Will Austin Hedges Return To The Guardians?
The offseason is officially here!
The Guardians can sign players, make trades with other teams, or do whatever they feel necessary in order to upgrade their roster before next April.
One question that remains is what will happen at catcher. There are multiple avenues that Cleveland could take including bringing back Austin Hedges, trading for a proven player, or handing the keys over to Bo Naylor.
Executive of the Year, Chris Antonetti, had this to say about Hedges' free agency:
“We’ve actually already had conversations with Austin after the season and into the quiet period, trying to see if there was something that made sense. So, at this point, we haven’t overlapped on anything, but it doesn’t mean we won’t keep [trying].”
Based on that quote from Antonetti, I'd say we won't see Hedges back in a Guardians uniform next season. The fact that they've talked and haven't reached anything is probably more telling they aren't close to a deal rather than on the verge of a new contract.
Sep 29, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges (17) throws to first base in the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
© David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
But anything can change and this is just speculation. I am all for bringing back Hedges. His leadership and clubhouse presence are invaluable pieces to any clubhouse. But that doesn't always line up with a team's timeline.
So what happens if Hedges isn't back in Cleveland next season? Someone is going to need to manage this fantastic pitching staff.
The organization clearly seems to be high on Bo Naylor. Antonetti had this to say on the prospect of Naylor as the Guardians' primary catcher.
“His future is so bright. If he stays on the path he’s on with the same mindset [Naylor] has, it’s exciting to think about what he can develop into.”
Credit to MLB.com for quotes.
If Cleveland is this high on Naylor it wouldn't make a ton of sense for them to unload the farm for a new catcher such as a Sean Murphy. I'm by no means against them using prospects to make a trade, but I'd much rather see them used to get another starting pitcher.
With this in mind, Naylor being the starting catcher on Opening Day sounds like it is in the cards.
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