Free agent signings are already starting to happen in the unusual 2026-27 MLB offseason. Teams know that there will probably be a long lockout starting on Dec. 1, and some of them want to take care of business before then.
Even though they publicly admitted that they will probably increase the payroll a bit, the Cleveland Guardians won’t go out there and splash $300 million on Tarik Skubal. They do need starting pitching help, though, especially with Foster Griffin being a free agent.
Aaron Gerstenhaber said, in a discussion about potential targets for the Guardians, that while he rates Casey Mize as a solid pitcher, he wouldn’t necessarily agree with the projected price tag. Therefore, he would focus on other options.
“A, it’s not the perfect move. I completely disagree with him, and B, it’s not going to happen. You never know for sure what a guy’s gonna get, but the projections for Casey Mize are somewhere in the ballpark of 3 years, 60 million. They’re not spending 60 million on a middle-of-the-road pitcher. They’re not gonna do that. Of the free agent pitchers, he’s probably third tier of the guys that are out. Casey Mize is a decent pitcher. If they’re gonna get a pitcher of his ilk, I’d rather sign an older guy for a one-year contract, like a Clay Holmes maybe or a Kevin Gausman,” Gerstenhaber said.
Well, the market tends to change and shift according to different trends, but Holmes and Gausman will likely get multi-year deals. If they were available on one-year contracts, the Guardians would definitely be interested.
As for Mize, the numbers validate Gerstenhaber’s point. He is not a top free-agent pitcher, not with a career 4.22 ERA and a 4.32 mark in 131.1 innings between the Detroit Tigers and the San Diego Padres last year.
The Guardians could definitely help the former No. 1 draft pick unlock another gear. He is still in his prime at 29 years old, and they have a long track record of success getting the best out of talented but underachieving hurlers. However, the projected cost will probably outweigh any projected improvement in this case.
Mize is a talented right-hander, but probably won’t be seriously pursued by the Guardians.
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