After recovering from Tommy John surgery, left-handed starter Matthew Boyd contributed significantly to the Cleveland Guardians this season.
Boyd, who started eight games for the Guardians, is currently a free agent.
Boyd, 33, will join Cleveland right-hander Shane Bieber in this year’s free agent starting pitching class.
According to sportrac.com, Boyd’s one-year contract with Cleveland was worth $740,000.
Analysts predict Boyd will receive a one-year, $10 million deal in 2025.
Boyd is a customer of Scott Boras and the Boras Corporation.
Boras is regarded as one of, if not the most successful player agents in Major League Baseball, and his clients have a reputation of taking their time throughout the free agent process.
Boras is adept at extracting high financial values, and/or a large amount.
contract years for his clients. Boyd is likely to pique MLB clubs’ interest, resulting in lengthy talks.
It appears that the Guardians want to re-sign Boyd to their rotation.
About Matthew Boyd:
Boyd, who stands 6-3 and weighs 223 pounds, is a strong and durable starting pitcher. Boyd, who was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 13th round of the 2012 MLB draft from Oregon State University, chose to return to college rather than sign with the Reds.
Boyd was picked again in 2013, this time in the sixth round, by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Boyd signed with the Blue Jays and received a $75,000 signing bonus, which was below the acceptable value for his position.
Scouts were concerned at the time that Boyd’s delivery was too high maintenance and taxing on his arm, shoulder, and elbow.
Boyd gradually changed his delivery style, lessening his aggressive approach. Boyd, a 24-year-old pitcher, made his major league debut for Toronto on June 27, 2015. He took the loss in the Rangers’ 4-0 victory.
The Blue Jays traded Boyd to the Detroit Tigers in July 2015.
Boyd spent portions of eight seasons with the Tigers, starting 158 of 162 games on the mound.
Boyd had a 4.92 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP across 848.2 innings with Detroit. He walked 2.9 batters per nine innings and struck out 8.7 batters per nine.
Boyd was given free agency in November 2021. He has signed with the San Francisco Giants.
Boyd never appeared for the Giants and was transferred to the Seattle Mariners in August 2022.
Boyd appeared in 10 games with Seattle, all in relief. In 13.1 innings, Boyd had a 1.35 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. However, he walked eight batters. Boyd returned to the Tigers in December 2022, after being granted free agency once again.
Boyd made 15 starts with the Tigers in 2023, totaling 71 innings pitched. He threw to a 5-5 record, 5.45 ERA, and 1.32 WHIP. He walked 3.4 batters per nine, while striking out 9.3 batters per nine innings.
On June 28, 2023, Boyd underwent Tommy John surgery.
Boyd joined Cleveland as a free agent on June 29, 2024. On August 13, he made his debut start for Cleveland against the Chicago Cubs. Boyd pitched 5.1 innings in that start, earning a win in the Guardians’ 2-1 victory.
Boyd made eight starts and tossed at least six innings three times.
Boyd’s repertoire in Cleveland comprised four- and two-seam fastballs, sliders, curves, and changeups, according to brooksbaseball.net’s database.
He threw fastballs at 91-92 mph, sliders at 79 mph, curveballs at 71 mph, and changeups at 79 mph.
Boyd loved to use a four-seam fastball-changeup combo the most.
The following are the percentages of usage for each of Boyd’s pitches with Cleveland:
Four-seam fastball = 35%
Changeup=27%
Slider=18%
Sinking fastball equals 10%.
Curveball=10%
The Cleveland Guardians need to strengthen their starting rotation after losing Shane Bieber and Matthew Boyd to free agency.
Signing both Bieber and Boyd makes sense for Cleveland’s situation.
Boyd might be the simplest of the two for Cleveland to sign. It may take time to obtain Boyd’s signature on a contract.
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