The Guardians introduced that they’ve re-signed catcher Austin Hedges to a one-year deal. The Boras Company shopper will get the identical $4MM wage that he had final 12 months.
Hedges, 32, has carved out a decade-long profession in a singular means as he’s one of many worst performers on the plate however probably the greatest behind it. In 2,359 profession plate appearances, Hedges has hit .186/.243/.315. That manufacturing interprets to a wRC+ of fifty, which means he’s been 50% worse than league common as a hitter in his profession.
However he has additionally produced 91 Defensive Runs Saved over the previous decade, the highest mark of any backstop within the league for that time-frame. Roberto Pérez and Buster Posey are the following two names on that record, although Posey retired years in the past and Pérez hasn’t contributed shortly resulting from accidents. No different catcher has even 50 DRS in that point. For that very same body, Hedges is second to solely Yasmani Grandal when it comes to the FanGraphs framing metric. Retailers like Statcast and Baseball Prospectus additionally give him glowing grades for his glovework.
Groups have typically tolerated the poor offense with a purpose to get at that robust work behind the plate. He has perhaps been pushing the boundaries of their endurance, as his offense has declined even relative to his personal low requirements just lately. He hit .184/.234/.227 final 12 months for a wRC+ of 23 after which .152/.203/.220 for a wRC+ of 20 this 12 months. The latter line was with the Guardians after they signed him to a one-year, $4MM deal. Since they’re bringing him again, it appears they don’t have any purchaser’s regret and are pleased to enroll in one other 12 months of poor hitting however robust work in any other case.
Hedges acquired basically half as a lot enjoying time as Bo Naylor in 2024, getting 146 plate appearances over 66 video games whereas Naylor acquired 389 journeys to the plate in 123 video games. Presumably, an analogous timeshare would be the plan for 2025. Naylor additionally had robust defensive grades this 12 months, though with a greater efficiency with the bat.
The Guardians put collectively a profitable marketing campaign with this duo behind the plate this 12 months, profitable the American League Central and progressing so far as the American League Championship Collection. The rotation was a little bit of a wrestle however a lot of the membership’s success was resulting from having the perfect bullpen within the league.
Cleveland relievers had a 2.57 ERA in 2024, simply the perfect within the majors with solely 4 golf equipment inside a run of that. The Brewers have been second at 3.11, then Atlanta at 3.32, the Dodgers at 3.53 and Tigers at 3.55. The pitchers are clearly an enormous a part of that however having succesful receivers undoubtedly helps.
Jeff Passan of ESPN first reported the Guardians and Hedges had agreed to a one-year deal. ESPN’s Buster Olney reported the $4MM wage.
