The Cleveland Guardians need starting pitching badly.
They don’t usually operate with a large budget, so they have to get creative to create some financial room to pursue said pitching help.
They did just that by trading three-time Gold Glove award winner Andrés Giménez to the Toronto Blue Jays.
“BREAKING: The Toronto Blue Jays are finalizing a trade to acquire three-time Gold Glove-winning second baseman Andrés Giménez from the Cleveland Guardians, sources tell ESPN,” MLB insider Jeff Passan posted on X.
BREAKING: The Toronto Blue Jays are finalizing a trade to acquire three-time Gold Glove-winning second baseman Andrés Giménez from the Cleveland Guardians, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 10, 2024
Giménez has close to $100 million remaining on the seven-year, $106.5 million deal he signed before the start of the 2023 campaign.
Getting out of that contract has to be considered a win for the Guardians given the circumstances.
Giménez is probably the best defensive second baseman in the league.
He hasn’t been able to live up to the lofty offensive ceiling he established for himself in 2022, though.
He had a 141 wRC+ that year, but declined to 96 in 2023 and 83 this past season.
There is still no word on the return package going to Cleveland.
Giménez, who also took home the Platinum Glove award in 2022 as the best defender in the American League, is a wizard with a glove on his hand.
Toronto is betting on an offensive bounceback, which is certainly a possibility.
As for Cleveland, Juan Brito and Angel Martinez are now options to occupy second base next year.
It will be Travis Bazzana’s future home, but he is not quite ready yet.
It will be interesting to analyze the return package going to Cleveland and who else might step up in the competition for that open second base gig.
Giménez is a fan favorite, and his contributions will be missed.
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