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Indians Make Four Roster Moves

By Mark Polishuk | June 24, 2021 at 3:37pm CDT

The Indians announced a quartet of roster moves today, including the news that right-hander Aaron Civale has been placed on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to June 22) with a sprained middle finger on his throwing hand.  Also, catcher Ryan Lavarnway has been designated for assignment.  The two open roster spots will be taken by catcher Austin Hedges and right-hander Justin Garza — Hedges has been activated off the concussion-related injury list, while Garza’s contract was selected from Triple-A.

Civale is expected to be out of action for 4-to-5 weeks, in the latest blow to Cleveland’s injury-plagued rotation.  With Shane Bieber, Zach Plesac, and now Civale on the IL, the Tribe are missing their top three starters, leaving a makeshift starting five of very inexperienced pitchers tasked with keeping the team afloat in the AL Central race.

With several pitchers moving from the bullpen to fill these holes in the rotation, Garza gets the opportunity to make his MLB debut.  An eighth-round pick for the Tribe in the 2015 draft, Garza isn’t ranked by Baseball America or MLB Pipeline as a top-30 prospect in Cleveland’s farm system, but the righty has an 0.42 ERA over 21 1/3 combined innings at Double-A and Triple-A this season.  This is Garza’s first season working exclusively as a reliever, and the result is an uptick in his strikeout rate (to an impressive 35.36%), though also a 15% walk rate.

Lavarnway signed a minor league deal with the Indians this past offseason, and his contract was selected from Triple-A last week when Hedges was placed on the concussion-IL.  Lavarnway played in four games, officially putting him in the books as appearing (if sparingly) in ten different Major League seasons.  The journeyman backstop has appeared in just 160 games total over those 10 seasons, suiting up for eight different teams at the big league level.

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Cleveland Guardians Transactions Aaron Civale Austin Hedges Justin Garza Ryan Lavarnway

Minor MLB Transactions: 6/24/21
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View Comments (39)

Comments

  1. Monkey’s Uncle

    2 years ago

    Another year, another MLB cameo for Lavarnway.

    5
    Reply
    • Sideline Redwine

      2 years ago

      He just keeps keeping on! I have to give him credit, there’s a reason he is still kicking around!

      1
      Reply
      • Monkey’s Uncle

        2 years ago

        I agree completely.

        Reply
      • louwhitakerisahofer

        2 years ago

        Could be his estimated career earnings of $2.9M too.

        Reply
  2. sufferforsnakes

    2 years ago

    Finally get to see Garza in the majors. Considering who they got as starters for the next three games, almost guaranteed he makes his debut.

    Reply
    • DarkSide830

      2 years ago

      sadly Shao isnt available for a reunion.

      Reply
  3. jim stem

    2 years ago

    Ironically, one of my fantasy baseball leagues featured one team from each league as your dynasty. Yup, I have the Cleveland Mets. In case you were wondering, my team avatar is a photoshopped image…Mr. Wahoo. (Mr. Mets’ head on the old Indians mascot’s body.). Go ahead, blame me for all the injuries.

    Reply
  4. Bill nd

    2 years ago

    Hopefully we can keep Lavarnaway at Columbus and use Hedges as a chip for a starter. Trade for Gray from Colorado using one of our numerous highly rated shortstops in the minors to replace Story when he leaves.

    Reply
    • Polish Hammer

      2 years ago

      Agreed, if baffles me how they kept Hodges around at that price when they pinch pennies so bad. They just showed they can tread water without Perez and even without him, so I’d like to see them deal him away.

      1
      Reply
      • sufferforsnakes

        2 years ago

        You don’t think Hedges had anything to do with them treading water? They kept him because he has quickly adapted to the pitching staff, calls a good game, and can throw out would be base stealers.

        5
        Reply
        • Polish Hammer

          2 years ago

          Rene Rivera brought as much or more in his brief time with the team. I’d be ok with them dumping his salary and riding Rivera as the backup. When you have such a paltry payroll you shouldn’t be paying a backup catcher with zero bat what they’re paying him.

          1
          Reply
        • Bill nd

          2 years ago

          He’s a superior defensive catcher and framer, with our pitching problems he’s valuable just for that. If you waive him your on the hook for his salary.

          2
          Reply
        • sufferforsnakes

          2 years ago

          Are you signing his paychecks? With a payroll as low as theirs, what’s it really matter?

          1
          Reply
        • Polish Hammer

          2 years ago

          At $3.28 mil he’s 5th on the team, that’s money that could be spread around to a starter and not a backup catcher who is supposed to play every 6th day.

          1
          Reply
        • Bill nd

          2 years ago

          Unless you can trade him you’re going to pay him.

          Reply
    • Hudson6

      2 years ago

      Hedges has zero trade value. I mean if you are lucky you could get a starter in need of TJ surgery in return for Austin Hedges, Josh Naylor, Cal Quantrill, Gabriel Arias, Joey Cantillo AND Owen Miller. But you think you can get a quality starter for Hedges OR Arias? Good luck with that.

      1
      Reply
      • Polish Hammer

        2 years ago

        Never said they could get a quality anything for him, just that I wish they’d unload his salary. But there’s those that believe he has such great value it warrants paying a no-bat backup catcher.

        Reply
        • Hudson6

          2 years ago

          I was responding to Bill nd.

          1
          Reply
        • Polish Hammer

          2 years ago

          Got it!

          1
          Reply
      • Bill nd

        2 years ago

        Gray is a rental from Colorado, they have zilch at catcher, Hedges and one of our minor league shortstops, it’s also a salary dump for Colorado

        Reply
        • Hudson6

          2 years ago

          Every competitive team will be looking for starting pitching at the deadline this year. Gray is one of the top names available. He will be more expensive than a backup catcher who can’t hit to save his life and some random SS prospect outside of the top 100.

          Reply
    • thecoffinnail

      2 years ago

      The Rockies will move Rogers over to SS if/when Story leaves. Montero should be ready to take over 3rd next year and Schunk will be right behind him. The Rockies have just about the perfect setup in their prospect pipeline. With a solid prospect ready to take over when a veterans leaves. They need pitching more than anything. As always their minor league pitching has a lot of holes.

      Reply
      • Bill nd

        2 years ago

        Colorado had already stated Rogers is their 2B or 3B for the future.

        Reply
  5. dgk71

    2 years ago

    Can we ask CC to pitch a few games.

    Reply
    • Diatribefan

      2 years ago

      Big Sexy maybe?

      Reply
  6. Ham Fighter

    2 years ago

    Lavarnaway should name his future kid Designated for assignment in tribute to his career

    1
    Reply
  7. Diatribefan

    2 years ago

    I think I would have kept Lavarnway and let Chang go

    1
    Reply
    • sufferforsnakes

      2 years ago

      Which makes me glad you’re not the GM.

      4
      Reply
    • thecoffinnail

      2 years ago

      Doubtful Lavarnway goes anywhere. He will clear waivers and get sent back to Columbus.

      Reply
      • Col_chestbridge

        2 years ago

        Lavarnaway has been DFA’d before, so he will have the option of electing free agency. I’m not 100% positive if he keeps his money if he elects free agency, I know thats generally a no for pre-arb players and definitely a yes for players with 5+ years of service. He’s at 3+ years, so he might opt in just to keep getting a paycheck.

        Reply
        • Bill nd

          2 years ago

          He will accept Columbus to keep the cash. He’s a prime example why you don’t fall in love with prospects. He was one of Boston’s top prospects 10 years age and now 8 orginzations later he’s a AAAA player.

          1
          Reply
    • Bill nd

      2 years ago

      Colorado had already stated Rogers is their 2B or 3B for the future.

      Reply
    • Bill nd

      2 years ago

      Can’t carry three catchers in AL.

      Reply
  8. leftykoufax

    2 years ago

    Another day, another jersey!

    Reply
    • sufferforsnakes

      2 years ago

      …..another yellow bat.

      Reply
  9. Bill nd

    2 years ago

    Gray is a rental from Colorado, they have zilch at catcher, Hedges and one of our minor league shortstops, it’s also a salary dump for Colorado

    Reply
  10. dixoncayne

    2 years ago

    Indians keep losing pitchers and winning games.

    Reply
  11. mattynokes

    2 years ago

    With the praise Hedges has received for handling the pitching staff, I think trading him would be a mistake. I would think they’ll look to trade some of those young guys in AAA that they’ve seemingly fallen out of love with or just don’t have a direct path back to the majors (Logan Allen, Mercado, Daniel Johnson) or trading from all of their middle infield depth in the minors.

    1
    Reply
  12. Bill nd

    2 years ago

    I agree the players you mentioned could be lost this winter with a jam packed 40 man roster, trade them now for a starter.

    Reply

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