Cleveland Guardians Add Four to 40-Man Roster

Photo by Charles Murray

Cleveland-OH

Official Guardians Press Release

The Cleveland Guardians today announced the following transactions relative to the club’s 40-man roster:

-Selected the contracts of INF ANGEL MARTÍNEZ and LHP JOEY CANTILLO from Double-A Akron.

-Selected the contract of LHP TIM HERRIN from Triple-A Columbus.

-Traded RHP CARLOS VARGAS to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for RHP ROSS CARVER.

-Traded INF NOLAN JONES to the Colorado Rockies INF JUAN BRITO…Selected Brito to the 40-man roster.

-Designated LHP KIRK McCARTY and LHP ANTHONY GOSE for assignment. The 40-man roster is at 40.

Martínez, 21, split the season between High-A Lake County and AA Akron, batting a combined .278 (101-for-363) with 23 2B, 4 3B, 13 HR, 44 RBI and 12 SB in 101 games (.378/.471/.849). The switch-hitting infielder ranked second in the Guardians system in qualified batting average, fourth in OPS and fifth in on-base pct. At 21, he was the 10^th-youngest player to appear in the Eastern League this year as he did not face a pitcher younger than him all season. He reached in 27 consecutive games while with the Captains (6/26-8/18) and on the year appeared in 54 games at SS, 23 games at 2B and 4 games at 3B between the two stops. The Santo Domingo, DR native entered 2022 ranked as the #10 prospect in Cleveland’s system and now sits at #11 according to MLB.com. Martínez recently concluded a stint in the Arizona Fall League, batting .260 (19-for-73) with 2HR and 14 RBI in 21 games for Peoria. Angel was originally signed by Cleveland as an amateur free agent in July 2018.

Cantillo, 22, was dominant over his 14 outings (13 starts) for AA Akron this season, posting a 1.93 ERA (60.2IP, 38H, 13ER, 28BB, 87SO, .187 avg) and was recently named to the Eastern League Postseason All-Star Team. He was limited to 60.2 innings due to a left shoulder strain, recording just 3.0 innings (1GS) after June 30. Acquired in exchange for RHP Mike Clevinger from the San Diego Padres in August 2020, Cantillo becomes the sixth and final member of that transaction to make an appearance on Cleveland’s 40-man roster.  He was limited to 13.0IP last season due to a fractured rib. In 2019, he was named a Baseball America Low-A All-Star after going a combined 10-4 with a 2.26 ERA in 22 starts between low-A Fort Wayne and high-A Lake Elsinore in the SD system. The Kailua, HI native entered the season as the #24 rated prospect in the system (and now sits at #23) according to MLB Pipeline.

Herrin, 26, split the 2022 season between AA Akron and AAA Columbus, going 1-4 with 2 saves and a 4.02 ERA in 46 games/2 starts (69.1IP, 63H, 31ER, 101SO, .238 avg, 13.1SO/9). He owns a five-year career Minor League ERA of 2.38 across 118 appearances (2GS, 206.0IP, 183H, 79ER, 237SO) since his 2018 selection in the MLB Draft out of Indiana University (29^th round). He posted a 2.57 ERA in 36 games at High-A Lake County in 2021, fanning 85 in 73.2 innings.

Carver, 23, split 2022 between AA Amarillo and High-A Hillsboro, posting a 3.10 ERA in 15 starts for Hillsboro (81.1IP, 55H, 28ER, 97SO). On the year he posted a 5.06 ERA in 24 starts, recording 128 strikeouts in 117.1IP, tied for the sixth-most SO in the Arizona system. He was Arizona’s 20^th round selection in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Dallas Baptist University, posting a two-year professional ERA of 4.91 in 32 games/24 starts (139.1IP, 124H, 76ER, 161SO, 10.4 SO/9).

Brito, 21, spent 2022 at High-A Fresno, hitting .286 (115-for-402) with 29 2B, 6 3B, 11 HR and 72 RBI in 107 games. He finished fourth in the California League in doubles (29), sixth in on-base pct. (.407) and eighth in RBI (72). The switch-hitting middle infielder owns a three-year professional batting average of .295 (179-for-606) with 36 2B, 9 3B, 17 HR and 109 RBI in 169 games. He is currently rated Colorado’s 30^th-best prospect according to MLB.com.