On February 17, the Cleveland Guardians signed left-handed starter John Means to a one-year, $1 million contract with a $7.5 million club option for 2026, knowing that he would be rehabbing nearly all season.
The southpaw underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2024, hence the discount.
It’s not the first time the Guardians have applied this strategy of signing a talented but injured pitcher and waiting for him to get healthy and contribute.
They did it most recently with Matthew Boyd in 2024, and the results were outstanding.
Means, who boasts a career 3.68 ERA while playing exclusively with the Baltimore Orioles, is about to enter the Guardians’ pitching development machine.
Well, he has entered it already, but he will soon be healthy enough to help in the majors and show off his gains.
For now, he keeps rehabbing, but has turned a corner and could soon advance to making minor league rehab starts.
“John Means is starting a “bridge” game in Arizona today at the Guardians’ complex. It could seemingly set him up for a start with an affiliate soon,” Guardians insider Tim Stebbins posted on X.
John Means is starting a “bridge” game in Arizona today at the Guardians’ complex. Could seemingly set him up for a start with an affiliate soon.
— Tim Stebbins (@tim_stebbins) August 9, 2025
In late July, it was reported that Means had progressed to throwing live BP and was still on pace to possibly return late August or early September.
Manager Stephen Vogt recently said Means is “feeling really good,” but the organization hasn’t made his role clear.
He has been a starter for most of his career, but who knows what the Guardians have in mind.
He could start or become a multi-inning weapon out of the bullpen.
The team, which also has that option on him for the 2026 season, is eager to see how he can help the staff.
It looks like we are just a few weeks away from that moment.
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