Cleveland — George Valera, the Guardians’ former top prospect, isn’t going away.
Valera was slated for assignment last week before being officially non-tendered on Friday evening. The Guardians announced Monday night that they had re-signed the outfielder to a Minor League contract.
Valera was a top prospect for the Guardians as of 2022, according to MLB Pipeline. He has been on the 40-man roster since that season, but he has yet to make his Major League debut because injuries disrupted his ’23 season. He was hurt again during Spring Training this year, but he eventually returned and settled in during the second half of the regular season. In August, he batted.304 with a 1.018 OPS, seven home runs, and 17 RBIs.
Here’s when things become difficult.
Valera’s performance had everyone’s attention, so it seemed only natural that he would be called up in September. Because starter Alex Cobb was set to return from the disabled list on September 1, the second spot came down to Kyle Manzardo and Valera. Manzardo had already had a brief tour in the Majors earlier this year, which was not particularly successful. Valera was still waiting to make his debut.
The Guardians knew Valera would be out of alternatives next season. If he failed not make the Opening Day roster,
Designated for assignment. That alone made it simple to think that the team would at least give him a look in the Majors in 2024 before putting all of their eggs in the ’25 Spring Training basket. Instead, they turned to Manzardo, who blasted two home runs in his first game back.
It worked out for Cleveland in the near term, but it threw another kink into the long-term plans. Valera was playing in the outfield for Triple-A Columbus in September when he collided with a wall and tumbled to the ground, rupturing his right patellar tendon. His season was gone, and he had to have knee surgery. His rehabilitation window is six to nine months, therefore he’ll
Ready to play between March and June. Given his medical history, it’s difficult to believe that his recuperation would be quick and that he’ll be ready to play in the early weeks of the season. The Guardians needed slots on their 40-man roster to protect other prospects from the Rule 5 Draft this offseason, and promising one to an injured Minor Leaguer who might not be able to play until the summer made it difficult to commit. As a result, Valera was earmarked for assignment and did not receive a tender, making him a free agent.
Not only was he not called up before he ran out of options, but for a few days, he was out of the organization and never saw the big league. field. However, on Monday night, Valera agreed to return on a Minor League contract, paving the way for his future in Northeast Ohio. Even if his potential is high enough to attract interest from other teams, a reunion makes sense for all parties. Obviously, the Guardians will want to see this through, even though they require his roster position until he is well and can demonstrate that he is ready for the ultimate promotion. However, Valera is also returning to an organization that requires outfield depth. This may be the same squad and roster that didn’t find a way for him to get in the grass last year, but that doesn’t guarantee it will stay that way in the future. Steven Kwan is completely out of the ordinary. Lane Thomas will play either center or right field. But everything else remains a question mark. Jhonkensy Noel will need to continue to improve. Will Brennan will have to put his problems behind him. External acquisitions would be great, but they have not occurred yet. From there, the Guardians have few other Major League-ready players to choose from. That’s why Valera — once healed — not only gives some security for the team that is well aware of his potential, but the Guardians may also be the best chance for a player who hasn’t erupted yet in the Minors and is recovering from a major surgery to get to Majors in the foreseeable future.
Leave a Reply