The Cleveland Guardians are taking a chance on a former All-Star pitcher.
The Guardians agreed to a one-year contract with former Baltimore Orioles pitcher John Means, according to Zack Meisel of The Athletic. The deal also contains a club option for 2026, and is contingent on Means passing a physical.
Means is recovering from Tommy John surgery and is unlikely to be ready to pitch until the second half of the season. That is likely why the Guardians tacked on the club option for 2026, as they will want to see what he has to offer once he makes his debut.
Not long ago, Means appeared to be one of the bright young left-handed pitchers in the sport. He was an All-Star in 2019, his first full season, and wound up posting a 3.60 ERA in 31 appearances while finishing as runner-up in AL Rookie of the Year voting.
Since then, elbow and shoulder injuries have taken their toll. Means made 26 starts in 2021, posting a 3.62 ERA, but has only appeared in 10 games since then. The Tommy John surgery he underwent last June was his second procedure in just over two years.
The Guardians tend to operate on a lower payroll and are fond of taking shots on reclamation projects. Means is the latest example of that, even if the move might not bear too much fruit in 2025.
