The Cleveland Guardians might have had a disappointing season in 2023, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t have true stars playing at an elite level.
The Guardians took a step back and the Minnesota Twins took one step forward: it happens.
The Guardians didn’t completely forget how to play baseball, though.
In fact, two of their players were awarded a spot among an elite collection of talent.
The team announced that infielder Jose Ramirez and relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase were named to the All-MLB Second Team.
Two of the game's best.
Congrats to José Ramírez and Emmanuel Clase on being named to the All-MLB Second Team.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/BZy4p110ed
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) December 17, 2023
It’s yet another distinction for Ramirez in his productive career.
He was excellent once again for Cleveland, hitting 24 home runs and stealing 28 bases with a rock-solid .282/.356/.475 line.
J-Ram wasn’t his MVP-like version (he accumulated three top-three MVP finishes in the American League from 2017 to 2020), but he was very solid nonetheless.
Clase, on the other hand, had a somewhat “down” season, and we will explain why.
In 2021 and 2022, the flamethrower and cutter artist posted 1.29 and 1.36 ERAs, respectively.
He was perhaps the best and most dominant reliever in the junior circuit.
In 2023, however, he “slipped” to a 3.22 ERA in 72.2 innings: not bad at all, but not quite elite.
His 44 saves, however, helped him secure a place on the All-MLB Second Team.
Had he performed like he did in 2021 and 2022, he would have been a First-Team selection without a doubt.
Those two players will be the Guardians’ foundation for the 2024 campaign, provided Clase isn’t flipped to another team.
There have been rumors saying that the team is open to trading him for offensive help.
Fans hope that’s not the case, because even with his 2023 “woes,” he is a beast when right.
NEXT: Guardians Executive Explains The Stephen Vogt Hire
