The Cleveland Guardians traded Andres Giménez and Nick Sandlin for pitchers Luis L. Ortiz, Josh Hartle and Michael Kennedy, plus outfielder Nick Mitchell.
That’s the result of two different transactions.
Ortiz is MLB-ready and will be a member of the rotation after a rock-solid 2024 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, while the other three are prospects in the low minors but brimming with potential.
Analyst Travis Sawchik says that the Guardians have the tools to help Ortiz reach another level.
“Good chance the Guardians are going to help Ortiz get a plus changeup or another offering and he’s going to be pretty, pretty good. It’s rare that the Guardians don’t help a pitcher. And a plus fastball and extension are the most difficult things to teach/improve. He’s also ready for a major workload having tossed 135 innings last years, 15th among 25U pitchers in the majors,” he wrote on X.
Good chance the Guardians are going to help Ortiz get a plus changeup or another offering and he's going to be pretty, pretty good. It's rare that the Guardians don't help a pitcher. And a plus fastball and extension are the most difficult things to teach/improve. He's also ready…
— Travis Sawchik (@Travis_Sawchik) December 11, 2024
Ortiz is hurt 25 and posted a 3.32 ERA in Pittsburgh this year.
He is young, has a big fastball, impressive extension and the willingness and talent to improve his repertoire.
He might not have the name recognition Andrés Giménez enjoys, but considering talent and salary, he is at least as valuable as the second baseman, if not more.
Cleveland did a very good job leveraging Giménez’s defense into a solid starter and three solid prospects.
Sawchik was initially shocked by the trade but started to come around after a few hours.
“Trading a Platinum Glove winner for Horwitz was a bit odd initially but the complete deal makes more and more sense (Also added three prospects) … And Bazzana isn’t too far away,” he also wrote.
The truth is that Ortiz can help the 2025 Guardians more than Giménez, and there are worthy candidates to replace the defensive ace.
Nobody will be as good as Giménez with the glove, but he was a liability with the stick.
The Guardians can and probably get more out of Ortiz than the Pirates ever did.
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