The Cleveland Guardians made significant moves at the winter meetings in Dallas, addressing both their infield and rotation needs. The AL Central champions initiated two major trades, starting with the departure of three-time Gold Glove second baseman Andrés Giménez to the Toronto Blue Jays. Giménez, known for his exceptional defensive skills, was traded alongside reliever Nick Sandlin to Toronto in exchange for infielder Spencer Horwitz and outfielder Nick Mitchell.
Shortly after acquiring Horwitz, the Guardians swiftly traded him to the Pittsburgh Pirates for three pitchers: Luis Ortiz, Michael Kennedy, and Josh Hartle. Ortiz, who had a solid 2024 season with a 3.32 ERA, is expected to bolster Cleveland's rotation. This move comes as ace Shane Bieber is on the mend from Tommy John surgery and may not return until June.
