On Tuesday night, the Cleveland Guardians announced they have designated Cal Quantrill for assignment.
The Guardians are designating Cal Quantrill for assignment, per @ByRobertMurray pic.twitter.com/yKc3T5DZ4N
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) November 14, 2023
The move was made to clear a couple of spots on the 40-man roster for prospects that the Guardians wanted to protect from the Rule 5 Draft.
Quantrill’s downward spiral in 2023 is remarkable, and he’ll certainly garner a ton of interest from major league clubs. In 2021, he broke out by recording a 2.89 ERA over 40 appearances (22 starts). Quantrill then followed it up with another impressive 2022, posting a 3.38 ERA in 32 starts (186.1 innings). If you were to say he was going to be a free agent a year later, not many people would have believed it. But his 2023 season diminished whatever trade value he had, and the Guardians decided it was time to move on.
Cal Quantrill battled a shoulder injury for most of the season, and when he was on the mound, he pitched to a career high 5.24 ERA with an almost unbelievably low 5.2 K/9.
The Guardians are also an organization known for their ability to develop starting pitching, so releasing him isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement. Cal Quantrill did pitch much better in September. He posted a 2.76 ERA over his last six starts, but a 4.60 FIP and a .716 OPS against suggests he benefited from some pretty severe luck.
It’s a fall from grace that unfortunately so many MLB players experience at different points in their careers. Some guys bounce back even stronger, and others disappear into the abyss. Quantrill shouldn’t be expected to be the Braves saving grace when it comes to their rotation, but as we saw this season, each team needs 10-11 starters because injuries are an inevitability. Given the Braves ability to squeeze every ounce of talent out of their players, Cal Quantrill — who is still just 28-years-old — could be worth a flier.
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Photo: Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire
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