The Cleveland Guardians recently signed left-handed pitcher John Means to a one-year deal, worth $1 million.
The contract also contains a $7.5 million club option for 2026, plus some incentives on innings pitched.
Means hasn’t thrown much in the last three seasons because of recurring elbow issues that have resulted in two Tommy John surgeries, but the talent is there as evidenced by his career 3.68 ERA.
He went under the knife in June of 2024, which means he is currently eight months removed from the procedure.
He still has a long way to go, but according to Guardians insider Zack Meisel, he revealed the month he is targeting for a return to action.
“John Means says he’s aiming for an August return. Shane Bieber is also targeting a midseason return from Tommy John surgery. The Guardians’ rotation this summer could look vastly different from the rotation we see in April,” Meisel wrote on X.
John Means says he's aiming for an August return. Shane Bieber is also targeting a midseason return from Tommy John surgery. The Guardians' rotation this summer could look vastly different from the rotation we see in April. https://t.co/wLxgYtF0ki
— Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) February 21, 2025
If the Guardians manage to get vintage versions of Bieber and Means in August or September, their upside is undeniable.
It might be an unrealistic ask for Means, specifically, to be at peak form so quickly, but he could contribute big innings in September or October if he returns in August and shakes off the rust with a few starts.
An August return would mean 14 months of recovery and rehab, which is right in line with normal timelines.
In other words, it’s a realistic, plausible scenario.
Will Means have a similar impact to that of Matthew Boyd in 2024?
That would definitely be a best-case scenario, and to make things even better, the Guards can bring back Means on the cheap in 2026.
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