The Cleveland Guardians need pitching help, especially in their rotation.
If they want to make a deep postseason run, they need more and better starters.
This is a fairly creative organization, though, and they will try to bring in some projects from time to time.
This weekend, the Guardians completed a trade that gives them a chance to work with a former top prospect and try to get him to regain his best form.
They acquired right-handed pitcher Spencer Howard from the San Francisco Giants for cash and optioned him to Triple-A Columbus.
A trade and subsequent roster move.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/SW5NQDdASt
— GuardsInsider (@GuardsInsider) July 5, 2024
There, Howard will work alongside the organization to try and get him to restore some of the luster he once had.
Howard was actually designated for assignment by the Giants near the end of June after he conceded six runs in a single outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
His season ERA is 5.63 in seven games (two starts) and 24 innings, with 11 walks and 21 strikeouts.
His 3.96 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching), however, indicates he had been a tad unlucky or affected by his team’s defense.
That’s certainly something he won’t have to worry about in Cleveland, if he makes it there: the team is surrounded by Gold Glove-caliber defenders all around the diamond.
Howard is close to his 28th birthday, so he is running out of time to establish himself in a big league staff, either as a starter or as a long reliever.
He will have a chance to improve in Cleveland, and that might help him get his career back on track.
In any case, it’s a worthy gamble by the team.
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