CLEVELAND — The Guardians are closing in on a playoff berth, but will now have to deal with a massive blow to the top of their lineup.
Cleveland placed leadoff man Steven Kwan on the 10-day injured list Tuesday after the All-Star left fielder missed the previous four games with back problems. Myles Straw was selected from Triple-A Columbus to take Kwan's place on the active roster, marking the return of a one-time core piece of the team whose offensive ineptitude has stranded him in the minors for the entirety of 2024.
After missing most of May with a hamstring strain, Kwan flirted with .400 during the first half and went into the break as baseball's leading hitter at .352, starting in left field and leading off for the American League in the All-Star Game. Since then, however, he has hit just .201 with a .588 OPS, although he had seemingly begun to turn things around with five hits in four games before being sidelined.
A two-time Gold Glover, Kwan is batting .291 with 13 homers and 81 runs scored along with a .995 fielding percentage on the season. His ailment is being described as "mid-back inflammation," and manager Stephen Vogt is hopeful he'll be able to come back as soon as a week from now, with the IL stint retroactive to Sept. 14.
With Kwan resting, the club welcomes Straw back into the fold, a step forward for a former mainstay who quickly fell out of favor within the organization. Acquired from Houston in 2021 in a deal that sent Phil Maton and Yainer Diaz to the Astros, Straw showed promise in his early days with Cleveland as a leadoff hitter and slick fielder, and the front office showed its confidence by signing him to a five-year, $25 million contract at the beginning of 2022.
Over the next two campaigns, Straw stole 41 bases and proved to be one of the best center fielders in the game, winning his own Gold Glove in 2022. Unfortunately, his obvious defensive skills could not overcome his anemic bat, and between 2022 and '23, his respective OPS and OPS+ totals of .580 and 66 were the lowest among any hitter with at least 1,000 plate appearances.
So apparent were Straw's struggles that, prior to the 2024 season, he was designated for assignment and removed from the 40-man roster entirely. When he went unclaimed in waivers, he chose to be outrighted to Columbus rather than forfeit his salary, and has spent the whole year with the Clippers so far while batting a lackluster .240. According to Baseball Reference, his $4.9 salary remains the sixth-highest in the Guards organization.
Adding to the issues, Maton went on to help the Astros win a World Series as a key member of the bullpen, and Diaz has emerged as one of the top young catchers in the game.
In order for Straw to return to the 40-man, someone had to be removed from it. That person was sadly fan favorite Carlos Carrasco. The 37-year-old starting pitcher had been on the 15-day IL with neck spasms but was removed Tuesday before being immediately DFA'd, putting him on track for waivers and a potential release.
A stalwart in Cleveland's rotation throughout most of the 2010s, Carrasco returned to the team on a minor-league deal this past offseason before being forced into the staring five by injuries. The right-hander's veteran leadership and ability to eat innings were admirable, but he still managed only a 3-10 record with a 5.64 ERA across 21 starts before getting hurt.
The Guardians enter Tuesday's showdown against the Minnesota Twins with the AL's second-best record at 87-64, five games clear of the Kansas City Royals for first in the Central Division. They could clinch a postseason spot as soon as Wednesday.
