Guardians Bid Farewell To Tyler Freeman

The Cleveland Guardians announced, on Saturday evening, the re-acquisition of outfielder Nolan Jones.

They had traded Jones in late 2022 for infield prospect Juan Brito.

Now, the Guardians are sending Tyler Freeman to the Colorado Rockies to get Jones back.

Jones will get the majority of playing time against right-handed pitchers this year, forcing Will Brennan out of the equation.

As for Freeman, he was vying for the second base gig in Cleveland.

Now he is going to Colorado, where he should play more often.

Freeman’s offensive upside was, and is, limited.

However, he always wore the Guardians uniform with pride and dignity.

The team made sure to bid farewell on social media, thanking him for his contributions over the years.

Freeman is young and controllable, at 25 years old.

He will be a solid piece for the Rockies.

Last year, he was given the chance to be the Guardians’ center fielder, and while he adapted well defensively, his .626 OPS didn’t justify an everyday gig.

This offseason, Freeman worked hard to add strength and muscle to his frame, which will surely help him thrive in Colorado.

If he could be just a league-average hitter, his defensive versatility could make him a solid super-utility guy who accumulates games and innings all over the field.

He has been enjoying an excellent spring, with a 1.080 OPS in Cactus League play and should get an expanded role in Colorado.

Now, the Guardians are expected to choose one of Gabriel Arias and Daniel Schneemann to be their second baseman.

Rockies Make Surprising Move, Trading Young Outfielder to Guardians

Nolan Jones is going back to where his career began. In a surprising move, the Colorado Rockies traded Jones to the Cleveland Guardians for utility player Tyler Freeman, per multiple sources. The young outfielder spent 2023-24 with Colorado after a brief stint with the Guardians in 2022. Two years later, the two sides have reunited on a deal involving Jones again. Both Freeman and Jones struggled last season for their respective clubs and might benefit from a change of scenery.

Jones Struggled in 2024

Jones appeared to be a boon for the Rockies when they acquired him for little before the 2023 season. Paired with star center fielder Brenton Doyle in the outfield, the Rockies had one of the best defensive outfields in the sport. Combined with his 100th-percentile arm per Statcast, Jones was excellent offensively in 2023. Over 367 at-bats, Jones hit .297/.389/.542 with a stellar 62 RBI. He also recorded a 20/20 season for Colorado with 20 homers and 20 steals. Going into 2024, Jones was one of the most intriguing Rockies to follow. However, he suffered a steep drop-off.

Jones struggled mightily to begin the season and never recovered. He dealt with various injuries and never saw a sustained stretch of consistent play. Over 256 at-bats, Jones hit just .227/.321/.320 with only three homers, 28 RBI, and five steals. Per Statcast, his xwOBA and barrel% dropped from .362 and 15.7% in 2023 to .287 and 5.9%, respectively.

Trade Is a Perplexing Move by Colorado

The trade seemingly came out of nowhere, as there were no trade rumors for Jones. Considering he is still only 26, the thinking was that the Rockies would count on him, resembling his strong 2023 after a down 2024. However, the Rockies had seen all they needed to see and traded Jones back to Cleveland just under a week before the regular season began. In 47 at-bats in Cactus League play, Jones has hit .234/.280/.298 with zero homers and seven RBI.

While Doyle has the center field position locked down for years to come, a corner outfield spot is now up for grabs. Prized prospect Zac Veen, who has had a stellar spring, could now be a major candidate to fill that role. Outfielders Sean Bouchard and Jordan Beck also saw time in the corner outfield spots last season.

Over 330 at-bats in 2024, Freeman hit .209/.305/.321 with 32 RBI and seven home runs. He primarily played in center but also saw time in the infield. While the Rockies have several candidates to fill roles in the outfield, newly signed second baseman Thairo Estrada suffered a wrist fracture that will leave him out for four to eight weeks. While veteran infielder Kyle Farmer was mentioned as a potential replacement, Freeman could also now be in play. It will be interesting to see what Colorado has planned for their new addition. Meanwhile, Jones will look to regain his 2023 form in his old stomping grounds.

Main Photo Credits: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images