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Hey, Hoynsie: Do you think Stephen Vogt would ever consider Jose Ramirez for the leadoff spot? Aside from the extra at-bats, you would be putting the best baserunner in baseball ahead the speedy Steven Kwan. There would still be the rest of the game to leverage Ramirez’s ability to drive in runs. — Joe Cepec.
Hey, Joe: No, I don’t think he would.
Vogt did bat Ramirez in the No. 2 spot for six games last season. Terry Francona used him in the No. 2 spot in 43 games in 2023, but I always got the impression Ramirez felt more comfortable in the No. 3 spot.
Look, the Guardians’ offense needs help. But why mess with two of the things that work — Kwan leading off and Ramirez hitting third?
One more thing. Ramirez has played 1,451 games in the big leagues, all with Cleveland. He’s batted leadoff in 25 of those games, while hitting .205.
Hey, Hoynsie: How many columns would you need to explain the responsibly of all the administrative and coaching positions on the Guardians staff? I feel sorry for the person responsible for creating the organization flow chart — Jim B, Independence.
Hey, Hoynsie: There’s an old saying that too many cooks spoil the soup, but it’s hard to argue with success. The Guardians try to get every edge they can, and that includes having a lot of coaches and people with laptops standing behind them.
It’s helped them win two AL Central titles in the last three years.
Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor will enter his walk year in 2025.AP
Hey, Hoynsie: Instead of paying Josh Naylor the amount he’ll earn in 2025 because he’s eligible for arbitration, why not sign him to a three-year deal and trade him after this year if he doesn’t work out? — Roger Amoroso, Macedonia.
Hey, Roger: This isn’t fantasy baseball. Naylor has one year left before he’s eligible for free agency. Unless the Guardians rock his world with a multiyear offer, why would he sign a three-year deal, selling his first two free agent years, if he didn’t feel he was maxing out his worth?
Why not have a big 2025 and enter free agency at the peak of your value?
Hey, Hoynsie: Omar Vizquel was the best Cleveland shortstop in my lifetime. Do you think he can overcome his problems off the field and get into the Hall of Fame before he he loses his eligibility with the BBWAA? Or will he have to go through the Era Committee process? — Bud, Arizona.
Hey, Bud: To me Vizquel is a Hall of Fame shortstop, no doubt. But I can’t see how he will be elected by the Baseball Writers Association of America. This is his eighth year of eligibility and his vote total has dropped from 52.6% in 2020 to 17.7% in 2024. If he is elected to Cooperstown, it will have to be by an Era Committee.
Hey, Hoynsie: I am aware the Guardians outrighted Myles Straw to Class AAA Columbus after the regular season. But since Straw is on a guaranteed contract, did the Guardians have to keep him on the 40-man when they set the roster before the Rule 5 Draft in December? — Mark Leonard, Sandusky.
Hey, Mark: When the Guardians outrighted Straw to the minors, that removed him from the 40-man roster. They are still obligated to pay what remains of the five-year $25 million contract he signed in 2022.
There is no stipulation requiring the Guardians to keep Straw on the 40-man in regards to the Rule 5 Draft. I don’t think they’d be upset if a team drafted Straw and his salary in the Rule 5, do you?
Hey, Hoynsie: Have the Guardians worn a “throwback uniform” since the name change? If they do, will Chief Wahoo be featured on it? — Jeff Heibaugh.
Hey, Jeff: I checked with Curtis Danburg, Guardians director of communications. He said they haven’t worn a throwback uniform since the name change. He did say that when they issued CC Sabathia’s bobblehead to celebrate his induction into Cleveland’s Hall of Fame last season, Chief Wahoo was featured on his cap. Danburg said when the franchise celebrates its history, and the Chief is part of it, he’ll be used.
Hey, Hoynsie: If a player is also a coach or manager, does he count as a full-time player on the roster? Could this be a way of making Austin Hedges a coach, but still playing him on occasion? He could be half a roster spot and you could pair him with another player. — Dave.
Hey, Dave: You’re over-thinking this buddy. A player-manager, player-coach or Hedges counts as one player on the roster. We’re talking ballplayers not an extra-large pepperoni pizza that can be sliced 10 different ways.
Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki.AP
Hey, Hoynsie: If Guardians sign Roki Sasaki, and he’s as good as as they say he is, how long will the Guards be able to afford him? — Jim Lukas.
Hey, Jim: That’s like asking how many days of sunshine will there be in Cleveland from November through March. If and when the Chiba Lotte Marines post Sasaki — it’s expected to happen during the 2025 international player signing period that starts on Jan. 15 — every MLB team will have a chance to bid on him.
Whichever team makes the winning pitch, it will pay a free based on the percentage of Sasaki’s signing bonus to the Marines. The thing that makes Sasaki affordable to teams like the Guardians is that he’s still considered an amateur because of his age and expereince. It means he has to be signed from each team’s bonus pool for international players.
Bonus pools for 2025 range from $7.6 million to $5.1 million. The Guardians’ pool is $6.9 million. That’s no guarantee that they’ll sign him, but at least teams like Cleveland can kick the tires on him.