CLEVELAND, OH – The Cleveland Guardians have announced the signing of free agent left-handed pitcher John Means to a Major League contract for the 2025 season, with a club option for 2026.
Means, 31, has spent his entire professional career with the Baltimore Orioles, debuting in 2018. He earned an American League All-Star nod in 2019 during a standout season in which he posted 12 wins, a 3.60 ERA, and the 9th-best pitching bWAR in the AL (4.4), leading all AL rookie pitchers. On May 5, 2021, he pitched the sixth no-hitter in Orioles history against Seattle, recording a career-high 12 strikeouts while facing the minimum 27 hitters.
The Olathe, KS native and West Virginia University alum has been limited to 10 Major League starts and 52.1 innings over the past three seasons due to left elbow reconstructions. Means posted a 2.61 ERA in 4 starts for Baltimore in 2024 (20.2 IP, 16 H, 6 ER) before being placed on the Injured List in late May.
To make room for Means on the 40-man roster, the Guardians have placed UTL David Fry on the 60-day Injured List. Means has reported to camp and will join the team in workouts tomorrow.
