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Sandy Leon Opts Out Of Minor League Deal With Guardians

By Anthony Franco | March 31, 2022 at 4:21pm CDT

Veteran catcher Sandy León has triggered an opt-out clause in his minor-league deal with the Guardians after being informed he would not make the Opening Day roster, tweets Zack Meisel of the Athletic. He’ll return to the open market.

It’s not uncommon to see non-roster veteran players either trigger opt-outs or request their release late in spring camp after being informed they won’t make the big league club. Most veterans of León’s ilk would prefer to scour the market to see if a more immediate big league opportunity awaits rather than head to Triple-A.

That said, León’s opt-out comes as a bit of a surprise — not that he didn’t accept a Triple-A assignment, but that he didn’t break camp with the major league team. The 33-year-old had seemed the favorite for the #2 catching job behind Austin Hedges to start the year. Luke Maile is expected to open the season on the injured list due to a strained left hamstring. That leaves 23-year-old Bryan Lavastida as the only other healthy backstop on the 40-man roster.

The Guardians could roll with Lavastida as Hedges’ backup, but he has just 36 games of experience above A-ball in his professional career. Cleveland’s #16 prospect according to Baseball America, Lavastida is a fairly well-regarded young player, but he’d probably stand to benefit from a few more reps against high minors pitching. León’s release leaves just organizational veteran Mike Rivera and 22-year-old prospect Bo Naylor — both of whom are coming off rough minor league seasons — as non-roster invitees in MLB camp. The Guardians could still look to acquire another veteran backstop via waivers or minor trade in the next week, but it seems as though Lavastida is now the favorite to break camp behind Hedges.

León, meanwhile, heads back to free agency in search of a new landing spot. He’s offered very little at the plate in recent seasons, but he’s earned a big league look in ten straight years based on his acumen behind the dish. León is coming off a .183/.237/.267 showing in 220 plate appearances with the Marlins.

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Cleveland Guardians Transactions Bryan Lavastida Sandy Leon

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View Comments (68)
Post a Comment

68 Comments

  1. letsgomets 2

    3 years ago

    Well, if this isn’t a perfect fit to make a trade with the Blue Jays….

    2
    Reply
    • Samuel

      3 years ago

      It isn’t.

      The only C the Jays have that Cleveland would be interested in is Jansen, and he’s not available.

      Cleveland is built around their pitching staff. They need a C that can call a game and run a staff – along with blocking balls. They have no need for an offensive C.

      8
      Reply
      • Down with OBP

        3 years ago

        That is who León is. You are basically describing León.

        9
        Reply
        • Samuel

          3 years ago

          Of course.

          Why do you think they signed him?

          He opted out. See posts below about the 40 man impact.

          Won’t be surprised to see Leon come back later in the year and go to AAA.

          1
          Reply
        • Curly Was The Smart Stooge

          3 years ago

          Bill Withers once sang it all, Leon me, when you’re not strong, and i’ll be your friend, i’ll help you carry on….
          We’re here for you Leon

          3
          Reply
      • roiste

        3 years ago

        Are you forgetting about Reese McGuire? He’s exactly what you describe – all glove, no bat. I could easily see Toronto trying to leverage him for some of Cleveland’s smaller pitching assets

        1
        Reply
    • 48-team MLB

      3 years ago

      @Samuel

      Is it really that difficult to spell out “catcher”?

      4
      Reply
      • rememberthecoop

        3 years ago

        He replies “Y”

        5
        Reply
        • bsra13

          3 years ago

          This comment made me chuckle

          2
          Reply
    • Rsox

      3 years ago

      It isn’t. The Guardians are not trading JRam, at least not before the season starts. Unless the Jays are interested in some minor league Infielders or Relievers there’s no match

      1
      Reply
      • Samuel

        3 years ago

        @Rsox;

        The Jays not only got their 3B, they extended him.

        Reply
        • Rsox

          3 years ago

          True. I think most of the JRam interest came before the trade for Chapman

          Reply
        • jpritch002

          3 years ago

          Technically they didn’t they just gave him a contract for the two years he was already under team control… idk why networks labeled it an extension

          2
          Reply
    • dadofdonnydownvote

      3 years ago

      Sandy Leon. New starting Yankees catcher with Higgy as backup.

      Reply
  2. sufferforsnakes

    3 years ago

    I’m betting Rivera.

    1
    Reply
    • Burgeezy

      3 years ago

      I was a fan of his last season and hoped he would be retained or return. It seemed like her really put in the work to learn the pitchers and help the team out. What do I know tho?

      1
      Reply
      • layventsky

        3 years ago

        That was Rene Rivera. The Rivera mentioned in the article is minor league veteran Mike Rivera, who has not appeared in the majors with Cleveland. It would be nice to have Rene back, though.

        1
        Reply
        • SystemQB

          3 years ago

          Hell. Or even Scooter Tucker.

          Reply
  3. Tacoshells

    3 years ago

    Today is the day for former red socks to opt out of contracts I guess being a WS champion doesn’t mean much to other teams

    1
    Reply
    • Fever Pitch Guy

      3 years ago

      I’ll always be grateful for Sandy rescuing the Sox from Vazquez in the 2018 postseason.

      8
      Reply
      • Tacoshells

        3 years ago

        Ty

        1
        Reply
  4. JeffreyChungus

    3 years ago

    Fun fact: Sandy Leon is the only player to be elected to the hall of fame before his retirement

    5
    Reply
    • Roll

      3 years ago

      I thought that was lastings milledge.

      2
      Reply
  5. Midnight Agent

    3 years ago

    I bet León’s contract if selected was for $1,000,000. Far too rich for Cleveland’s ownership. Reese McGuire, come on down!

    4
    Reply
  6. Captain Dunsel

    3 years ago

    He knows what he is doing as a professional ballplayer. Leon the Professional.

    2
    Reply
  7. sadosfan

    3 years ago

    Dude isn’t a starter but a solid number 2 catcher. If you don’t want to spend much but need a backup to your starter or need to give him a rest then this guy will fill the need.

    4
    Reply
    • rememberthecoop

      3 years ago

      I didn’t know his agent posted here.

      3
      Reply
  8. angt222

    3 years ago

    Probably looking for a major league opportunity, but he’d be great depth for the Mets.

    3
    Reply
    • ctyank7

      3 years ago

      Could be a viable backup for the Yankees. Higashioka, off a strong pre/season, will be the starter. But the musclebound Rortvedt is at least a month away from that lingering oblique injury.

      1
      Reply
  9. Polish Hammer

    3 years ago

    San Diego has too many catchers,a trade for Caratini would help.

    1
    Reply
    • Rsox

      3 years ago

      That only works if Darvish is coming too

      Reply
  10. In nurse follars

    3 years ago

    40 man roster decisions. To bring Leon means to waive someone off the 40 and Leon is not worth the loss. Hedges will be busy until maille is ready.

    8
    Reply
    • Michael Chaney

      3 years ago

      I came here to say exactly this. Maile will be gone for a pretty short time, and it’s not worth having to get rid of someone on the 40-man roster for a few weeks of a backup catcher. Hedges will play nearly every day anyway.

      Leon is a better option in the immediate future, but he’s not so much better or important enough to the roster to risk losing one of their young guys. Lavastida is a solid prospect and this will give him a little more time to get some major league coaching anyway.

      3
      Reply
      • In nurse follars

        3 years ago

        Only guardians fans know that fellow fan of the feather (duster used to dust the statues ).

        Reply
  11. 48-team MLB

    3 years ago

    *SPIDERS

    Reply
  12. clrrogers

    3 years ago

    Blue Jays trade Alejandro Kirk, Cavan Biggio, Nate Pearson, Jordan Groshans, and Otto Lopez to the Guardians for Jose Ramirez and Emmanuel Clase. I’m speaking (typing) it into existence. Make it happen Atkins.

    What do you guys think? Too much, too little, or trade accepted?

    Reply
    • Samuel

      3 years ago

      Wow!…..

      A Blue Jays fan that thinks like a Yankee fan!

      3
      Reply
    • GeronimoSon

      3 years ago

      Guardians with a HARD PASS on that deal..

      4
      Reply
    • In nurse follars

      3 years ago

      Why would they trade the best third baseman in baseball and a top five closer for that?

      4
      Reply
      • clrrogers

        3 years ago

        Because I’m a Blue Jays fan and I want them to.

        5
        Reply
        • Burgeezy

          3 years ago

          At least he’s honest if not delusional

          7
          Reply
    • mookiessnarl

      3 years ago

      Subbing Manoah for Groshans and Pearson gets the conversation started. Alternatively, if the Guardians wanted talent that hadn’t reached the majors yet Moreno and Martinez get the conversation started. But what would actually have to get the conversation started is a desire by the Guardians to trade those two players. Which they would not have. Also keep in mind if by some miracle they decided to trade those two players, they would have a bidding war from pretty much every other team in the league.

      Reply
    • Wisdom shared

      3 years ago

      Just a question, but if the Jays traded all those players for Ramirez,, exactly who on the Jays between Vlad and Bo will the team be trading to accommodate a 30M salary to Ramirez. The Jays can’t keep acquiring players that will demand huge numbers and expect to continue without a farm system to replace the expensive players BEFORE they become a liability.. They aren’t the Dodgers, Red Sox, Mets or Yankees.

      2
      Reply
    • User 3014224641

      3 years ago

      Dream on.

      Reply
    • CKinSTL

      3 years ago

      A backup catcher on a spring invite not making the club is prompting Jose Ramirez trade scenarios?

      The Guardians have no reason to trade Ramirez. Maybe that changes if they are out of it near the deadline.

      1
      Reply
      • Polish Hammer

        3 years ago

        Not to mention, he’s being cut loose because there is no room on the 40man roster. When you trade a superstar because you can’t afford to extend him you will without a doubt bring back numerous pieces that will likely require a spot on the same 40man roster.

        1
        Reply
    • hockeyjohn

      3 years ago

      That trade offer would not get Ramirez, let alone Clase too.

      1
      Reply
  13. cadagan

    3 years ago

    I despise unrealistic things said about trades. Then prefaced with. I can dream can’t I.
    Mostly because it usually stops conversation cold or changes the subject.

    Reply
  14. Amanda

    3 years ago

    i have never, ever seen a catcher look so lost at the plate as i did when he was in boston, like its 1 thing to be a bad hitter, but he was so unable to make contact it was almost like he was afraid to, like he knew he couldnt hit so he struck out to be out of his misery. Good guy and all, but retire, you cant play baseball.

    Reply
  15. miltpappas

    3 years ago

    Leon isn’t done by a long shot. He can still help a lot of teams. And when his days are finally over, he’ll make a pretty good coach.

    2
    Reply
  16. pirateking24

    3 years ago

    He’s not cut out to be a Guardian.

    Reply
  17. LordD99

    3 years ago

    Leon likelywould cost more than Lavastida if he was added to the MLB roster. It’s often as simple as that for Cleveland.

    1
    Reply
    • lucas0622

      3 years ago

      It’s worth noting that Lavastida is also better than Leon anyways

      2
      Reply
    • hockeyjohn

      3 years ago

      Cleveland added 11 prospects to their 40 man roster so their roster situation is extreme. Luke Maile should be back shortly. They don’t want to lose a player just for a week or two of a back up catcher.. Money is not the issue.

      4
      Reply
  18. CKinSTL

    3 years ago

    I wasn’t expecting Lavastida to be the backup to start the year. Not only does he only have a few games above A-ball, as mentioned.. but he only has only caught 123 games total as a professional.

    Reply
  19. frozeninneohio

    3 years ago

    I’m confused. Leon offers very little at the plate so why didn’t he make the major league roster? He would have fit in perfectly with half of their starters.

    1
    Reply
    • Polish Hammer

      3 years ago

      The roster is loaded with young affordable talent because of fans like you. Keep up the good work and then wonder why they can’t afford talent with a mostly empty stadium.

      1
      Reply
  20. DonOsbourne

    3 years ago

    I’m going to go ahead and start the rumor that Cleveland has been laying low all offseason in order to sneak up on the competition. So now with a week to go before Opening Day, they are unleashing an unprecedented plan of attack to improve their roster.

    1) Acquire Willson Contreras from the Cubs.

    2) Host a bake sale outside the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame with proceeds going to Contreras.

    3) Sign Conforto for $23.5 million per on a one year deal with $23 million deferred.

    4) Require every team employee to sell plasma at local blood bank with the proceeds going into an escrow account to pay Conforto’s deferred salary.

    5) Trade for Eric Hosmer and Will Meyers.

    6) Find a way to charge MLBTR a service fee just for putting an end to all the endless Hosmer for ___________ trade speculation. The proceeds of course would go to paying Hosmer and Meyers.

    5
    Reply
    • CKinSTL

      3 years ago

      They aren’t ready to emerge from their rebuild yet. They need to figure out about some of their young position players first.. I am, however, intrigued by this bale sale.

      Reply
  21. MarlinsFanBase

    3 years ago

    Wishing the best for Leon. Good team guy. I enjoyed how he gave us Marlins more confidence in his relief appearances than most of our actual relievers – like Anthony Bass.

    Maybe we can upgrade our bullpen by trading Bass for Leon, Think the Guardians would go for that?

    1
    Reply
  22. goob

    3 years ago

    Even by the rock-bottom standards of backup catchers, a .504 OPS is just astonishingly bad. And 220 PA’s is no SSS either.

    1
    Reply
  23. Mickey777

    3 years ago

    If he ends up being DFAed I could see the Yankees signing him.

    Reply
    • Mickey777

      3 years ago

      Oops! Looks like he is available right away. He is better than Rob Brantley, who does not have a major league throwing arm.

      2
      Reply
  24. SupremeZeus

    3 years ago

    White Sox probably will be sniffing around this and any other discarded backup catcher trash in the coming days. All in.

    1
    Reply
    • pullhitter445

      3 years ago

      This is a need the white Sox have yet to address this offseason. Get it done.

      Reply
  25. Our Tribe

    3 years ago

    Lavastida backup until Maille is healthy

    1
    Reply
  26. loumickeyjeter

    3 years ago

    Cash

    Reply
  27. Indianfan

    3 years ago

    Well there goes another season.

    Reply

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