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Guardians avoid arbitration with key 2024 rotation piece

Posted on by L. Dreeye
Guardians avoid arbitration with key 2024 rotation piece

As a team, the Cleveland Guardians have been one of the biggest surprises in baseball during the 2024 MLB season. However, what helped them reach this level were several other incredible stories about outsiders within the organization.

One such story was the emergence of Ben Lively, whom the Guardians brought into the organization last offseason.

According to Cleveland.com’s Paul Hoynes, Lively will officially return to the organization in 2025 after reportedly signing a one-year, $2.25 million deal with Cleveland to avoid arbitration.

Lively finished his first full season as a starter with a 3.81 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 107 ERA+ in 29 starts. He was undoubtedly the most consistent and reliable player in Cleveland’s rotation during the first half of the season.

However, towards the end of the season, Lively began to show some signs of fatigue after pitching a career-high 151.1 innings. His previous career high was 88.2 innings pitched in 2023 with the Cincinnati Reds.

The 32-year-old was initially left out of Cleveland’s playoff roster but was eventually added back during the ALCS following Alex Cobb’s injury.

Ben Lively throws serve

August 1, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Ben Lively (39) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field. Mandatory link: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images / Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

The Guardians are short on starting pitching and need to address that depth this offseason. But no matter what happens, Lively could very well be Cleveland’s fourth or fifth starter in the rotation in 2025, and he’s proven he can thrive in that role after a more than successful 2024 campaign.

Signing him to a one-year deal and opting out of the arbitration process entirely gives the front office some confidence in the bench rotation heading into the offseason.