The Cleveland Guardians traded All-Star second baseman Andrés Giménez to the Toronto Blue Jays this week.
The move was shocking, but made sense all things considered.
It helped the Guardians bring in starter Luis L. Ortiz in a different transaction executed the same day, and rotation help was at the top of the off-season needs list.
The Guardians can’t and won’t replace Giménez’s defense: only Brice Turang is comparable MLB-wide.
However, Giménez is a below-average hitter and the team can easily replicate, even improve, his offensive output.
Juan Brito is said to be the leading candidate to win that second base gig.
Angel Martinez will try to make things interesting in spring training, though.
“Cleveland #Guardians third base coach Rougie Odor working with Brayan Rocchio and Angel Martinez out at the organizations Dominican Academy. Juan Brito has been the talk of taking over for Gimenez at second base but I believe that Martinez will also get a look in spring training,” Guardians Prospective posted on X.
Cleveland #Guardians third base coach Rougie Odor working with Brayan Rocchio and Angel Martinez out at the organizations Dominican Academy. Juan Brito has been the talk of taking over for Gimenez at second base but I believe that Martinez will also get a look in spring training.… pic.twitter.com/Vt2HVIYrFF
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) December 13, 2024
There could be other participants in the battle: Daniel Schneemann can play the keystone and also carries some untapped offensive potential.
Brito and Martinez are the main candidates to start at second come opening day, though.
Brito impressed in Triple-A with a 113 wRC+, 40 doubles and 21 home runs, while Martinez posted a 111 wRC+ in Columbus and an 83 mark in MLB.
There is a non-zero chance Martinez starts at center field if Lane Thomas is traded, so that’s also something to keep in mind.
As long as that isn’t the case, he will vie for that second base gig with Brito and others.
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