The Cleveland Guardians need to rethink their minor league Strategy. One year ago, the Cleveland Guardians brought up FIVE outfielders from the minor leagues. One year later, and All FIVE are playing in the majors, 3 of those 5 outfielders, for other teams.
The irony is while 3 outfielder from last year are playing in the majors for three other teams, the Guardians had to resort to picking up on waivers an outfielder waived by the team with the second poorest record in the entire major leagues.
The question has to be asked, when a team has a lot of talent percolating in the minors, does it make sense to keep drafting wave after wave of new players when it causes players who have been developed for five or six years to be traded for younger talent? It's as if the constant need to move experienced and still improving minor league players for younger prospects is creating talent voids when too many injuries occur.
If I understand correctly, a player with six years of minor league experience has to be let go, or promoted to the major league club where they will have to put in 3 more years at the MLB minimum of around 700,000.
Can a major league club offer to pay a minor league player the major league minimum, or, MORE than the $700,000, and let their minor league talent percolate at a fair wage in the minors until they are needed in the majors? The three Guardian's outfielders who had to be traded or be lost for no return are all making the major league minimum.
Isn't it possible that at least one or two of the three would have happily taken a 2 year, 2 million dollar total contract to remain in the minors just in case the Guardians needed them to come up to the majors?
The three Guardians outfielders who are in the majors may, or may not, hold on. Two are doing well, one is scuffling. But, if the two who are doing well have the dreaded sophomore jinx enter in their second year, they could end up being traded and suddenly carry the label of fourth outfielder for life.
The concept would be cost effective. As a team decides to give long time valued minor league players special designation, they could simply decide to not draft as many players, thus using the cut in minor league drafting obligations to reward their top minor league talent.
Why is this concept needed? Because Cleveland fans just witnessed a veteran player who had not played first base in 10 years, bobble back to back game ending throws that bounced before reaching him and the Guardians ended up losing the game they were leading 3-2 entering the ninth inning.
As if that disappointment was not enough, the Guardians then picked up on waivers an outfielder who was released by a team with the second worst record in all of Major League Baseball.
The idea of designating top talent with a minor league / major league value contract as a way to extend their viability is something some minor league players would welcome, and right now, so would the Guardians.
(Oct. 1, 2023 update). The two veterans picked up by the Guardians afforded themselves well. Meanwhile, Nolan Jones sits at 19 home runs, 19 stolen bases, and 18 outfield assists for the Colorado Rockies, in just over 100 games as a Rockie.) end of update.
Los Angeles Emmy winning Producer Alessandro Machi combines his editing, camera and observational skills to provide unique insights into the World of Sports.
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