Guardians Decline John Means’ $6M Option, He Becomes Free Agent

The Cleveland Guardians just made a call on their pitching staff, declining a $6 million club option on veteran lefty John Means. Now, Means heads into free agency, and his future really depends on how he bounces back from two Tommy John surgeries.

Means has spent most of the last two years fighting off injuries. Since mid-2022, he’s barely pitched, and teams have to wonder if his past success can outweigh all the health questions.

At 32, John Means has been through the wringer with injuries. His first Tommy John surgery happened in April 2022, and then he needed another one in June 2024—something you don’t see often for a pitcher.

He’s only appeared in eight major league games over the last two and a half seasons. That’s a tough break for anyone trying to carve out a career on the mound.

Means tried to get back in shape with seven minor league rehab starts in August and September. The Guardians picked him up in February 2024, hoping he’d help the rotation by midyear.

But with his recovery dragging on, he barely made a dent at the big league level. Timing just didn’t line up.

When Means is healthy, though, he’s got the numbers to back up his reputation. Over seven seasons—all with the Orioles until this year—he’s put together:

• A 23–26 win-loss record
• A career ERA of 3.68
• More than 120 games pitched and even snagged an All-Star nod in 2019

The Guardians signed Means for $1 million in 2024. That price tag recognized both his upside and the obvious risks tied to his health.

Still, the team decided the $6 million option for 2025 just didn’t make sense after all those injuries. It’s a tough business, isn’t it?

Letting Means go opens up some budget space for Cleveland. They can now look at other, maybe safer, pitching options.

The Guardians’ move is pretty familiar in MLB—do you bet on a player coming off major surgery, or play it safe? Especially with a second Tommy John, the outcome’s a real coin flip.

Means is hitting free agency, and some club out there might roll the dice. He’s a lefty with command, and if his elbow holds up, he could be a sneaky-good pickup.

• Rebuilding teams might want his veteran presence
• Contenders could stash him for rotation depth late in 2025
• Any deal will probably be loaded with incentives, just in case

Even after two surgeries, Means hasn’t given up. Those rehab outings show he’s still fighting to get back on a big-league mound.

Final Thoughts

John Means’ situation really shows just how thin the line is in pro baseball. For the Guardians, moving on comes down to roster flexibility and watching the budget.

For Means, free agency means he gets a shot to prove he’s bounced back. He wants to show he can be the guy who anchored the Orioles’ rotation not that long ago.

As the offseason rolls on, you’ll probably see Means’ name pop up on quite a few teams’ lists. It’s funny how, in baseball, even arms that have taken a beating still spark hope.

Will some front office take a chance on him? That’s the question. Maybe someone’s willing to bet the veteran lefty can find his old magic and get back on the mound in style.

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