5:37pm: Infielder Spencer Horwitz is among the many gamers heading again to Cleveland, studies Kiley McDaniel of ESPN (X hyperlink).
5:08pm: The Blue Jays and Guardians are finalizing a commerce that will ship second baseman Andrés Giménez to Toronto, studies ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet tweets that there’s an settlement in place on a Giménez deal.
It’s the primary out of nowhere commerce of the Winter Conferences. Whereas it’s by no means a whole shock to see Cleveland deal a high-priced participant, there hadn’t been a lot to recommend they had been purchasing their Gold Glove second baseman. Giménez seemed to be a core piece since he signed one of many greatest contracts in franchise historical past simply two seasons again: a seven-year, $106.5MM extension in Spring Coaching 2023.
As an alternative, the defensive stalwart is on the transfer for the second time in his profession. Giménez started his profession with the Mets, the place his well-rounded profile made him one of many system’s prime prospects. Cleveland acquired him alongside Amed Rosario as the important thing items of their return for Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco throughout the 2020-21 offseason.
Giménez struggled throughout his first 12 months in Cleveland, however he had a breakout exhibiting in 2022. He performed plus protection to win his first of three straight Gold Glove awards at second base. Giménez additionally turned in an impression season on the plate, hitting .297/.371/.466 with 17 homers throughout 557 plate appearances. He was a deserved All-Star and completed sixth in MVP balloting within the American League.
Following that breakout season, the Guardians signed Giménez to the aforementioned extension. It stays the second-largest funding within the group’s historical past, not too far behind the $124MM deal which José Ramírez inked the previous spring. Cleveland absolutely envisioned constructing their long-term infield round that duo.
That’s not fairly how issues performed out, as Giménez’s bat has taken a step backward. The Guardians most likely didn’t count on him to repeat the offensive manufacturing he managed in 2022. He had a lofty .353 common on balls in play that will be arduous to keep up, nor was he more likely to be hit by as many pitches (an AL-high 25) as he’d been that 12 months. Giménez’s numbers most likely dropped off extra sharply than Cleveland anticipated, although, as he has been a below-average hitter in consecutive seasons.
In 2023, Giménez hit .251/.314/.399 with 15 homers throughout 616 plate appearances. He improved his contact abilities however noticed his stroll charge and energy numbers take a step again. These tendencies continued this 12 months. Giménez managed simply 9 homers in 633 journeys to the plate. He stored his strikeout charge to a tidy 15.3% clip however drew walks at a career-low 4.1% mark. He wrapped up the 12 months with a middling .252/.298/.340 slash — his weakest offensive output over his three full seasons in Cleveland.
Extra to return…
