Guardians go big on international signings this year

The Cleveland Guardians brought in 15 new prospects.

As the major leagues sit on a strike following the failure to get a new collective bargaining agreement set, the Cleveland Guardians still made some moves for the upcoming 2022 season. That is if the season even happens at this rate.

Those 15 players are Guile Borrome (INF), Jose Cedeno (catcher), Jaison Chourio (OF), Jose Gomez (OF), Bryan Guedez (INF), Pedro Hernandez (INF), Melkis Hernandez (LHP/no relation) Victor Izturis (catcher), Yorfan John (INF), Alberto Menez Gonzales (INF), Jeffery Merecdes Santana (INF), Moises Molero (OF), Rafael Ramirez (INF), Abrahan Tejada (RHP), and Nomar Velasquez (INF).

This crop of international talent includes eight infielders, three outfielders, two catchers, and two pitchers. The player breakdown includes eight from Venezuala, four from the Dominican Republic, and one from Panama.

The abundance of infielders isn’t a surprise, as the Guardians went and drafted 18 pitchers in the 2021 MLB draft this past summer, so they had to find position players somewhere.

These may be the only moves the Cleveland Guardians make for some time

It’s really hard to assume when the MLB and MLB Players Association are going to come close to a deal. Both sides are being way too demanding and neither side is helping the cause of growing the game. Ballplayers are vastly overpaid, as one player can eat up 20% of payroll and not even come close to being a guy who can, on his own, lead a team to the playoffs. Yet, the owners are being extremely difficult demanding more teams be added to the playoffs as if that wouldn’t cheapen the game.

The only thing that fans want is a salary floor, a salary cap, and better revenue sharing to help support smaller clubs. That’s it. Those three things will force the players and owners to both falls in line and realize that without the fans, there is no game.

So until those two sides can get a deal done, this may be the only Cleveland Guardians off-season action we see for a while.