Guardians ink Means to 1-year deal with 2026 club option

The Cleveland Guardians signed former All-Star left-hander John Means to a one-year contract that includes a club option for 2026, they announced.

Means' deal is worth $1 million in guaranteed money, a source told ESPN's Kiley McDaniel. The option could reportedly be worth up to $7.5 million and doesn't come with a buyout.

Means has made just 10 starts since 2021 due to persistent elbow issues. He's undergone Tommy John surgery twice over the last three seasons, first in May 2022 and again this past June. He's currently continuing his rehab and is expected to return to the majors in August, according to McDaniel.

A healthy Means could boost Cleveland's rotation down the stretch. The Guardians have added several arms to an already solid pitching staff this winter, including right-hander Luis L. Ortiz and swingman Jakob Junis.

Means, 31, had spent his entire seven-year career with the Baltimore Orioles. He owns a lifetime 23-26 record with a 3.68 ERA, 4.56 FIP, and 1.05 WHIP, along with a 7.5 K/9 rate and 1.8 BB/9 rate over 401 big-league innings.

The Kansas native's best season came in 2019 when he was an All-Star and the AL Rookie of the Year runner-up. He threw a no-hitter in 2021 while facing the minimum 27 batters but fell short of a perfect game because one baserunner reached on a dropped third strike.