The Guardians outrighted Vince Velasquez back to Triple-A Columbus, according to the MLB.com transaction log. Cleveland had designated the right-hander for assignment when they acquired Matt Festa last week.
Velasquez signed a minor league contract in February. He was rehabbing from an elbow surgery that had cost him the second half of 2023 and the complete ’24 season. He’s started four games with Columbus, allowing 11 runs (10 earned) on 16 walks in 15 innings. Despite the mediocre numbers, Cleveland called him up to serve as a long relief option at a busy part of the schedule. Velasquez didn’t make it into a game during his three days on the big league roster, but he secured a prorated $1.5MM salary by reaching the majors.
As a player with over five years of major league service, Velasquez has the right to decline an outright assignment in favor of free agency. It’s unclear if he’ll test the market, though he’d be limited to minor league offers if he did. He may decide to simply head back to Columbus and hope that an improved performance can earn him a less fleeting look later in the year.
Cleveland has one of the weaker rotations in MLB. Their starters entered play Monday with a 4.59 earned run average that ranks 27th in the majors. Only the Orioles, Rockies and Marlins have gotten worse run prevention from the rotation. Cleveland’s 20.1% strikeout rate and 11% walk percentage are each in the bottom third. Gavin Williams and Luis Ortiz have missed bats at above-average rates, but they’ve each struggled to throw strikes. Ben Lively, Logan Allen and Tanner Bibee have reasonable earned run averages with mediocre strikeout rates. It has been an especially underwhelming start from Bibee, who was easily the team’s best starter a year ago.
The Guardians are hopeful that Shane Bieber and John Means can contribute later in the season as they rehab UCL surgeries. Slade Cecconi has been out all season with an oblique strain, though he began a rehab assignment last week. Doug Nikhazy is the top healthy depth starter on the 40-man roster. Kolby Allard and Joey Cantillo are working out of the big league bullpen but could theoretically stretch out as rotation options as well.