, even for a debuting player.

The tough part is identifying which out of those 4 is the one to give the chance to though.

BimboColesHair said:

I can absolutely see one of them able to post Amed's current .721 OPS in their debut season. Amed has been floating in the .705 to .710 OPS range all season long until this past series. Not hard to replicate, even for a debuting player.

The tough part is identifying which out of those 4 is the one to give the chance to though.

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Maybe they will! I’m just not one to bet on rookies to provide immediate production at the plate.

Mainly because they rarely do, but it also makes it more exciting when a random one does like Kwan.

Derek said:

At least one of them probably will eventually. I just doubt any of them will in 2023 at the MLB level.

I’m still 100% ready to give them a chance though.

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I mean I am not against keeping Rosario on paper for 23, but with so much position talent coming up, it's impossible to keep the guy.

Arias had an unlucky season, while Freeman has a solid looking bat. I think both guys, though bats are different, could put up the 700ish OPS of Amed while playing equal or better defense... Freeman has a solid contact bat, while Arias definitely has a more power potential.

Then if we have him in the OF, Straw is a plus CF defensively, OGonz is proving himself in RF and Kwan is doing the same in LF. Brennan is likely the minor league player of the year for the Cleveland organization. On paper, I wanna keep Rosario, but we just have too much talent and a couple guys, Brennan and Freeman, I think can put up similar OPS and overall WAR numbers with the same number of ABs... Not worth the 7 million to keep him...

Derek said:

Maybe they will! I’m just not one to bet on rookies to provide immediate production at the plate.

Mainly because they rarely do, but it also makes it more exciting when a random one does like Kwan.

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Uhhhhh don't we have some doing exactly that this season already?

Derek said:

Maybe they will! I’m just not one to bet on rookies to provide immediate production at the plate.

Mainly because they rarely do, but it also makes it more exciting when a random one does like Kwan.

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In the past they have been rare to find.

But there is a reason you are starting to see a rush of impact rookies since ~2010. The depth of rookie classes from 15 to 20 years ago and on back are funny to look at compared to what you are seeing today where it seems like year in and year out there are 5+ impact rookies in both leagues each season.

And on that note, there is a reason James Harris has risen to assistant GM in less than 5 years in the baseball industry.

CDAV45 said:

Uhhhhh don't we have some doing exactly that this season already?

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I mean, I agree, you don't bet on a rookie ever producing, but I think having a very young group producing and these guys coming up and playing together to begin with, I think they can learn from each other. Kwan and OGonz, in a sense can lead by example how to handle themselves as a rookie in the bigs and as a unit, I don't think the game will be as fast for them as you would normally expect.

BimboColesHair said:

I can absolutely see one of them able to post Amed's current .721 OPS in their debut season. Amed has been floating in the .705 to .710 OPS range all season long until this past series. Not hard to replicate, even for a debuting player.

The tough part is identifying which out of those 4 is the one to give the chance to though.

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Hey if you're wanting to answer some questions good sir...

Freeman - playing SS while Gimenez plays 2B. Do you see this as something long term or - will they flip flop them if they decide to give Freeman an extended look?

Odds are potential player from money saved not paying Amed's $7-8m arby, player received in trade and one of Freeman/Rocchio/Arias > Amed next year in overall value/stats.

Comparing Kwan's or Oscar's plate appearances as rookies to Amed's after five season should tell you that Amed can be replaced. Kwan won't go outside the zone or at worst foul the pitch off. Oscar will go outside the zone pitches and loves the low breaking stuff, but you rarely cringe when he does. Especially with two strikes. When Amed is in a funk, it could be a beach ball and he would still go down swinging.

sportscoach said:

I mean, I agree, you don't bet on a rookie ever producing, but I think having a very young group producing and these guys coming up and playing together to begin with, I think they can learn from each other. Kwan and OGonz, in a sense can lead by example how to handle themselves as a rookie in the bigs and as a unit, I don't think the game will be as fast for them as you would normally expect.

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This really depends on the actual rookie..