The Guardians are rumored to have authorized Austin Hedges and they have actually traded their once backup catcher Christian Bethancourt to the Miami MarlinsAustin Hedges to Guardians. $4M. -- Jon Heyman December 10, 2023The today traded C Christian Bethancourt to the Miami Marlins for cash considerations. 40-player roster is now at 39. Nothing else moves loved one to the 40-man will certainly be validated today. -- GuardsInsider December 10, 2023If you consider Cleaner's 2024 estimates, Hedges and Bethancourt were predicted for regarding a win each (0. 8 fWAR) with most of Hedges worth coming defensively and many of Bethancourt's coming offensively (about his setting). There is most definitely more offending benefit from Bethancourt, however Hedges is 90th percentile in blocks above ordinary and 98th in framing above average. In 5,244. 1 innings, Austin Hedges has 14 job rCERA, and Bethancourt has 4 in 2,143. 2 innings, so, if you would certainly provide Bethancourt the exact same rate of rCERA in the very same number of innings, he would certainly still route Hedges by around 5 runs. To see one example of the Hedgey-effect, I would certainly indicate Emmanuel Clase's performance under Hedges. With Hedges as the main catcher, Clase had a 2. 04 FIP and a 9. 5/ 1. 6 K/BB/9. With the loss of Hedges and the development of the pitching clock, Clase fell back to 2. 91 FIP and a 7. 5/ 2 K/BB/9. You can review Travis Sawchik's outstanding piece on Hedges and the Pitch Com to see how Hedges affected Clase especially with this device. Can I declare Hedges; absence as the key factor for Clase's regression? No, I can not. Can I propose that Hedges can assist Clase discover his supremacy as he adapts to a pitch clock world in a 2nd period? I absolutely can. Most notably, I suspect for the Guardians, Hedges has 81. 6 Framework Runs for his career.. Bethancourt has -11. 7. For the previous years, Cleveland has actually been amongst the league leaders in valuing excellent , so it was a surprise to me to see them pickup Bethancourt. It appears clear that they saw some value there and got him as a secure if other better choices for the framework and protection they value in the role didn't materialize. And, then, Hedges materialized. It's impossible also to not take into account the existence of abstract value to Hedges. One of one of the most modest gamers in baseball, Hedges gladly took a backseat function on the Rangers and Pirates, when asked, and sought to mentor younger colleagues. It's hard to visualize a far better gamer to take Bo Naylor (and David Fry?) under his wing and provide new manager Stephen Vogt an additional veteran to assist keep the clubhouse vibes immaculate. just individuals being dudes With Bethancourt traded for cash considerations (up to $100K), I question that the Hedges' bargain adds even more than around $1. 6-1. 7 million to the payroll, so I assume the money factors to consider aren't as well considerable. Nevertheless, I hear the questions of people asking how a penny-pinching team like the Guardians can afford $4 million for a backup catcher and I believe those questions are reasonable. My responses would certainly be two-fold:1. The value immensely Hedges' collaborate with pitchers and management in the clubhouse. 2. I believe this move is a precursor of things to come. Free representative finalizings? No. Hit profession for Randy Arozarena? No. However, I think that acquiring Austin Hedges isn't simply a Rockies' ambiance action as it seemed at first. It means that the group is anticipating to have a roster in which the kind of abilities that Hedges offer imply something and they will certainly be making use of sources (primarily trading players of some worth, yet additionally marginal economic resources) to help shore up this collection of players. I can be very, really incorrect concerning my last assumption. Perhaps Hedges is authorized just to make a segment of Guardians fans (prominent on Twitter) that love him satisfied. Maybe it's to try to flood the roster with feelings individuals in hopes of recording a market inadequacy. Possibly the Guardians much like catchers as well much. For me, the Occam's Razor response is that the Guardians' value professional leadership and experience getting the finest out of young pitchers sufficient to where they see a little economic investment right here as beneficial due to the fact that they anticipate to contend for an AL Central title and a playoff run. So, I expect to see a trade or 2 of affordable importance in the month to come. Time to see if I'm appropriate or dreadfully wrong in the days in advance, however initially let's enjoy this video to keep in mind just exactly how much of an artist Hedges is as a framer: Austin Hedges leads all catchers in mounting runs this season highlights exactly how the most recent Texas Ranger has made a substantial impact defensively in 2023. #MLBTonight|#StraightUpTX I will not publish any kind of video clips of Hedges striking right now because I really feel like most of us remember that all TOO stronglyhttps://www.marlinsshorts.com/Jesus_Luzardo_Shorts. At least, this move implies we should see an excellent 400 or even more 's from Bo Naylor that will no much longer be instantly platooned against LHP. It's time to expect the most effective on December 10th as we continue to browse the unanticipated spin and turns of this Guardians' offseason.