The Cleveland Guardians desperately needed a big bat to emerge at some point last season to help the team get over the hump, but it never happened, as the team fell short in the American League Wild Card Series despite a furious run down the stretch to swipe the AL Central crown from the Detroit Tigers. That bat never emerged, and the Guardians are once again working through an offseason looking to find ways to add some much-needed thump to a largely lifeless lineup.
One name that many fans were expecting to make a leap and become a reliable power bat for the 2025 Guardians was Jhonkensy Noel. Coming off an intriguing debut season and a couple of big, exciting playoff moments, the stage was set for Noel to make the leap, but it never happened, and he struggled to the tune of just a .480 OPS in 148 at-bats with a ghastly 52:4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. That performance resulted in the Guardians designating him for assignment recently, and he has now signed with the Baltimore Orioles to join their squad in Triple-A.
Cleveland.com’s Paul Hoynes recently wrote about the situation and detailed why the situation between Noel and the Guardians didn’t work out.
“Usually [Jhonkensy Noel’s] role would have been handled by a veteran guy that was used to sitting on the bench. But with the Guardians’ payroll what it is, that job goes to guys like Noel. Young guys that need to play every day. When you’re 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds and you’ve got a big swing, you know, sitting on the bench is not conducive to having success,” Hoynes said.
Noel is still just 24, so there’s certainly a case to be made that the Guardians gave up too early, especially considering how badly they need power in their lineup. Hoynes is right in pointing out that Noel needed consistent reps, and with the Guardians strapped for cash and also in the middle of a playoff race, it was hard to roll him out there every day when he wasn’t producing at all. Hopefully, Noel can figure things out in Baltimore, but in the meantime, the Guardians are still in the same boat.
This team needs multiple big bats to emerge and solidify themselves as reliable members of this lineup; another early playoff exit could be in the cards.
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