Guardians mailbag … sort of: Shane Bieber, José Ramírez, Carlos Santana, Emmanuel Clase, more

New York Times

09-07-2025

Look, I would publish a mailbag, but you're all just going to ask about when Chase DeLauter is going to be promoted. Maybe you'll sneak in a trade deadline question or two. I know how it would play out.
To craft a compelling mailbag, variety is critical. So, I instead sought out specific people to ask these questions. I hope you understand.
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When might I pitch in a big-league game? And, uh, it'll be for the Guardians, right? — Shane B.
You threw a live batting practice session at Progressive Field on Saturday afternoon against a handful of hitters from Double-A Akron. You tossed two 15-pitch sessions to simulate two innings. And you surmised you'll do something similar once more this week before heading out on a rehab assignment.
So, that could land you back on a big-league mound for a big-league game about a week or two into August. If another team is desperate to acquire you — I struggle to wrap my head around what the return would be in this scenario, given you've made four starts in 24 months — they'd do so without seeing you pitch against major leaguers. That doesn't mean you won't be coveted. The Cleveland Guardians traded for Alex Cobb last summer, and he had yet to throw a major-league pitch in 2024 because of hip, shoulder and finger injuries.
It's also probably worth mentioning your comfort with the organization. You recently noted how you've spent nearly a decade with the organization, and how much you appreciate your relationships with the medical staff and coaches. Cleveland drafted you nine years ago; it's all you've ever known. For a player who has missed a lot of time because of injuries the last few years, that stuff matters to a degree. Would it make you or the team reluctant to pursue a trade?
Will I be here past the trade deadline? — Carlos S.
Wait, I'm wondering that, too. — Lane T.
Ahem. Same question. — Emmanuel C.
Teams are circling the Guardians like bloodthirsty sharks. I know of at least a handful of clubs that are itching to learn just how aggressively the Guardians plan to sell this month. Carlos Santana would sit behind Ryan O'Hearn and Josh Naylor on the big board of available first basemen, but there's not much incentive for Cleveland to keep him, especially since it would clear a path for a C.J. Kayfus promotion.
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As for Thomas, it's been a nightmare of a contract year. He's once again sidelined because of plantar fasciitis, a lingering issue that might scare away buyers. If he's healthy, there's a useful role for him to play on a contender — one scout recently described him as the dream fourth outfielder — but nagging injuries (and a .518 OPS) won't help his trade value. Once DeLauter joins the big-league roster, Nolan Jones figures to play more center field, and the irony is, Thomas actually fits as a nice complement to those two left-handed hitters. But, he's headed for free agency this winter anyway, and the Guardians might be motivated to salvage anything they can for him.
And then there's Clase, who's on the radar of some contenders who are salivating at the possibility of bolstering the back end of their bullpens. He's had a strange year. His walk and hit rates have about doubled from last season, but he has rebounded from an awful April. A team can keep him through the 2028 season for only $26.4 million. That timeline allows the Guardians to wait to be bowled over by an offer; they can revisit this over the winter if they prefer. But teams will be calling this month, and team president Chris Antonetti never presses the red 'decline' button.
On what date will I eclipse Jim Thome's franchise home run record? And what will my statue look like? — José R.
You need 67 homers to stand tall above Thome, Albert Belle, Manny Ramirez and every other slugger who has donned a Cleveland uniform since the start of the 20th century. Let's say you hit 40 between now and the end of next season. That would leave you 27 shy of the new record, which means you could achieve it by the end of the 2027 season. Of course, that assumes there's a full, 162-game slate in 2027, which many across the industry are dubious of, with another round of collective bargaining negotiations on the horizon. You're under team control through 2028. If you stay healthy, the record should be yours.
As for the statue, despite the power, the famous strut, the hitting prowess and the reliable glove, isn't the prevailing image from your career some form of base running, with your helmet left behind in a cloud of dust? You could be plunging headfirst into a base or in a dead sprint while stretching a routine single into one of those only-José-could-have-done-that doubles. You've also earned the right to see the statue before your Cleveland tenure ends. There's no need to wait. Unveil the thing in 2028, if that's your final season with the franchise.
Aren't double-digit losing streaks painful to watch? — Manny A.
Nothing was more torturous than the 11-gamer that you, Mr. Acta, had a front-row seat for in 2012. It cemented your dismissal, despite a public vote of confidence from Paul Dolan. On July 27, that team was 50-49 and hanging around in the AL Central race. On Sept. 1, the club was 55-77. That's hard to do.
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There were stretches of offensive ineptitude, stretches of dreadful pitching and, really, a lot of nights when they simply got shellacked. It also didn't go over well in the clubhouse when the team's marquee trade deadline acquisition was … Brent Lillibridge. By the end of the most pitiful month in team history, we were watching Jeanmar Gomez, Vinny Rottino, Russ Canzler and other players who had no ties to the team's future.
Twelve teams in franchise history have recorded a double-digit losing streak. The 1931 club holds the record with 12 consecutive losses. This recently buried 10-game skid, however, included the worst offensive showing, by far, of any of the double-digit funks. As a team, the Guardians posted a .166/.235/.263 slash line in those 10 defeats. There's no better way to recover than to score 17 runs in your ensuing two games, as the Guardians have done in Houston.
Remember me? — Triston M.
I do. I really don't know whether you're going to pitch for the Guardians again, though. You've been in Arizona for nearly three months now, and the overall results fall somewhere between mixed and ugly. In eight outings (before your appearance Tuesday night), hitters have an .845 OPS against you. And a lot of them are teenagers just getting started with their professional careers. It has been jarring to check the box score and see the names 'Triston McKenzie' and 'Tyler Naquin' pitching back-to-back in relief in the Arizona Complex League, by the way. Naquin was promoted to Class-A Lake County on Tuesday.
You were drafted in 2015, have pitched in postseason games and were a trendy Cy Young Award pick a couple of years ago. Now, you're headed for minor-league free agency. I fear the only path forward is with a change of scenery, after a winter of reflection. Everyone in Cleveland should be rooting for you, wherever your career takes you.
Hey, talk me up! I've been good, right? — Slade C.
You have been more than solid, especially for a guy in new surroundings with limited big-league experience. And because of those caveats, let's avoid looking at your metrics. We'll do that only if things go south.
It was a great step to throw 105 pitches across six strong innings against the Detroit Tigers on Friday after an average of 83 pitches per start in your first eight outings. Clearly, you're earning trust from manager Stephen Vogt. You have a 3.56 ERA (and a 2.76 ERA over your last six starts) and healthy walk and strikeout ratios. That's all the Guardians could ask for at this point, so, for now, who cares about your hard-hit rate, chase rate and expected numbers? You've reduced your reliance on your fastball, which is the pitch that's been hit the hardest in your time in the big leagues. Keep racking up whiffs with that slider and curveball, and you'll have people talking about the ol' Cleveland Pitching Factory again.
Have you seen my on-base streak? — Chase D.
Hey, how did you sneak in here? I said we weren't talking about this. Yes, you have reached base in all 32 of your games at Triple-A Columbus this season. Let's see whether you can get to 50. (Or, maybe you'll join the Guardians in Chicago on Thursday for a four-game series against all right-handed starters.)
(Top photo of José Ramírez: Thomas Shea / Imagn Images)