Andres Gimenez traded to Blue Jays? Guardians acquire Hartle, Ortiz, Kennedy from Pirates
The Guardians made an interesting splash at Major League Baseball's winter meetings. And then they immediately made another a few hours later.
Cleveland first sent Gold Glove second baseman Andres Gimenez and reliever Nick Sandlin to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for first baseman/second baseman Spencer Horwitz and outfield prospect Nick Mitchell, which was first reported by ESPN.
And then roughly four hours later, the Horwitz era in Cleveland came to an end, as he was in turn dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for left-handed pitching prospects Josh Hartle and Michael Kennedy and right-handed pitcher Luis Ortiz. The return package for Horwitz was first reported by MLB.com.
The Guardians have confirmed both trades.
Andres Gimenez trade details; Guardians-Blue Jays agree on deal involving Spencer Horwitz
The first element of the Guardians' two deals Tuesday night is that Gimenez is gone.
Gimenez was the key piece from the New York Mets in the Francisco Lindor trade. He's won Gold Gloves for his work at second base three consecutive years, and in 2022 he was an All-Star who finished sixth in MVP voting. His defense has remained at an elite level — he's on a short list of the best defensive players in the game today, if not at the top of it — but his offensive numbers had declined each year, falling from a height in 2022 with an .837 OPS to .712 in 2023 and then .638 last season.
The trade could signal a vote of confidence in recent No. 1 overall draft selection Travis Bazzana and shortstop Brayan Rocchio.
Bazzana was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft as a polished collegiate hitter, and he was a candidate to make a quick rise through the minor league ranks. Bazzana hit just .235 with a .765 OPS with Lake County last season, so this doesn't necessarily mean anything immediate with his promotion schedule, but it does clear a path long term.
Rocchio had a slow offensive season in his rookie 2024 season until the postseason, when he took off by hitting .333 and posting a .906 OPS in the Guardians' 10 playoff games. This move solidifies his place as the team's starting shortstop to an even greater degree because Gimenez was always a candidate to shift over to the left side of the diamond if needed.
Josh Naylor remains a possible trade candidate as well. The Guardians recently signed former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber to a deal for 2025 and potentially 2026.
Andres Gimenez contract
Gimenez's long-term deal might have also been a major factor in these moves. He was still under the seven-year, $106.5 million extension he signed in March 2023. That deal runs through the 2029 season and includes a club option for 2030. It's also a backloaded deal.
Gimenez had a base salary of $5 million in 2024. He was set to make a base salary of $10 million in 2025, $15 million in 2026 and then $23 million in both 2027, 2028 and 2029. He only just turned 26, so much of that contract will run through his prime playing years, but it was a hefty commitment as the Guardians saw his offensive production slow, albeit with some of that balanced out by his elite defense.
The Guardians now have some pressing questions when it comes to second base, though they should have additional long-term financial flexibility with Gimenez's deal off the books.
Spencer Horwitz acquired by Guardians, then traded to Pittsburgh Pirates in same night
Horwitz hit .265 with a .357 on-base percentage, 12 home runs, 19 doubles and 40 RBIs in 97 games in the majors. He also has a career .413 on-base percentage and .884 OPS in the minor leagues.
But none of that matters in terms of the Guardians' outlook now. If you ordered a custom Horwitz jersey, hopefully you can cancel the order within a 24-hour window.
He'll now join the Pirates lineup after his extremely brief stint as a Cleveland Guardian. The Horwitz era in Cleveland will always be remembered.
Guardians acquire Josh Hartle, Luis Ortiz, Michael Kennedy from Pittsburgh Pirates in trade
So, after all that, and with Gimenez heading for the Canadian border, what are the Guardians bringing into the fold from Pittsburgh?
Hartle and Kennedy join the Guardians' ranks as pitching prospects, with both likely several years away from hitting the major leagues.
Hartle, the No. 17-ranked prospect in the Pirates system according to MLB Pipeline, is 21 years old and was selected in the third round of last year's draft out of Wake Forest.
Hartle, known for an easy, smooth delivery, was a first-round prospect out of high school but chose to go to Wake Forest. He has a four-pitch mix and features a 90-94 mph fastball with some sinking action, a plus slider, an upper-80s cutter and a changeup.
Kennedy, the No. 15-ranked prospect in the Pirates system, only turned 20 years old a few weeks ago. He was a fourth-round pick out of high school in the 2022 MLB Draft, though signing him — he would have headed to LSU — took a $1 million signing bonus, which was well above that selection's slot value.
Kennedy has a three-pitch mix at present, including a low 90s fastball that plays up due to some deception with his delivery, a slider that acts as his out pitch and a changeup.
Both have been starting pitchers. And considering the Guardians' immense success with developing pitchers, and that they targeted these two for a reason, they become intriguing prospects in the team's farm system.
Luis Ortiz could make 2025 Guardians Opening Day starting rotation
Ortiz quickly becomes a strong candidate to earn a spot in the starting rotation this spring.
Now 25, Ortiz is coming off of a career-best year in 2024 with the Pirates, when he posted a 3.32 ERA with 107 strikeouts in 135⅔ innings. He has a 3.93 ERA in three major league seasons and is under club control through 2029.
Bieber will start the season on the injured list. After Tanner Bibee, the Guardians have plenty of questions as to who joins him in the Opening Day starting rotation.
Ortiz is likely a leading candidate along with Gavin Williams and Ben Lively. Triston McKenzie, Logan Allen, Joey Cantillo and Doug Nikhazy are also in the mix.