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Guardians sign John Means to 1-year deal that includes club option for 2026
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- Guardians sign John Means to 1-year deal that includes club option for 2026
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Guardians continue to add to their pitching depth — at least at some point down the road.
The Guardians and left-handed starting pitcher John Means are in agreement on a one-year deal that includes a club option for 2026, according to a team source.
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The deal is pending a physical. Means is expected to report to camp Tuesday.
Baltimore Orioles pitcher John Means (47) delivers a pitch in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Saturday, May 4, 2024, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.
Guardians sign John Means ; contract, stats
Means has dealt with an extensive injury past that includes multiple Tommy John surgeries. He's thrown only 10 starts in the last three seasons but was effective when on the mound.
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Means put together an All-Star season in 2019, when he went 12-11 with a 3.60 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 155 innings. He also finished second in Rookie of the Year voting.
He had an average year in the shortened 2020 season before posting a 3.62 ERA in 146⅔ innings in 2021, which included a no-hitter that was nearly a perfect game . But since that time, Means has barely been able to see the mound.
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Over the last three years combined, Means has started only 10 games while dealing with multiple elbow injuries and surgeries. He's been effective when healthy, posting a 2.75 ERA, but he's spent most of his time dealing with medical trainers as opposed to hitters.
Baltimore Orioles bench coach Fredi González (57) talks with pitcher John Means (47) in the eighth inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds on May 4, 2024, in Cincinnati.
John Means joins Shane Bieber , Matt Boyd , Trevor Stephan as recent pitchers coming off Tommy John
The Guardians had success with Matt Boyd last year, who was signed as he neared the end of his Tommy John rehab schedule. Means, coming off his second Tommy John, could have a lengthier-than-normal road back to game activity. His last surgery was in June 2024.
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They also re-signed Shane Bieber , who continues his own Tommy John rehab.
The possibility remains that Means could miss the entire 2025 season , or at the very least most of it, so this could more so be a roster move with an eye on next year. The Guardians certainly have a reputation for getting the most out of pitchers, and they've also had recent success with Boyd, so it made Cleveland a natural landing spot.
This would allow the Guardians to see the status of Means' elbow heading into 2026 before determining if he's an option for the starting rotation.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians sign pitcher John Means to contract for 2025
