CLEVELAND, OHIO (92.3 THE FAN) - The Cleveland Guardians continue to restore key pieces from the 2022 American League Central Championship roster.
Shane Bieber was his usual self. The right-hander added a 3.5 wins above replacement and a 2.88 ERA in 200 innings pitched.
Bieber won his first Gold Glove in 2022, and finished seventh in the voting for the Cy Young Award.
In the postseason, the 27-year-old showed out allowing just three runs in 13.1 innings.
Pitcher Cal Quantrill and first baseman Josh Naylor reportedly agreed to deals to avoid arbitration, earlier this afternoon.
According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com Quantrill will ink for $5.5 million dollars while Naylor will come back for $3.3 million in 2023 per Audacy’s Jon Heyman.
Cal Quantrill since being traded to Cleveland in 2020 has been superb. The
right-hander in 2022 made 32 starts posting a 3.38 ERA and 6.2 strikeouts per nine innings.
The 186.1 innings pitched and 128 strikeouts in 2022 were both career-highs. Quantrill was trusted by Cleveland in the postseason, starting two games in the ALDS. The 27-year-old permitted six runs in 10 innings and took two losses. Quantrill had just five in the regular season.
Josh Naylor was the definition of a spark for the Guardians. Naylor settled into the first base position after a rotation of players were used early on.
Naylor in 122 games slashed .256/.319/.452. Naylor supplied the power with 20 homers, and drove in 79 runs.
The Ontario native provided pop in the postseason with two long balls in nine games, while playing with a nagging ankle injury.
At first base Naylor was strong, committing just six errors in 88 games played at the position.
Earlier today, the Guardians locked up Zach Plesac to avoid arbitration.
According to Zack Meisel of the Atheltic the Guardians still need to reach agreements with Amed Rosario & James Karinchak.
