Oh boy, the Cleveland Guardians made a move that’s got everyone talking. Myles Straw, who’s been patrolling center field like it’s his backyard for the last couple of years, found himself on waivers this past Friday. You heard that right. The news broke out thanks to Zack Meisel over at The Athletic. Here’s the scoop:
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Now, Straw’s situation is a bit of a pickle. The guy’s got a hefty $19 million left on his contract. That’s a lot of dough! And honestly, it’s looking like no other team’s gonna bite. So, what’s next for him? Well, it seems he’s headed straight for the minors, unless something unexpected happens.
Here’s a kicker – players with a good chunk of service time, like over five years, can just say “no thanks” to the minors and opt for free agency instead. But Straw? He’s just shy of that mark. Talk about bad timing.
Remember when Straw came over from the Astros? The Guardians were all in, signing him to an extension right at the start of the 2022 season. The guy had a solid start in Cleveland, batting a cool .285 in his first 60 games. But, alas, that success didn’t stick around.
Despite snagging a Gold Glove in 2022 and being a defensive wizard, his bat hasn’t been making much noise. The Guardians are craving more hits and runs from center field, and it’s clear they’re ready to shake things up.
So, who’s up to bat for center field now? Looks like it’s between Tyler Freeman, who’s been knocking it out of the park this spring, and Estevan Florial, a hopeful from the Yankees. Freeman’s been especially impressive, adapting to center field like a duck to water.
Chris Antonetti, the big brain in baseball ops for the Guardians, can’t stop raving about Freeman. Says the kid’s transition to the outfield has been nothing short of extraordinary. Sounds like Freeman might just be the guy they’re looking for.
And there you have it. The Guardians are set to kick off their season against the Oakland Athletics on March 28. It’s gonna be interesting to see how this all plays out. Stay tuned, folks.
