Cleveland avoids arbitration with three eligible players

The Cleveland Baseball Club has avoided arbitration with catcher Austin Hedges, shortstop Amed Rosario, and pitcher Phil Maton. All three players are now under contract for the 2021 season.

Hedges will be one of two catchers that Cleveland carries this season, the other being Roberto Perez. Cleveland acquired Hedges in a midseason deal that saw Mike Clevinger head to San Diego.

Amed Rosario should be Cleveland’s starting shortstop after the team traded Francisco Lindor to the New York Mets. Rosario is one of two middle infielders acquired in the deal (the other being Andres Gimenez) and should occupy both positions this season.

Phil Maton did not have the best 2020 season, but seems to have the trust of the team. Maton completed a 4.57 ERA, 1.338 WHIP, and a 13.3 K/9 in 23 appearances (21.2 innings). The jump in strikeouts was encouraging to see last season, but the increase in other numbers is a bit concerning. Cleveland has to be hoping for some sort of middle ground that find those numbers reverting back to his 2.92 ERA and 0.811 WHIP in 12.1 innings during the 2019 season.