12+ hour, 49+ min ago (863+ words) CLEVELAND, Ohio " In a move that left many Cleveland baseball observers confused, the Guardians agreed to a $2 million deal with outfielder Nolan Jones ahead of Friday's non-tender deadline " a decision that directly contradicts their stated developmental philosophy and creates a puzzling outfield logjam heading into 2026. "They give him a $2 million deal for one year. He did not play well last season, to be frank," said Paul Hoynes of cleveland.com on a recent podcast. "It was a struggle for him from the start." The signing is particularly perplexing given the Guardians' crowded outfield situation. With prospects like George Valera and Chase DeLauter seemingly ready for extended major league opportunities, bringing back Jones " who struggled throughout 2025 " seems to run counter to Cleveland's typically prospect-friendly approach. Joe Noga of cleveland.com highlighted this contradiction: "For a front office that's constantly going back…...

12+ hour, 45+ min ago (974+ words) CLEVELAND, Ohio " While Jos" Ram'rez rightfully dominates headlines in Cleveland, there's another figure whose impact on the Guardians might be just as significant, despite operating largely behind the scenes: pitching coach Carl Willis. The Cleveland chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America recognized Willis's contributions by awarding him the Frank Gibbons/Steve Olin Good Guy Award, highlighting not just his accessibility to media, but his profound impact on the organization's renowned pitching development system. "The man speaks in quotes that make it really easy for reporters to write about and digest and learn about the art of pitching," explained Joe Noga, cleveland.com Guardians beat reporter, during a recent podcast. "And that's really one of the reasons why he was such an obvious choice for this award." But Willis's value extends far beyond his media friendliness. Under his guidance,…...