OOTP 23 Bloopball (Cleveland Guardians est. 2022)

[U7Gohan]

Game Summary

The Blue Jays struck first in the 2nd as George Springer hit a RBI double with nobody out, but he was stranded. The Blue Jays then put runners on the corners with nobody out in the 4th, but a strikeout of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and a double play induced on a fantastic play by Carlos Correa vanquished the threat. The Blue Jays got their first hit of the game in the 4th on a big two-run shot by Luis Matos for the lead. They put two more runners on in the inning, but stranded them. Luis Matos reignited the offense with a leadoff double in the 7th, and was driven in by George Valera with a double of his own the very next batter. Valera was stranded, however, leaving the game in the hands of the Guardians' bullpen for the 8th and 9th with a two-run lead. Ewry Espinal started the 8th with a pinch-hit HR off Jovani Moran to make it 3-2, and the next two batters reached as well. Moran struck out Guerrero Jr. and induced a grounder from Kirk, but Moran threw the ball off-line after fielding it, loading the bases with one out for George Springer, who tied the game with a RBI single. Matt Chapman gave the Blue Jays the lead with a sac fly, and Adolis Garcia broke the game open with a 3-run shot. Not a good start for the Guardians' bullpen. The Guardians showed life in the 9th by putting the first two runners on, then loading the bases with two outs for Andres Gimenez. Gimenez, however, struck out to end the game, completing a deflating Game 1.

Box Score: https://imgur.com/a/Ze2GAvt

[U7Gohan]

Game Summary

The Blue Jays threatened first again, loading the bases with one out in the 3rd for Vladimir Guerrero Jr, who this time came through with a two-run single. Alejandro Kirk then grounded into a double play to end the threat. The Guardians threatened in the bottom half of the inning, but failed to score Patrick Bailey from 2nd with one out. The Blue Jays got their 3rd run of the game in the 5th on a wild pitch as Jose Berrios dominated even more than Alek Manoah, marking the second straight night the Guardians failed to take advantage of a subpar starting pitcher. The Guardians finally got a run in the 8th on a solo HR by Patrick Bailey against reliever Colby White. Andres Gimenez then hit a two-out double, but was stranded as Luis Matos grounded out to end the inning. George Valera started the do-or-die 9th with a single, and Carlos Correa worked a two-out walk to bring J.C. Correa to the plate with the game on the line. Correa grounded into a fielders choice to end the game, completing the second-straight night where the Guardians' offense completely floundered against weak pitching.

Box Score: https://imgur.com/a/mY5RQbL

[U7Gohan]

Game Summary

The Guardians came out angry on the road, loading the bases with nobody out in the 1st. Jose Ramirez lined out for the first out but the Guardians scored first on a wild pitch, then again on a sac fly by Byron Buxton. The next inning, Nick Lodolo helped himself out with a RBI single to drive in Patrick Bailey, but Adolis Garcia cut the lead to one in the 3rd with a two-run shot. J.C. Correa and Patrick Bailey got those runs back immediately, however, as each hit two-out, RBI singles. Byron Buxton finally showed up in the 5th with a solo shot to make it 6-2 and pad Nick Lodolo's lead, who had been dominant aside from the two-run HR. Lodolo's day ended after four, however, as Matt Vierling pinch-hit for him with the bases loaded and delivered with a RBI single to make it 7-2. Andres Gimenez then grounded into a double play to end the inning, leaving the game up to the bullpen. Steven Wilson promptly surrendered a solo shot to Adolis Garcia, but the Guardians got that run back immediately with a RBI groundout by Jose Ramirez. Andres Munoz came in and continued his struggles by allowing a 2-run shot to Cavan Biggio with nobody out, then R.J. Dabovich made it interesting next inning by allowing a RBI double to Orelvis Martinez, bringing the tying run to the plate in the form of Ewry Espinal with one out. Espinal flew out to the warning track, but Estiven Machado got one with a game-tying two-run blast. George Valera then homered to regain the lead for the Guardians, not giving up yet. Jovani Moran nearly escaped a jam in the 8th until Carlos Correa booted one, and a wild pitch tied the game from there. Correa snared one to keep it tied, but the damage was done. The Guardians came up empty in the 9th, leaving the game up to Emmanuel Clase, who pitched a 1-2-3 9th of his own. The Guardians also came up empty in the 10th, but so did the Blue Jays as Clase pitched another 1-2-3 inning. The Guardians couldn't score in the 11th, as the reality of a potential series loss crept in with Emmanuel Clase entering for his third inning of work. Matt Chapman finally got to him with a leadoff triple, putting the series-clinching run 90 feet away. Adolis Garcia singled to end it, completing an embarrassing series sweep for the Guardians at the hands of the Blue Jays.

Box Score: https://imgur.com/a/Bm2Lp23

[U7Gohan]

Playoff Roundup

In the Division Series:

The Rangers handled the Rays in a 3-1 series win. 3B Josh Jung (5.0, 5.0) won series MVP.

The Reds lost Game 1 to the Dodgers but took the next three to advance. SS Marcelo Mayer (3.0, 3.5), who hit the game-winning HR in Game 4, won series MVP.

The Mets won an intense five-game set with the Cardinals, winning Game 4 by one run and winning Game 5 with a big offensive effort. LF Jeff McNeil (3.0, 3.0) won series MVP.

In the Championship Series:

The Blue Jays continued their streak by winning Game 1, but lost the next four as the Rangers advanced to the World Series. 3B Josh Jung again won series MVP.

The Mets took a 2-1 series lead but the Reds again found a comeback within them and won the next three to advance to the World Series. RF Ramon Laureano (3.5, 3.5) won series MVP.

In the World Series:

The series was tied 1-1 when the series headed to Cincinnati, but the Reds were intent on clinching in front of their fans, winning three straight games yet again to win the World Series. 3B Elly De La Cruz (3.0, 3.0) won series MVP.


State of the Team

News Dump

Shane Bieber won AL Cy Young, a testament to his status as the team's ace and the team's decision to sign him to a long-term extension.

Jose Ramirez finished 2nd in the AL MVP race. One has to wonder what might have been without injuries, but he had a truly stellar season nonetheless.

Jose Ramirez, Carlos Correa, and George Valera all won AL Silver Slugger awards at their respective positions.

Andres Gimenez and Carlos Correa won AL Gold Glove awards at their positions as well.

The Guardians made a big, unexpected announcement on social media today. The Guardians agreed to a $140.7M/6yr deal with superstar 2B Andres Gimenez that includes team options for years 7 and 8. Gimenez had resisted a long-term extension to this point, but a year away from free agency, he seemed to decide he felt at home in Cleveland.

In smaller news, Austin Hedges' $5.5M team option was exercised and Sonny Gray's 2026 vesting option also exercised.

Additionally, RP A.J. Puk was non-tendered. All other arbitration-eligible players were tendered contracts.

Offseason Goals

With more money available this offseason, we are poised to enter the free-agent market to look for upgrades. The bullpen is an obvious need, but we will be opportunistic in general with such a strong free-agent class.

Minor League Report

The latest Top 100 Prospects report has us at 12th in MLB, with a new addition to our Top 100 prospects.

SS Luis Carrizales (0.5, 5.0) - #14
SP Juan Oporto (0.5, 4.5) - #37
SS Rogelio Freiera (0.5, 5.0) - #92

Other emerging prospects to watch are...

SP David Valverde (0.5, 3.0) - INT


Around the League

Awards

AL:

MVP: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR)

Cy Young: Shane Bieber (CLE)

Rookie of the Year: Estiven Machado (TOR)

Reliever of the Year: Garrett Crochet (CHW)

Manager of the Year: Chris Woodward (TEX)

NL:

MVP: Shohei Ohtani (LAD)

Cy Young: Corbin Burnes (MIL)

Rookie of the Year: Drew Romo (COL)

Reliever of the Year: Ethan Roberts (CHC)

Manager of the Year: Steve Decker (CIN)

Top Free Agents

Hitters:

RF Aaron Judge (4.5, 4.5)
SS Bo Bichette (4.0, 4.5)
SS Xander Bogaerts (4.0, 4.0)
3B Austin Riley (4.0, 4.0)
1B Ty France (3.5, 3.5)
LF Ian Happ (3.5, 3.5)
RF Kyle Tucker (3.5, 3.5)

Pitchers:

SP Jacob deGrom (4.0, 4.0)
SP Dylan Cease (3.5, 3.5)
SP Tyler Glasnow (3.5, 3.5)
SP Domingo German (3.0, 3.0)
SP Mike Soroka (3.0, 3.0)
RP Edwin Diaz (5.0, 5.0)
RP Andres Munoz (4.5, 4.5)
RP Devin Williams (4.5, 4.5)
RP Rowan Wick (3.5, 3.5)


Major Trades

None

Major Extensions

3B Marco Luciano (4.0, 5.0) signs with Giants for $128.9M/8yr
LF Michael Harris II (3.5, 3.5) signs with Braves for $127.4M/8yr
1B Oneil Cruz (3.5, 3.5) signs with Pirates for $58.9M/4yr
SP Tanner Houck (4.0, 4.0) signs with Red Sox for $57.3M/4yr
RF Dylan Carlson (4.0, 4.0) signs with Cardinals for $103M/4yr
RF Kristian Robinson (4.0, 5.0) signs with DBacks for $155.5M/8yr
LF Yordan Alvarez (4.0, 4.5) signs with Astros for $171.2M/7yr


The next post will check in on January 1, 2026.

[U7Gohan]

State of the Team

News Dump

It was another eventful offseason for the Guardians, with some big news coming unexpectedly beginning with veteran SP Jacob deGrom agreeing to a $17M/1yr deal with the Guardians. deGrom, 37, missed 2025 due to injury but seemed eager to play for the Guardians as he looks for a ring before his career ends. How he'll look coming off of the injury will be the question, but if he's any semblance of his former self then this will be a big win.

With deGrom signed, a rotation spot needed to be freed for him, so we made a blockbuster trade that also souped up the bullpen.

Trade 1: Kansas City Royals

Outbound: RP Lenny Torres (2.5, 3.0), C Bo Naylor (3.5, 4.0), SP Ethan Robinson (0.5, 2.5), RP R.J. Dabovich (3.5, 4.0), SP Sandy Alcantara (3.0, 3.0)

Inbound: RP Tim Herrin (4.5, 4.5), RP Nathan Webb (4.0, 4.0), SP Jon Heasley (3.0, 3.0), C Edgar Camacho (0.5, 3.5), SP Jack Crowder (1.5, 2.5)

This trade finally moved the last remaining pieces we had been looking to move for quite some time now, and we got two bigtime relievers in Herrin and Webb back while also acquiring Heasley who could step into the rotation in place of deGrom or Gray. Each piece ended up being completely necessary to complete this deal.

We made one more smaller trade, shipping off a piece that was highly valued by another team.

Trade 2: Arizona Diamondbacks

Outbound: RP Ken Giles (3.5, 3.5), SP Victor Soltedo (0.5, 2.0)

Inbound: SP Luis Oviedo (2.5, 3.0), LF Corbin Carroll (1.5, 2.5)

In the Rule 5 Draft, we selected SP David Peterson (2.5, 2.5), RP Aldry Acosta (3.0, 3.0), and 1B Ronald Guzman (2.5, 2.5).


Around the League

Major Free-Agent Signings

RF Aaron Judge (4.5, 4.5) signs with Mets for $96.8M/4yr
SS Xander Bogaerts (4.0, 4.0) signs with Red Sox for $157.5M/5yr
3B Austin Riley (4.0, 4.0) signs with Twins for $120.8M/5yr
LF Ian Happ (3.5, 3.5) signs with Mets for $117M/5yr
SP Dylan Cease (3.5, 3.5) signs with Reds for $77.6M/4yr
1B Daniel Vogelbach (3.0, 3.0) signs with Angels for $17.4M/2yr
SP Tyler Glasnow (3.5, 3.5) signs with Reds for $84.8M/4yr
RP Trevor Rogers (3.5, 3.5) signs with Brewers for $2.4M/1yr
RP Devin Williams (4.5, 4.5) signs with Dodgers for $9.8M/2yr
1B Ty France (3.5, 3.5) signs with Giants for $94.8M/6yr
RP Edwin Diaz (5.0, 5.0) signs with Cubs for $10.8M/1yr
SS Bo Bichette (4.0, 4.5) signs with Astros for $211.2M/8yr
RP Dustin May (4.0, 4.0) signs with Yankees for $1.1M/1yr
RF Kyle Tucker (3.5, 4.0) signs with Cubs for $133.6M/5yr
RP Rowan Wick (3.5, 3.5) signs with Angels for $7.4M/2yr
RP Andres Munoz (4.5, 4.5) signs with Cubs for $32.7M/3yr
RF Alex Verdugo (3.0, 3.0) signs with Rangers for $37.5M/3yr
RP A.J. Puk (3.5, 3.5) signs with Cubs for $5.7M/1yr
LF Austin Meadows (3.0, 3.0) signs with Yankees for $32.1M/3yr
SP Domingo German (3.0, 3.0) signs with Yankees for $58.4M/4yr
RP Seth Lugo (3.5, 3.5) signs with Rangers for $15.9M/3yr
C Salvador Perez (3.0, 3.0) signs with Rockies for $38.4M/3yr
3B Gio Urshela (3.0, 3.0) signs with Rockies for $34.4M/4yr


Major Trades

Red Sox RP Darwinzon Hernandez (3.5, 3.5) to Cubs
Giants RP Jeremy Walker (3.5, 3.5) to DBacks
White Sox RP Garrett Crochet (3.5, 4.0) to Marlins
Rockies 3B Ryan McMahon (3.0, 3.0) to Mets
Athletics C Shea Langeliers (2.5, 3.0) to Rockies


Major Extensions

None


The next post will preview Spring Training.

[U7Gohan]

State of the Team

News Dump

Top prospects SS Luis Carrizales (0.5, 4.5, #14 Overall), SP Juan Oporto (0.5, 4.5, #37 Overall), and SS Rogelio Freiria (0.5, 4.5, #92 Overall) were promoted to the minor leagues from our international complex.

Player Development Report

MLB RP Marlon Perez (3.0, 3.5) -> (3.0, 3.0)
MLB RP Luis Oviedo (3.0, 3.5) -> (3.0, 3.0)
MLB SP Nick Lodolo (3.5, 3.5) -> (3.0, 3.0)
MLB RP Emmanuel Clase (4.5, 4.5) -> (4.0, 4.0)
MLB 1B J.C. Correa (3.0, 4.5) -> (3.0, 3.5)

Spring Training Roster

* = non-roster invitee

Hitters:

C Patrick Bailey
C Austin Hedges
1B J.C. Correa
1B Ronald Guzman
1B Jhonkensy Noel
2B Aaron Bracho
2B Andres Gimenez
2B Cooper Kinney
2B Tommy Troy*
3B Jermaine Palacios
3B Jose Ramirez
SS Carlos Correa
SS Jose Pastrano*
LF Corbin Carroll
LF Luis Matos
CF TJ Adams
CF Byron Buxton
CF Isaiah Greene
RF Will Benson
RF George Valera
RF Matt Vierling

Pitchers:

SP Shane Bieber
SP Jacob deGrom
SP Sonny Gray
SP Jon Heasley
SP Sean Hjelle
SP Nick Lodolo
RP Aldry Acosta
RP Tanner Burns
RP Emmanuel Clase
RP Nic Enright*
RP Cristian Hernandez
RP Tim Herrin
RP Tylor Megill
RP Nathan Ocker
RP Luis Oviedo
RP Marlon Perez
RP David Peterson
RP Nathan Webb
RP Steven Wilson
CL Jovani Moran


Around the League

Major Free-Agent Signings

SP Yusei Kikuchi (3.0, 3.0) signs with Astros for $62M/4yr
SP Jordan Hicks (3.0, 3.0) signs with Cardinals for $34.2M/3yr
RF Starling Marte (3.0, 3.0) signs with DBacks for $7M/1yr

Major Trades

Tigers RF Riley Greene (3.0, 3.5) to Brewers
Angels 1B Taylor Ward (4.0, 4.0) to Rangers
DBacks CF Daulton Varsho (3.0, 3.0) to Reds

Major Extensions

None


The next post will preview Opening Day.

[U7Gohan]

State of the Team

The team went 17-8 in Spring Training. Looking like it should be another successful regular season.

News Dump

C Patrick Bailey will be out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. It's a crushing blow after he had a 120 OPS+ last season. In a corresponding move, C Reese McGuire was added to the active roster.

40-Man Roster

Bolded=26-Man Roster

Hitters:

C Austin Hedges
C Reese McGuire
1B J.C. Correa
1B Jhonkensy Noel
2B Aaron Bracho
2B Andres Gimenez
2B Cooper Kinney
3B Jermaine Palacios
3B Jose Ramirez
SS Carlos Correa
LF Corbin Carroll
LF Luis Matos
CF TJ Adams
CF Byron Buxton
CF Isaiah Greene
RF Will Benson
RF George Valera
RF Matt Vierling

Pitchers:

SP Shane Bieber
SP Jacob deGrom
SP Sonny Gray
SP Jon Heasley
SP Sean Hjelle
SP Nick Lodolo

RP Tanner Burns
RP Emmanuel Clase
RP Cristian Hernandez
RP Tim Herrin
RP Tylor Megill
RP Nathan Ocker
RP Luis Oviedo
RP Nathan Webb
RP Steven Wilson
RP Jovani Moran


Minor League Report

The latest Top 100 Prospects report ranks our farm system 9th and has us with three Top 100 Prospects:

SS Luis Carrizales (0.5, 4.5) - #13
SP Juan Oporto (0.5, 4.5) - #36
C Juan Rivera (0.5, 2.5) - #43

Around The League

Preseason Predictions

The Guardians are predicted to go 103-59, winning the AL Central by 25 games and good for the best record in MLB.

AL Seeding:

1. Guardians
2. Angels
3. Orioles
4. Rangers
5. Red Sox
6. Yankees

NL Seeding:

1. Dodgers
2. Mets
3. Cardinals
4. Cubs
5. Reds
6. Padres

Major Trades

Rays LF Heriberto Hernandez (3.0, 3.0) to Angels for RP Luke Murphy (4.0, 4.0)

Major Extensions

RP Scott Barlow (4.0, 4.0) signs with Blue Jays for $16M/2yr
C Taylor Ward (4.0, 4.0) signs with Rangers for $73M/3yr
RP Jordan Romano (3.5, 3.5) signs with Mets for $25M/3yr
SP Freddy Peralta (3.5, 3.5) signs with Cubs for $92M/4yr
CL Junior Fernandez (4.5, 4.5) signs with Cardinals for $25M/2yr
RP Codi Heuer (3.5, 3.5) signs with Cubs for $24M/3yr


Author's Note: How busy my work schedule was made keeping up with this harder than expected, but updates will resume. I think still I will start to use more screenshots to keep writing more manageable...