The Guardians have added some extra depth at catcher, signing veteran backstop Sandy Leon to a minor league contract with an invitation to Major League Spring Training, per a club announcement. It’ll be the second stint in Cleveland for Leon, who is represented by the MAS+ Agency.
Leon, 32, spent the 2021 season with the Marlins, appearing in 83 games and batting .183/.237/.267 with four homers and five doubles in 220 plate appearances. That marked the tenth consecutive season in which Leon has logged at least brief Major League action.
While the switch-hitting veteran posted a strong .310/.369/.476 slash back in 2016, that sample of 283 plate appearances now looks like a clear outlier. In five seasons since that time, Leon has batted just .192/.257/.298 through nearly 1100 plate appearances. It’s not a strong offensive profile, but Leon regularly posts strong framing and blocking numbers. His caught-stealing rates have dipped in recent seasons, but last year’s 27% mark was still a bit better than the leaguewide average of 25%.
Roberto Perez and Austin Hedges combined to handle the bulk of catching duties in Cleveland this past season, but Perez’s 2021 club option was declined at season’s end after a second straight year of struggles at the plate. Hedges currently projects as the starter, but there’s a clear opportunity for a veteran — be it Leon or someone else — to come in and win at least a backup job. Prospect Bryan Lavastida was added to the 40-man roster last Friday, but he’s only played seven Triple-A games to this point in his career and likely needs some more development.
lucas0622
Guardians legend
Prospectnvstr
Future trivia question: Who was the first free agent signing in franchise history for the Cleveland Guardians? Sandy Leon
Dogbone
How could the Chisox pass on this guy? As for that, the Cubs too – unless they’re bringing Chirinos back.
Michael Chaney
I have a feeling he’s gonna be Cleveland’s new Michael Martinez
mlbnyyfan
Yankees need to get Contreras now priority number one. Then Yankees can trade Sanchez for a bucket of balls.
Samuel
All Yankees. All day.
What does this have to do with the Guardians, Sandy Leon or their Catchers?
Chipper Jones' illegitimate kid
Guardians Sign Catcher, Yankees Most Affected
stymeedone
Don’t know that you can even get the bucket for Sanchez.
Polish Hammer
Please don’t speak of that MM name again…LOL
layventsky
This. If you say his name too many times, then Terry Francona will remember that he exists.
DarkSide830
oh my gosh their tandem is going to be Hedges and Leon. might as well be an NL lineup.
mgomrjsurf
Because Perez is a Free-Agent.
Samuel
@ DarkSide830;
I’ll go slowly……
The Guardians are based on pitching. They’re among the best in MLB at developing their own starters, and reworking inexpensive veterans to pitch in relief.
A catcher works as a partner with the pitcher. He needs to know what the pitcher likes to throw, and what he’s being brought along to do by the organizations pitching coaches. He calls every pitch. He sets the rhythm of the game when his team is on the field.
The catcher usually bats 4 times a day. Big deal.
Along with the Brewers, the Guardians have had a great track record squaring around catchers to run their pitching staff. THAT’s what’s important.
Now, go back to playing rotisserie baseball.
Chipper Jones' illegitimate kid
This post has Don Quixote vibes
Samuel
Exactly what I was trying for!
riffraff
I didn’t get Don Quixote vibes I got “I can talk down to people because its the internet and I can’t be like this with people who are in the same room as me – or worse yet within striking distance – and I like feeling tough” vibes. Now if he ended with “Now go home and get your shinebox” I may have thought different.
norcalguardiansfan
Of course, he was right. Don Quixote, or no.
Get pucked
Is this a biker gang ?
In nurse follars
Having a catcher behind the plate is one way to speed up games and reduce the umpire injury rate.
In nurse follars
Love it when experts feel the need here to mansplain and tutor.
BuhnerBuzzCut
Mansplain… Dusted off that sad term.
Chipper Jones' illegitimate kid
You forgot whitesplain and straightsplain
richt
Something tells me you two guys have been doing that for years but never bothered to understand why and how you piss people off.
Jonny5
Love comments like these with no basis whatsoever.
nailz#4life
This will be a trivia question in years to come. Who was the first Guar (IN) dians FA signing ??
BuhnerBuzzCut
Cleveland still has a team? I thought they moved to Miami.
Chipper Jones' illegitimate kid
No, didn’t you hear: They signed Parkman!
Rsox
Leon and Hedges may give the Guardians the best defensive duo in the game but woof the offense is going to be ugly. They would be better off letting the Pitchers hit for the Catchers
mister guy
i didn’t know sandy leon still existed in baseball
marrtho
landmark day for ball players named Sandy