Guardians make series of roster moves; new hitting coach Chris Valaika called 'well-rounded'

A crucial offseason has begun for the soon-to-be Guardians as the club works to structure its active and 40-man rosters heading into the 2022 season.

And as far as the baseball world is concerned, winter isn't coming: it's here.

The Guardians — the team name isn't fully official yet, but the 80-foot script 'Indians' sign is being taken down — announced a series of roster moves in the past 48 hours. Jose Ramirez had his $12 million 2022 club option exercised in what is probably the easiest decision President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti has ever faced. Roberto Perez had his $7 million club option declined, leaving Austin Hedges as the only catcher on the roster.

And on Friday, Cleveland announced that left-handed pitcher Francisco Perez was claimed off waivers by the Washington Nationals and right-handers Nick Wittgren and Cam Hill both elected for free agency after being outrighted to Triple-A.

Those moves leave the 40-man roster at 34 with two players (Josh Naylor, Nick Sandlin) still on the 60-day IL. The Guardians, like several other teams around the league, are barreling toward a Rule 5 roster crunch with several of the team's better prospects potentially being left unprotected. That situation has put a premium on every 40-man roster spot. Six of the team's top 22 prospects (according to MLB Pipeline), plus two other highly-viewed prospects acquired recently in trades, all risk being taken in the Rule 5 draft unless they're added to the 40-man roster.

One of those prospects is catcher Bryan Lavastida, ranked as the No. 13 player in the Guardians' minor league system. Lavastida could be added to the 40-man roster soon. Regardless, the Guardians could look to add to their catching depth in addition to Hedges, who made it easier to decline Perez's option considering the club already had an elite defensive option available.

Guardians decline Roberto Perez's option but are open to return

Perez hit two home runs in Game 1 of the 2016 World Series and then put together a strong 2019 season (24 home runs) after Yan Gomes was dealt to the Nationals. He is also an elite defensive catcher. But the past two years were mired in injuries and a lack of production (he hit below .200 in both seasons and played in fewer than 80 combined games), leading to the club declining his option. Perez is now a free agent, able to negotiate with all 30 clubs. It remains possible he could return to Cleveland, something to which the Guardians' front office is open.

"We want to take a minute to talk a little bit about Berto, because he’s been such a huge member and contributor of our team for the past eight seasons," Antonetti said Friday on a Zoom call. "He’s been part of some of the best memories we’ve had at Progressive Field in helping lead our team to Game 7 of the World Series in 2016 and has been a member of our teams over the course of the past handful of years.

"He’s provided extraordinary leadership behind the plate and has really helped our pitchers continue to grow at the major-league level. We certainly value Roberto’s contributions and will leave the door open for him to potentially return to Cleveland."

Ramirez also has a club option for the 2023 season. Antonetti said Friday that the team remains hopeful that an agreement on an extension can be reached. For now, the team knows Ramirez will be a part of the infield for the next two years, barring a trade.

Ramirez has maintained his MVP-candidate production levels, and his contract has been one of the most team-friendly, valuable deals in baseball. His production on the field alone has been enough. Though one of the things that stood out to Antonetti during the team's exit interviews with players was how many who said Ramirez was an asset to the point of almost being another assistant coach.

"That was one of the cool things to hear when we had our exit meetings with players, the number of other players who referenced the impact that Jose has on them, whether it's offensively, defensively, things he's paying attention to during the game, when he's running the bases," Antonetti said. "But that was one of the highlights of our offseason meetings, to hear other players talk about the impact Jose has had on them."

Guardians select 'well-rounded' Chris Valaika to lead hitting department

In addition to the roster moves, the Guardians also rounded out their 2022 coaching staff by hiring Chris Valaika, 36, as the team's hitting coach. He'll lead the club's hitting department along with assistant hitting coach Victor Rodriguez and hitting analyst Justin Toole. The team informed Ty Van Burkleo he wouldn't be returning in 2022. It was noted then that the Guardians were looking for a new voice to lead the department moving forward.

"It's not just the hitting coach, but it's somebody leading the hitting team," manager Terry Francona on a Zoom call. "We all felt like this is a kid that, although young and not terribly experienced, is going to be really good and seems to be really open to wanting to get better and be a learner. All the things that we value, he certainly seems to fall into that category."

"I just think [Valaika is] well-rounded. If you're deficient in any area it's going to be hard to be a good hitting — be a good any coach. You have to understand your area of expertise, you have to be able to connect with the players and the coaches and the baseball ops guys. When it was all said and done we felt like Chris checked those things off pretty well."

Manager Terry Francona says he had eight pins and a rod inserted into foot

Francona's progress from the two needed procedures that forced his early exit from the 2021 season continues to go well, though he said on Friday that that doesn't necessarily mean it's been easy. Francona first had a hip replacement and then underwent a toe/foot procedure. The latter has been the more difficult rehab.

"You know what, I don’t think I quite knew how extensive this last surgery was until after it was over," Francona said. "My hip was a piece of cake. This has been hard. I mean I got eight pins and a rod in there to prove [it]. Since I’ve been back to Arizona, it’s a lot easier.

"Even if I’m sitting around, I can sit out in the sun, I can read a book, I have the ability to go to swim, I have the ability to work out a little bit even if it’s hobbling around. When you feel like you’re going in the right direction, it sure is easy to start feeling a little bit more positive, a little more energetic."

Franmil Reyes to play winter ball with Albert Pujols

Franmil Reyes' attempts to become an option in the outfield — rather than being stuck as the everyday designated hitter — will continue this winter.

Francona said on Friday that Reyes will play some winter ball in the offseason. It's partly to gain some more experience in the outfield — he has worked in the Dominican Republic in the past and played 11 games in right field to close out the season — and partly to get to play alongside one of the game's living legends.

"I think the chance to play with Albert Pujols a little bit was too much for him to pass up, for him to be able to pick his brain and be a part of that for a little while," Francona said of Reyes. "And he’s also going to work in the outfield and we talked at length and he was really good about it and he said, ‘I know I need to be good enough out there where I belong out there and I’m not hurting the team.’

"His plan is to shed some weight and get himself flexible enough and mobile enough that he can go out there. I told him to move out in left field and right field just to keep more options open, the more options that are open the better for everybody.”

Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Indians at www.beaconjournal.com/indians. Follow him on Twitter at @ByRyanLewis.