Guardians News and Notes – Rōki Sasaki is not a Cleveland Guardian

News and Notes for Saturday, January 18th, 2025

The Cleveland Guardians made another trade with the Toronto Blue Jays. This time sending an even worse hitting gold glove defender! Myles Straw was sent to Toronto along with international bonus pool money and the cash equivalent of his buyout. More about this trade can be read here.

It was obvious that the Blue Jays were making one last push at signing Rōki Sasaki with the Myles Straw trade. Unfortunately our Canadian friends fell short to the ever growing shadow in the west – the Los Angeles Dodgers. It appears that while Toronto was completing a last minute deal with Cleveland, the Dodgers were doing the same with the Phillies.

Now that Sasaki has landed and the Dodgers have hopefully signed their last Free Agent, the Hot Stove will start heating up again. The Guardians have effectively freed up a lot salary so far this off season and have opened up a couple of spots on the 40-man. There really is no excuse at this point for the Guardians front office to at minimum sign one of the many remaining free agents to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. With 2B, CF, RF all potentially open for early season improvements, someone is bound to strike a deal with the Guards. Unless the Dodgers have a Mary Poppin’s bag for a 40-man roster and continue on their quest to sign the entire league to the team.

Travis Bazzana is already becoming the future face of the Cleveland Guardians organization. He was ranked the #2 overall 2B prospect in MLBs most recent ranking.

The MiLB Spring Breakout will be returning to this year’s Spring Training schedule. The Spring Breakout started in the 2024 season as a means to showcase each teams prospects across 4-days during Spring Training. Guardians prospects will face off against Mariners prospects on March 14th at 8:05PM ET. I was unable to find if the games will be broadcasted in any capacity at this time.

BlueJaysNation writer Tyson Shushkewich wrote an article highlighting rookie reliever Cade Smith, the 2024 campaign, and Smith’s recent award from Baseball Canada.

The award was presented to Cade by none other than his fellow Canadian teammate – Bo Naylor.

As we inch closer to Opening Day, the Progressive Field renovations inch closer to completion. The Guardians have added the diamond C design in the upper deck seats. I am very excited to see this finished. At least there has been one pleasant surprise addition this off season.