News and Notes for Tuesday, July 1st, 2025
The Guardians resume their 2025 campaign today with a brief road trip to Wrigley Field to play the Chicago Cubs for three games.
Today, they will reunite with last year’s late season hero, Matthew Boyd. Many of us will no doubt wonder again why Cleveland did not beat the Cubs’ offer for Matthew Boyd. But, that is a mystery to which we will never hear the answer. We will simply see more Paul Dolan relatives run for political office in completely disconnected circumstances.
ICYMI, here’s your series preview. And, I did a little first look at what the trade deadline might involve if things don’t improve and the Guardians’ end up sellers. Fun, fun, fun.
Today, we will publish (via our Matt Seese) a Guardians MLB Draft preview so you can see which new hitter the Guardians may select so they can force him to spend too long in the minors and then mess up the finishing of their development when they finally hit the big leagues. Or maybe they’ll draft the next great pitcher. They should maybe just draft pitchers, to be honest. Make the whole plane out of pitchers, what the hey.
Paul Hoynes says the Guardians shouldn’t trade veterans at the deadline. As of right now, I would agree. However, if we continue to see the team play at the 7 games under .500 pace they did in June, the Guardians are going to be like 10 games below .500 by the deadline, in which case, I think the calculus clearly changes. So, it’s imperative to change the trajectory of this season SOON.
Looks like from Paul Sewald’s Instagram that he is joining the team in Chicago, presumably to be activated to the bullpen. I would guess that Sewald will replace Matt Festa who did a great Sewald impression for a good long stretch, but has fallen apart in his recent two outings. He’s useful depth so I hope if he IS designated for assignment that he will pass through waivers. Of course, Sewald could also be replacing Cade Smith if Smith needs a stint on the IL, as we haven’t seen him in games for about a week after he had back spasms.
One would also guess that Gabriel Arias will be headed to the injured list for Brayan Rocchio as well. Our Tommy Pecoraro offered some reasons for measured optimism about Rocchio’s imminent return.