The Cleveland Guardians won’t have Lane Thomas back on the field next season. The veteran outfielder left to join the Kansas City Royals.
While that’s not going to move the needle at all, he was still a solid depth piece with some upside. When asked about the reasoning behind his decision, team insider Paul Hoynes revealed that he wanted to get consistent playing time:
“The response from Thomas and Garcia to Cleveland’s interest was thanks, but no thanks. They wanted to play on a regular basis and not be fenced in by a platoon. Thomas signed a one-year $5.25 deal with Kansas City, while Garcia signed a one-year $10 million deal with Philadelphia,” Hoynes wrote.
The Garcia he’s alluding to is Adolis Garcia, the Philadelphia Phillies’ reclamation project to move on from Nick Castellanos. Truth be told, he would’ve been an appealing option for the Guardians as well.
Clearly, the Guardians are transitioning toward a new era, a younger era. They will rely heavily on George Valera and Chase DeLauter next to Steven Kwan, with C.J. Kayfus also getting the nod every now and then.
The Guardians acquired Thomas in 2024 in exchange for Alex Clemmey, José Tena, and Rafael Ramírez Jr. The former Washington Nationals outfielder slashed .209/.267/.390 with 23 RBI and seven home runs in his first campaign with Stephen Vogt’s team. He also had a grand slam off Tarik Skubal to take down the Detroit Tigers and make it to the ALCS.
Last season, however, he was mostly a liability. He played in just 39 games and slashed 160/.246/.272 with 11 RBI, four stolen bases, and four home runs. Some thought that he just needed to get back to full strength to be a productive player again, but given his offensive limitations, the Guardians may not miss him much next season.
NEXT: Report: Guardians Expected To Pass On Top Free Agent Hitters
