2024 - 2025 Guardians Off Season Thread

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So Vince Velasquez (V2 I'll call him.) I'll be honest, I didn't know shit about him. But when healthy he seemed to be a typical BOR guy. He missed all of 2024 and half of 2023. If disaster strikes the rotation like it did last year, at least we should have some experienced bodies with him and Allard.

By the way, V2 has 157 AB's with a career BA of .204. That might qualify him to pinch hit for Hedges.
I actually like this signing. It's a minor league deal and if Velasquez can return to form then he's a better option in the rotation than Lively.
 
I always thought the thing with Brito's defense was he would eventually have to move to 2B as the glove didn't work at SS, but played much better at 2B.

This is not to say he is a GG in the making at 2B, but average at least.
I've watched him play 2B and he is not an average defender there or anywhere really. Wish that weren't the case, but it's true. Nothing is smooth and he has no quick twitch to his game. Dude can hit though so we'll see.
 
If he is average, then he definitely is a shoe in to start at 2B... His bat and OBP skills are badly needed...
So put him in LF after Kwan is dealt for Miller. That's his best defensive home anyway which is still average or below unfortunately.
 
Sometimes I don't think you have a damn clue. You bet SS is more than just having a cannon, but when you have a cannon, a better transfer, quicker hands, a glove that is at least equal and a more accurate throwing arm then you're the better option.

The best defensive scenario is Arias at SS and Rocchio at 2B if for no other reason that Rocchio is a GG caliber 2B and Arias' arm is an advantage at SS.
To me,Arias fails the mental aspect that Rocchio brings.Rocchio is a baseball player,while Arias is a prima donna who thinks his you know what doesn't stink.How can you overlook Arias' fielding miscues in winter ball all the while lauding his hitting success. I hope I'm dead wrong,because I really want Arias to excel at everything this year.However,I just don't think Arias passes the eye test,and I know I'm old school with this line of thought. He has proven NOTHING at the mlb level,while Rocchio excelled in mlb during the pressure packed playoffs. Your man crush for Arias is evident in your every post!!! But why don't you think Arias would do well at second base???
 
To me,Arias fails the mental aspect that Rocchio brings.Rocchio is a baseball player,while Arias is a prima donna who thinks his you know what doesn't stink.How can you overlook Arias' fielding miscues in winter ball all the while lauding his hitting success. I hope I'm dead wrong,because I really want Arias to excel at everything this year.However,I just don't think Arias passes the eye test,and I know I'm old school with this line of thought. He has proven NOTHING at the mlb level,while Rocchio excelled in mlb during the pressure packed playoffs. Your man crush for Arias is evident in your every post!!! But why don't you think Arias would do well at second base???
This is a crock of shit and has been debunked long ago by someone that actually knows in here. Besides, if he were as you suggested he wouldn't be in the picture at all. This FO doesn't put up with bullshit like that. What really happened is that he battled some hand and wrist injuries that led to some mechanical issues. They sent him down to work on those because doing so against MLB pitchers is very difficult to do. Arias has taken those needed changes to heart and has put the work in and that's right out of Antonetti's mouth. He also stated that while he has made good progress he wasn't sure if he was all the way there yet.

LOL! How many errors did Rocchio have in the playoffs and to suggest that Arias has proven nothing at the MLB level is ridiculous. He's proven plenty. What he needs to prove is that he can become somewhat consistent with his ability.

There is no "man crush" here and that was simply stupid to say. What there actually is, is an unsettled MIF that doesn't have a single proven player in it. I want the most talented to succeed so this team can stop exiting the playoffs early.

Arias is better to the 3B side than Rocchio and Rocchio has more range to his glove side. He has a weaker arm too that can be neutralized by playing 2B. Arias is better at turning the double play at SS and doesn't drop transfers nearly as frequently. Again, this isn't a complaint about Rocchio's defense at SS. He's plenty good there, but he's a better 2B.

What you don't want to see is Brito at 2B and in the end I don't give a shit if Arias is at 2B and Rocchio is at SS, but it's not the ideal setup.

More on the dumbass idea that Arias isn't mentally up to the task. Which of the two was called up to Cleveland as a 22 yr old?
 
This is a crock of shit and has been debunked long ago by someone that actually knows in here. Besides, if he were as you suggested he wouldn't be in the picture at all. This FO doesn't put up with bullshit like that. What really happened is that he battled some hand and wrist injuries that led to some mechanical issues. They sent him down to work on those because doing so against MLB pitchers is very difficult to do. Arias has taken those needed changes to heart and has put the work in and that's right out of Antonetti's mouth. He also stated that while he has made good progress he wasn't sure if he was all the way there yet.

LOL! How many errors did Rocchio have in the playoffs and to suggest that Arias has proven nothing at the MLB level is ridiculous. He's proven plenty. What he needs to prove is that he can become somewhat consistent with his ability.

There is no "man crush" here and that was simply stupid to say. What there actually is, is an unsettled MIF that doesn't have a single proven player in it. I want the most talented to succeed so this team can stop exiting the playoffs early.

Arias is better to the 3B side than Rocchio and Rocchio has more range to his glove side. He has a weaker arm too that can be neutralized by playing 2B. Arias is better at turning the double play at SS and doesn't drop transfers nearly as frequently. Again, this isn't a complaint about Rocchio's defense at SS. He's plenty good there, but he's a better 2B.

What you don't want to see is Brito at 2B and in the end I don't give a shit if Arias is at 2B and Rocchio is at SS, but it's not the ideal setup.

More on the dumbass idea that Arias isn't mentally up to the task. Which of the two was called up to Cleveland as a 22 yr old?
I apoligize for the man crush remark,as it was uncalled for.However Arias' MLB batting average is 212 with 350 slug and 9/15 sb. Rocchio' batting average is 213 with 317 slug and 8/14 sb. At all levels Arias is 258-81-363-403 slug,while Rocchio is 269-58-312-411 slug. They have very similar batting stats.I just don't know how you tout Arias as being better
 
I apoligize for the man crush remark,as it was uncalled for.However Arias' MLB batting average is 212 with 350 slug and 9/15 sb. Rocchio' batting average is 213 with 317 slug and 8/14 sb. At all levels Arias is 258-81-363-403 slug,while Rocchio is 269-58-312-411 slug. They have very similar batting stats.I just don't know how you tout Arias as being better
I'm not touting him as better. I'm touting him as having a higher ceiling. Let's try a different approach here. What is the most dire need for this team? What is it lacking and who can potentially provide that?
 
I'm not touting him as better. I'm touting him as having a higher ceiling. Let's try a different approach here. What is the most dire need for this team? What is it lacking and who can potentially provide that?
hmmm...

...the most dire need is a catcher who can call a game.. block balls in the dirt.. frame close pitches.... have sub-2 second pop times.. with a laser arm and hit.. The Guardians have no one who can potentially provide that.. not even the starter..

but the stuff about middle infielders.... there's a chance..
 
hmmm...

...the most dire need is a catcher who can call a game.. block balls in the dirt.. frame close pitches.... have sub-2 second pop times.. with a laser arm and hit.. The Guardians have no one who can potentially provide that.. not even the starter..

but the stuff about middle infielders.... there's a chance..
All our current hopes for C are in Bo's basket. Let's hope and pray that he starts to hit like we/they expected. I think both he and Hedges can handle a pitching staff good enough.

This team needs offense. Specifically, it needs to slug the ball better/more frequently.
 
So put him in LF after Kwan is dealt for Miller. That's his best defensive home anyway which is still average or below unfortunately.

Not gonna happen... We need Kwan more than we need more starting pitching...

We would have an amazing rotation, but no true Ace since Bibee and Miller are the same ranking wise...

We would be lacking anyone remotely capable of being a leadoff period... Literally Brito would have to take the leadoff spot unless you want to try Rocchio or Santana there...
 
Hmmm

No way that Arias is quicker in any aspect than Rocchio...Rocchios quick hands and release negate having an average arm. Rocchio has a quicker first step. He also is more agile around second base. His biggest problem is his transfer, which is more about focus than ability.

I agree that multiple hand and wrist injuries may have factored into some of Arias problems, but his two biggest flaws have been there since he first turned professional...long before any injuries...and they have never improved, except in small sample sizes.

He was a windmill in rookie ball, and still is. In only one season has he ever had a GB% under 50%, and that was six years ago. Maybe some can ooh and aah over 48 games in Columbus last year, but I see a .388 BABIP and, 52% GB rate, and chase rates, contact rates, and swinging strike rates in those 48 games that are among the very worst of every player on our roster last season. Yet, several people see supposed major improvements.

Arias is still here for one simple reason. Among all the competition for utility roles/2B, Arias is the only one that can defensively play SS full time.

Don't listen to the organizational talk about seeing a lot of improvement. Instead, pay attention to the organizational actions. When it came to crunch time...when the FO and Vogt had to prepare for the post season...which utility guys got chosen to hang around?

Freeman and Schneemann...and when Freeman got hurt, Martinez.
 
Not gonna happen... We need Kwan more than we need more starting pitching...

We would have an amazing rotation, but no true Ace since Bibee and Miller are the same ranking wise...

We would be lacking anyone remotely capable of being a leadoff period... Literally Brito would have to take the leadoff spot unless you want to try Rocchio or Santana there...
Your opinion which has no factual evidence to support your claim and what makes you think we need Kwan more than a SP like Miller?

What the hell is your definition of an Ace? I'd argue that both Bibee and Miller are ace-like SP. Both are just entering their primes too.

Would we be lacking anyone "remotely capable of being a leadoff hitter". I'd argue that Brito could fill that role. If Rocchio hits more like he did in the playoffs as opposed to the regular season he could be a leadoff hitter.

Again, you claim this team would not find/have success without Kwan. I keep asking you how the team performed without Kwan while he was out last season and you refuse to answer. Hell, let's talk about how much Kwan actually contributed in the second half of the season. The idea that it is impossible to replace Kwan with a productive hitter is bullshit.
 
@CATS44 while its true that Arias was left in AAA for the playoff run, that was for a specific reason, to work on his swing in a low pressure environment...ideally that was for the best for the future. Unfortunately I agree with your overall assessment, I think his high GB rate is a result of them telling him to pull and lift. I think he's the rare hitter who's natural best comes from gap to gap and waiting on the ball and attacking. Being told to pull the ball, in the air, leads to a lot of guessing and off balance swings.

@CDAV45 I think you're severally underestimating Kwans LO ability over 130-140 games. The amount of pitches he sees (in a normal AB) is very valuable on its own. I say this as someone who agrees with you on trading him after this year bc of his hamstring issues has he ages. I would target a true CF, not SP, in said trade though.
 
Might want to look a little deeper into times. I vaguely recall Bimbo stating that Arias' times were slightly better than Rocchio's. We can just agree to disagree about the "agile" argument. Bottomline, Arias was always the higher thought of defensive SS and I know there were scouting reports that suggested Rocchio's best position was 2B. I don't remember if that line of thought was due to arm strength or what, but after watching him play both he is definitely better at 2B. The position plays into his strengths with is gloveside range and quick release times.

Arias makes up for his swing and miss by doing damage when he makes contact. Should he improve his contact rate even slightly then we're looking at a 30/100 type hitter much in the fashion of the 2023 Josh Naylor. Arias has more power than Naylor without the loft.

LOL! Gotta love it when someone around here that doesn't work within the organization can tell us precisely what they're thinking. My guess is that Arias was given an assignment in order to get him to a place where he can be as productive as possible. He listened and put the work in without complaint and the results have followed thus far. Hopefully they continue because we don't have another ready MIFer with his potential. Not even close.
 
@CATS44 while its true that Arias was left in AAA for the playoff run, that was for a specific reason, to work on his swing in a low pressure environment...ideally that was for the best for the future. Unfortunately I agree with your overall assessment, I think his high GB rate is a result of them telling him to pull and lift. I think he's the rare hitter who's natural best comes from gap to gap and waiting on the ball and attacking. Being told to pull the ball, in the air, leads to a lot of guessing and off balance swings.

@CDAV45 I think you're severally underestimating Kwans LO ability over 130-140 games. The amount of pitches he sees (in a normal AB) is very valuable on its own. I say this as someone who agrees with you on trading him after this year bc of his hamstring issues has he ages. I would target a true CF, not SP, in said trade though.
Great point on Arias putting too much emphasis on pulling the ball if that is indeed true.

What makes you think I'm underestimating Kwan's ability? I believe and have stated that I think he'll continue to hit for average and get on base. The power he displayed last season is probably a goner unless opposing pitchers and their staffs are stupid. I suggest you go back several pages and reread my post that shows how differently he was pitched and the results of those changes. I mean common sense tells us that if a hitter can only do real damage if pitched in a certain zone then why would you ever throw a ball in that zone deliberately? He's a good to great hitter Smalls much in the same way Arraez is. In fact, I'd expect Kwan's line to migrate toward what Arraez did last season. Arraez carried a higher BA, but didn't slug the ball quite as well as Kwan(.392 vs .425). The cold hard truth is that Kwan has poor EV's so he has to make the most out of his contact. He eats FB for snacks so pitchers not only started keeping the ball on the outter half, they reduced their FB frequency and that resulted in many more weakly hit balls with poor LA. I don't see a way out of this because he doesn't have the physicality to launch balls to the opposite field in the air. He sure as hell can hit the ball the other way, continue to rack up hits and spit on balls outside the zone.

I'm not trying to beat a dead horse here. It's an interesting conversation to me.
 

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