The Cleveland Guardians were omitted from a list of teams in the division trying to get better by Detroit Tigers manager AJ Hinch. Appearing on 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit Monday, Hinch specifically mentioned the Tigers, Twins, White Sox, and Royals, the Guardians being absent from that list.
This is not the first time that Cleveland has been mentioned as a team not trying. Dallas Keuchel and Joc Pederson were both critical of the Guardians not long ago. Now with the rumors of contract extension talks with Jose Ramirez deteriorating, it is not helping their cause. This series of events is very reminiscent of what happened with Cleveland and Francisco Lindor a few years prior. If they are unable to extend another prominent player and end up trading him expect more criticism to come from all directions.