The Guardians have designated right-handers Cal Quantrill and Michael Kelly for project, per a workforce announcement. Their spots on the 40-man roster go to fellow righties Cade Smith and Daniel Espino, whose contracts have been chosen so as to shield them from subsequent month’s Rule 5 Draft.
Quantrill is probably the most notable title designated for project up to now as we speak — a veteran of four-plus large league seasons who was locked right into a rotation spot in Cleveland heading into the 2023 season. He struggled badly in an injury-shortened yr, nevertheless, and the Guards will designate him for project fairly than pay him a elevate in arbitration. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz had projected a $6.6MM wage for the previous first-round decide.
Previous to the 2023 season, a DFA of Quantrill would have appeared far-fetched. Whereas it would’ve been simple to examine a state of affairs the place Cleveland finally traded the righty — as they often do with pitchers late of their arbitration years — a straight jettison from the roster for a righty who pitched 336 innings of three.16 ERA ball from 2021-22 speaks to the magnitude of his struggles in 2023.
Granted, Quantrill loved that success regardless of a properly below-average 18% strikeout charge, however he no less than partially offset that lack of whiffs and punchouts with robust command (6.8% stroll charge) and a knack for inducing weak contact (87.6 mph common exit velocity, 35% hard-hit charge).
The 2023 marketing campaign couldn’t have gone far more poorly for Quantrill. Shoulder irritation worn out greater than two months of season, and when he was wholesome sufficient to take the mound he limped to a 5.24 ERA with fielding-independent metrics to match. His fastball, which averaged a career-high 95.3 mph again in 2020, was all the way down to 94.1 mph in 2023, and he posted career-worst strikeout, stroll and ground-ball charges of 13.1%, 7.9% and 40.8%. Of the 141 pitchers who tossed no less than 90 innings in 2023, Quantrill’s strikeout charge ranked a hundred and fortieth, main solely 40-year-old Adam Wainwright, who retired at season’s finish.
The Guardians are identified for his or her skill to commonly churn out high quality arms, and their second-to-none pitching improvement was on full show in ’23, with high prospects Tanner Bibee (the AL Rookie of the 12 months runner-up), Gavin Williams and Logan Allen all not solely making their MLB debuts however virtually instantly stepping up as MLB-caliber rotation choices. That trio, mixed with Shane Bieber and Triston McKenzie, offers Cleveland a robust beginning 5 even with out Quantrill. In fact, since Bieber has only one yr of membership management remaining, he’s a commerce candidate himself this winter, however the Guards may probably obtain a viable rotation alternative in transferring him, signal one in free company or just flip to their farm system for yet one more rotation candidate.
Cleveland can have per week to commerce Quantrill or try to go him by way of outright waivers. Presumably, the Guards explored commerce prospects earlier than making as we speak’s transfer to DFA him. That doesn’t imply a deal can’t but be reached, however there’s now a clock on any dealings. Quantrill would definitely be a candidate to be claimed, and he’d have the suitable to elect free company if he clears. A technique or one other, this DFA all however closes the door on his time with the group. Any workforce that claims Quantrill may management him for 2 extra years by way of arbitration, however they’d should be prepared to pay him one thing within the neighborhood of that projected $6.6MM wage subsequent yr.
The remainder of Cleveland’s strikes are much less shocking. Kelly is a 31-year-old journeyman who pitched a career-high 16 2/3 innings within the Cleveland bullpen this yr. He held his personal with a 3.78 ERA and common 22.5% strikeout charge, however he additionally walked greater than 12% of his opponents and had comparable command points in Triple-A. Like Quantrill, he’ll be traded or probably handed by way of waivers inside per week’s time. He can elect free company if he clears.
Espino entered the season ranked as one of many sport’s 5 greatest pitching prospects regardless of a prolonged checklist of accidents already on his resume. He wound up lacking the whole yr on account of a shoulder process carried out in early Might. The expertise continues to be there for Espino to be a coveted prospect, however with a mounting variety of accidents below his belt, he’s fallen properly down (or solely off) most prospect rankings.
Smith, 24, was a Sixteenth-round decide by the Twins again in 2017 however didn’t signal, as a substitute choosing faculty. He subsequently went undrafted due to the shortened nature of the 2020 draft and signed as a free agent with the Guardians thereafter. He labored completely out of the bullpen in 2023, pitching 62 2/3 innings of 4.02 ERA ball between Double-A and Triple-A. It was a pedestrian earned run common, however Smith additionally fanned a sky-high 35.2% of his opponents. Given his skill to overlook bats and his proximity to the Majors, he’d fairly possible have been chosen within the Rule 5 Draft had Cleveland not protected him. He’ll now have an opportunity to earn his first large league look this coming season.
