Guardians agree to one-year deal with John Means

John Means, a former pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles, has signed a one-year contract with the Cleveland Guardians, which includes a club option for 2026. The deal, reportedly worth $1 million guaranteed, is pending a physical as Means continues to recover from his second Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in June 2023. Having struggled with injuries in recent years, Means has made only 10 starts since 2021 and is targeting a return in August 2025. The Guardians are looking to bolster their pitching staff, having already added other recovering pitchers like Shane Bieber and Vince Velasquez. Means, a former All-Star and Rookie of the Year runner-up, will aim to regain his form and provide veteran experience to the team. This signing symbolizes the Guardians' strategy of acquiring pitchers with recent elbow surgeries to enhance their rotation depth.