Plainly Corbin Burnes isn’t the one former Orioles All-Star to catch the Crimson Sox’s eye. In line with a report from Chris Cotillo of MassLive, Boston has had some discussions with free agent starter John Means. As soon as a promising hurler, the southpaw’s profession has been derailed by accidents over the past three years. He underwent his second Tommy John process this previous Could and won’t be able to pitch for a lot of the 2025 season.
An Eleventh-round draft decide in 2014, Means was by no means a highly-ranked prospect. Nonetheless, he pitched moderately nicely all through the minor leagues and earned a spot on Baltimore’s Opening Day roster in 2019. After three robust appearances from the bullpen, he made his first large league begin in mid-April and continued to thrive out of the rotation. He was named an All-Star that summer time and completed second in AL Rookie of the Yr voting that fall.
From 2019-21, Means made 67 appearances (63 begins) pitching to a 3.73 ERA and 4.48 SIERA in 345 1/3 innings. He was hardly ever dominant, struggling to overlook bats or induce groundballs. Nonetheless, his management was glorious (he walked simply 5.1% of batters), and he averaged 5 1/3 innings per begin. He might not have been rather more than a league-average beginning pitcher, however there’s worth in league-average, particularly for a basement-dwelling membership just like the Orioles of that period.
Sadly, accidents had been at all times an issue for Means. He frolicked on the IL in every season from 2019-21 with numerous arm illnesses. Then, issues took a flip for the more serious in April 2022 when he wanted his first Tommy John surgical procedure. His left elbow and forearm continued to provide him bother as he tried to make his method again, and finally, he wanted a second Tommy John in Could 2024. For what it’s value, he was fairly efficient within the 10 begins he managed to make between 2022-24, giving up simply 16 earned runs (2.75 ERA) in 52 1/3 innings. But, that skinny silver lining pales compared to all of the trigger for concern.
Means is probably searching for a two-year deal that may enable him to prioritize his rehab for many of 2025. In return, he would, ideally, present his new membership with a full, wholesome season in 2026. Nonetheless, his intensive damage historical past and lack of upside may stop any groups from providing him such a two-year assure. Thus, he is likely to be taking a look at one thing extra just like the one-year contract Matthew Boyd signed with the Guardians final summer time. That deal was technically value $3.5MM, though it was prorated to $1.75MM as a result of Boyd signed mid-season. Like Means, Boyd was an injury-prone arm coming off Tommy John surgical procedure when he signed with Cleveland.
If Boston is severely contemplating Means, it will seemingly be as a low-risk depth signing with the potential to repay late within the 12 months. In different phrases, signing Means wouldn’t essentially take them out of the operating for different beginning pitchers on the free agent or commerce markets if chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is critical about persevering with to pursue rotation upgrades for the 2025 season.
