Many teams aim high during MLB’s free agency, negotiating deals with high earners and often overlooking the mid and low-tiers.
Then we have teams, like the Cleveland Guardians, that are often looking at the bargain section.
The Guards won’t splash $150 million in one player: instead, they will look for cheap, flawed players or reclamation projects with the goal of improving their outlook through coaching and player development.
According to Bleacher Report, Cleveland will end up signing Mike Soroka, who fits that last description, to a cheap two-year deal, and it makes perfect sense.
In 25 games and nine starts last season, he posted a 4.74 ERA in 79.2 innings pitched.
The Guardians need starters, and they could sure work their magic with a pitcher that has been successful in that role before.
However, a closer look will tell us that Soroka thrived once he was moved to the bullpen and it could make sense to keep him in that role.
“Something happened when Soroka shifted into a role as a multi-inning fireman. He got really good, posting a 2.75 ERA and whiffing 39 percent of the batters he faced. Given that and his youth, a bet on him is a bet worth taking,” they wrote.
The Guardians already have the best bullpen in baseball, but adding Soroka to the mix as a multi-inning weapon can make it even better and help them ‘complete’ a starter’s workload in any given game.
He could be a fantastic addition to a postseason roster, too.
If he indeed a signs for $12 million over two years, then the Guardians should definitely be the team giving him that contract.
Soroka has been around for a while, but is still 27 years old.
NEXT: Guardians Young Infielder Is Putting In The Offseason Work Back Home
