The Guardians announced that they have re-signed catcher Austin Hedges to a one-year deal. The Boras Corporation client gets the same $4MM salary that he had last year.
Hedges, 32, has carved out a decade-long career in a unique way as he’s one of the worst performers at the plate but one of the best behind it. In 2,359 career plate appearances, Hedges has hit .186/.243/.315. That production translates to a wRC+ of 50, meaning he’s been 50% worse than league average as a hitter in his career.
But he has also produced 91 Defensive Runs Saved over the past decade, the top mark of any backstop in the league for that time frame. Roberto Pérez and Buster Posey are the next two names on that list, though Posey retired years ago and Pérez hasn’t contributed in a while due to injuries. No other catcher has even 50 DRS in that time. For that same frame, Hedges is second to only Yasmani Grandal in terms of the FanGraphs framing metric. Outlets like Statcast and Baseball Prospectus also give him glowing grades for his glovework.
Teams have generally tolerated the poor offense in order to get at that strong work behind the plate. He has maybe been pushing the limits of their patience, as his offense has declined even relative to his own low standards recently. He hit .184/.234/.227 last year for a wRC+ of 23 and then .152/.203/.220 for a wRC+ of 20 this year. The latter line was with the Guardians after they signed him to a one-year, $4MM deal. Since they are bringing him back, it seems they have no buyer’s remorse and are happy to sign up for another year of poor hitting but strong work otherwise.
Hedges got essentially half as much playing time as Bo Naylor in 2024, getting 146 plate appearances over 66 games while Naylor got 389 trips to the plate in 123 games. Presumably, a similar timeshare will be the plan for 2025. Naylor also had strong defensive grades this year, although with a better performance with the bat.
The Guardians put together a successful campaign with this duo behind the plate this year, winning the American League Central and progressing as far as the American League Championship Series. The rotation was a bit of a struggle but much of the club’s success was due to having the best bullpen in the league.
Cleveland relievers had a 2.57 ERA in 2024, easily the best in the majors with only four clubs within a run of that. The Brewers were second at 3.11, then Atlanta at 3.32, the Dodgers at 3.53 and Tigers at 3.55. The pitchers are obviously a big part of that but having capable receivers undoubtedly helps.
Jeff Passan of ESPN first reported the Guardians and Hedges had agreed to a one-year deal. ESPN’s Buster Olney reported the $4MM salary.
Thought he might end up on the other side of the state.
You would have liked him for the Reds? I mean his defense is great, but his offense is horrible…
Figured Tito might sign him since he was familiar with him. I assume there was a plan after dumping Maile, but knowing their front office, I may be assuming too much.
Tito was familiar with Maile, too wasn’t he? I think Maile was once with the Indians. So maybe Tito asked for Maile to leave, regardless of who else is available.
He was
More like the front office wanting to get out of paying that for a backup catcher.
The glove gets you financial love.
Glove is all he’s got to give!
Glove and his leadership in the clubhouse was unmatched. This is primarily why they are bringing him back.
Before the DH he batted eighth before the pitcher. It was like pitchers batting back to back.
The pitcher really should have batted 8th if we’re being honest.
Agree, Pirates often had him bunt since he is basically a pitcher hitting. Maybe Manfred should allow teams to have 2 DHs LOL
Offensively he’s a pretty good Pitcher…
More specifically he has the hitting skills of a closer.
Martin Maldonado on steroids
Well if that were the case he’d have a better batting average
Holy crap, is that what $5m a year gets you nowadays, sigh…..what utter trash.
This is considered a major signing by the Guardians. Won’t be surprised when they make no other moves
Hugh overpay for a glove – but he’s a know commodity. Heaven knows why you’d want to upgrade and pay less for Kyle H…
I think they will make other moves, this was just an easy one to cross off the list. He is a great on the field coach for their excellent bullpen and you don’t mess with that. If anything, they should look to upgrade on Naylor.
It’s okay to say you really have no clue about baseball no seriously it’s really okay to admit it.
I think that Bob Uecker was a better hitter and he still might be.
Honestly, a great under the radar move. This guy improves clubhouse morale, mentors young catchers and brings the most out of a pitching staff.
He’s a future manager helping this young team grow. And if Fry can’t catch next year, it’s an easy call to make.
I miss him when he was on the Rangers. He was the glue that held the team together.
I think that’s a big reason why Cleveland brought him back in 2024. They thought they could easily replace him after making the playoffs in 2022 and were mistaken
More under the sonar move than radar move
Guards are built around pitching.
Vogt loves him and understands his value to the team.
Might well give them a leg up on resigning Bieber.
This is a SOLID organizational move made by a stable organization. It looks and sounds ridiculous in a number driven game but his value from familiarity with that back end of the bullpen can’t be replicated with the snap of a finger. Moves like these will allow them to continue to compete despite a stingy absentee owner.
tj13;
The owners have always been underfunded, but Cleveland remains a small market. Rumors about the owner that will be taking over is that he’s buying up land around the ballpark that he wants to develop – gambling, entertainment. etc. What all pro sports teams that play a lot of games a year at home are doing to make up for the cable money they’re losing as that goes away.
As for being an “absentee owner” – you got a football owner that sticks his nose into everything since he bought the team. How’s that going? Paul Dolan let’s the baseball people do the baseball. If he didn’t that team would never have been anywhere near as successful as it’s been.
I would like for the man with the money to be invested in the program and less about the return. Other teams manage to have both. I don’t need nor want meddling. But for God’s sake at least recognize the team is worth investing in BECAUSE of the city.
You can’t have him in a playoff lineup
You have to get to the playoffs in the first place. He had much more leadership and cohesiveness in the clubhouse that will allow you a playoff look. He will never see the playoff because they will never use a back up catcher with all so many days that they would have.
As a coach, right?
One year 4 million according to Paul Hoynes
I thought they were finally going to move on from Hedges.
I like this. He’s essentially in charge of the top back end in baseball who will only be used in situations when they’ve got the lead and he can come in and steal minimal ABs.
Showing his stat line from two years ago and calling it “last year” and posting “last year’s” line as this year is a bit confusing. This season hasn’t started. Sorry to be that guy.
Ex catchers turned managers seem to love backup catchers like Hedges. All glove and clubhouse without a stick. The value they bring to team must be greater than the outside fan can understand or see
You figure the number of games that are decided by one pitch, then factor in how much more successful pitchers can be in those scenarios with a catcher whose game calling they trust and who can frame pitches at an elite level.
Seems like it’s worth a few games, maybe even double figures.
Of course, for a complete analysis, you’d need to factor the games you win based on the better catching skills vs. the games you lose because an Austin Hedges fails to perform with the bat in the clutch.
Knocking out the tribes BIG signing early this year to save everyone the anticipation. Very thoughtful of them
Tribe putting the rest of the AL on notice.
Absolute bargain. Same production as Christian Vazquez at half the price.
Measure his production by runs saved. Some starters take their game to another level with a certain receiver. When he is used properly his actual value to the team is positive. He is lucky though. Highly doubt the other 29 teams would have paid him. Kinda funny as the Guards are just about the biggest cheapskates in baseball.
Guardians: so…we’re ready for Spring Training now.
Cleveland made good decision in signing Hedges. Hedges also feels good about his position in Cleveland. This is solid play, especially for $4M. He can’t hit much but does stir the rally often enough to indicate he understands the moment and performs accordingly. Fry is rehabbing from injury so Hedges is solid. ‘Only’ 32, relatively young compared to many Catchers of FA list. Cleveland is really in need of a starting rotation despite common , but unaware, refrain related to rotation.
fry’s injury is a major blow vis a vis the catcher position. the cleveland FO really values pitch framing. evidence for that is their hiring of max marchi ten years ago after he’d spent the previous year doing nothing but compiling pitch framing stats on all minor league catchers. most teams now see the value of pitch framing. that’s why teams still kick the tires on roberto perez and offer him a minor league contract every spring even though his body is being held together with paper clips.
I just lost a lot of respect for Chernoff. There are not many players that I would trash as they collect $4M, but Hedges is one. I don’t care what kind of clubhouse guy he is. I don’t believe (hardly) in catcher’s metrics, but this guy can’t throw, he can’t hit, he can’t run, and he’s immobile as a catcher on his one knee. It’s an overpay, it’s charity, and the AAA guys are blocked. You should have to earn your roster spot and Hedges doesn’t pass the straight face test.
Bring back Kris Benson