CLEVELAND — The Guardians get to kick the tires on an outfielder to see if he can find a place in the club's future. Ramon Laureano simply gets to leave the dire situation in Oakland.
The Guardians claimed Ramon Laureano , 29, off waivers from the Oakland A 's earlier this week. He has been added to the outfield ranks, where the Guardians have been searching for some consistent production and utility.
Laureano is under club control through the 2025 season as he makes his way through the arbitration process, so he at least has the possibility of being more than a two-month rental. For the Guardians, it's a very low-risk move, as Laureano can be non-tendered this winter if it's not the right fit.
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Some of that might depend on how much of his former self he can rediscover. Laureano had a breakout 2019 season in which he hit .288 with an .860 OPS, 24 home runs, 29 doubles, 67 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 123 games.
But since the beginning of the 2020 season, he hasn't been able to recapture that magic, hitting a combined .223 with a .696 OPS.
This year,before the transaction, Laureano was hitting .212 with a .641 OPS.
But there are two ways in which Laureano can have some added utility with the Guardians: he can hit left-handed pitching and he's an above-average fielder in right field.
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Laureano this season has a .292 average with an .801 OPS against lefties while hitting just .176 with a .570 OPS against right-handed pitchers. His career numbers against southpaws aren't far off, either. And for a left-handed-heavy lineup, Laureano's ability to hit left-handers hard is an especially useful attribute.
And, defensively, Laureano's cannon of a right arm is an asset in right field, where he's been worth 10 Defensive Runs Saved in 2023, which is sixth among all outfielders with at least 400 innings.
In that way, Laureano might not be an everyday player, but he could be a nice fit for the Guardians as a platoon hitter against lefties who can provide solid defense in right field to complement Steven Kwan in left field and Myles Straw in center field.
The Guardians could very well have the best defensive outfield in the game with those three all in the lineup, though there'd be some offensive production question marks with Straw and Laureano against righties.
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Laureano, meanwhile, has a chance to carve out a role with the Guardians after leaving the 33-82 Oakland A's. The Guardians are trending in the wrong direction, and the Aaron Civale trade hurt their already-low chances of tracking down the Minnesota Twins in the division with Shane Bieber , Triston McKenzie and Josh Naylor all on the injured list and possibly out for at least another month.
But, as they try to close the gap despite the injury woes, and perhaps looking to 2024, Laureano has a chance to find himself in a much better situation.
"I cannot deny that [it was tough in Oakland], but I flushed everything in my head," Laureano said. "That happened over there. There were some great times and opportunities to compete in playoff games, and the past two years it is what it is, and now I'm here. I'm a Guardian and I'm very excited."
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Guardians at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/cleveland-guardians. Follow him on Twitter at @ByRyanLewis .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians waiver claim Ramon Laureano aims to carve out role
