Are the Guardians looking to add an Italian fireballer to their ever-growing bullpen mix?

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Guardians person built a estimation arsenic baseball’s premier pitching factory, consistently transforming raw, hard-throwing prospects into polished awesome convention contributors. Their latest rumored acquisition, arsenic discussed connected nan Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, follows this precise blueprint: right-hander Ettore Giulianelli, who embodies nan archetype of a talented but untamed powerfulness arm.

“He’s a difficult throwing correct hander, tin get it up to 98 miles an hour. He’s Italian if you couldn’t show by nan past name,” Joe Noga explained connected nan podcast. “He spent 4 years successful nan Cardinals organization, a insignificant convention free supplier and according to reports, he’s signing a insignificant convention woody pinch nan Guardians.”

What makes nan imaginable signing peculiarly fascinating isn’t conscionable Giulianelli’s awesome velocity, but his statistical floor plan that instantly evoked a classical shot movie character.

As Noga detailed: “I deliberation past play in, successful thing for illustration 25 innings for nan Cardinals’ Florida Coast League squad he walked 31, but he struck retired 39. It’s, it’s nan aged ‘Bull Durham’ line. Walked 18, a caller convention record. Struck retired 18, besides a caller convention record. One of nan awesome lines successful a shot movie. Yeah, Nuke LaLoosh.”

The comparison to “Bull Durham’s” fictional flamethrower is apt and reveals overmuch astir Cleveland’s pitching improvement strategy. The statement has consistently demonstrated assurance successful its expertise to harness electrical arms pinch questionable command, betting connected their subordinate improvement strategy to refine earthy talent.

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Paul Hoynes acknowledged nan imaginable upside, stating: “He’s an absorbing guy. We’ll person to spot really he fits into nan statement and what nan statement tin do for him to get him connected a way to Cleveland.”

This connection captures nan principle of Cleveland’s approach: identifying high-ceiling arms that different organizations mightiness walk connected owed to power issues, past applying their developmental expertise to maximize that potential. The Guardians’ way grounds speaks for itself, having transformed galore wild-but-talented pitchers into valuable contributors.

Giulianelli fits nan beingness floor plan nan Guardians typically target arsenic well. As Noga noted, “Six ft three, 190 pounds, throws difficult from nan correct side.” This operation of size and velocity provides nan instauration upon which Cleveland’s renowned pitching coaches tin build.

The signing represents a low-risk, perchance high-reward move for nan organization. By acquiring Giulianelli arsenic a insignificant convention free agent, nan Guardians tin return their clip processing him without nan unit of a awesome convention roster spot aliases important financial investment. If their pitching improvement unit tin thief him harness his power while maintaining his awesome strikeout ability, they could uncover different gem successful nan rough.

For Guardians fans, signings for illustration this connection a fascinating glimpse into nan organization’s subordinate improvement philosophy. While casual observers mightiness attraction solely connected awesome convention acquisitions, these under-the-radar moves often uncover much astir a team’s personality and semipermanent strategy.

The chat highlighted really nan Guardians proceed to judge successful their expertise to create pitching talent internally alternatively than paying premium prices connected nan free supplier market. It’s a accuracy that has served nan statement good complete nan years, helping them stay competitory contempt financial constraints.

To perceive much astir Giulianelli and different caller Guardians signings, including insights into really Cleveland identifies and develops pitching talent, cheque retired nan afloat section of nan Cleveland Baseball Talk podcast.

Read nan automated transcript of today’s podcast below. Because it’s an AI-generated transcript, it whitethorn incorporate errors and misspellings.

Podcast Transcript

Joe Noga: Welcome backmost to nan Cleveland Baseball Talk podcast. I’m Joe Noga, joined by Paul Hoynes. Hoynsie, nan Guardians yet resolved nan past of their DFA limbo players. Justin Brule traded to nan St. Louis Cardinals successful a rate deal. Brule goes to nan Cardinals aft spending each of 3 days connected nan Cleveland roster successful mid December earlier being designated for assignment. This is simply a near handed reliever and he’s going to astir apt get a chance location in, successful St. Louis, whereas it would person been reliable for him to leapfrog guys for illustration Eric Sabrowski, Tim Herron successful the, nan Guardians bullpen.

Paul Hoynes: For sure, Joe, and he’s, you know, he’s been sitting successful DFA limbo for illustration our buddy John Kenzie Noel since you know, he was, he was DFA’d successful precocious December correct earlier nan holidays. So I’m sure, I’m judge he’s gladsome that he’s sewage immoderate clarity. Uh, you know, he knows wherever he’s, he’ll spell to outpouring training, astatine slightest for correct now. I mean things tin alteration obviously. But the, nan ironic point is Joe, he get St. Louis, gets Brule and, and it caused Zach Kent, different feline that sounded pinch Cleveland past season, it costs him a job. He gets, he gets DFA to make spot to make room for Brule connected nan Cardinals roster.

Joe Noga: Yeah, Kent had been released, you know, backmost successful December anterior to the, nan Rule 5 draught and to make room location connected nan Guardians 40 man roster and he had been claimed connected waivers by nan Cardinals and benignant of spent a fewer weeks connected their roster and now is, is retired of a occupation successful favour of Brule. Yeah, conscionable a benignant of a weird circuitous way location that fundamentally it ends up taking John Kenzie Noel’s roster spot and giving it to Sean Armstrong who signed correct earlier Christmas pinch nan guardians. Signed a 1 twelvemonth woody pinch an action for 2027, a communal option, you know, successful betwixt Bull was benignant of nan placeholder for that roster spot earlier nan Guardian signed Armstrong. We’ll spent each of 16 days benignant of hanging retired location designated for duty without immoderate existent solution to his situation. And for illustration you said, now he, he has a, you know, benignant of a clear way and an opportunity location pinch nan Cardinals. So you know, champion lawsuit script for him I deliberation not a awesome point for Zach Kent who he had his moments in, successful pinch the, nan large convention nine successful Cleveland. Really had a, a bully play successful Belay, put up immoderate bully numbers, had a sub 3 era successful alleviation and you know, possibly there’s an opportunity for him to to re motion pinch nan Guardians statement and proceed successful nan insignificant leagues there. But nan numbers crippled and pinch each nan correct handed relievers that person been added precocious by Cleveland, I deliberation it would person been really difficult for him to person different CR large leagues there.

Paul Hoynes: I agree. He made 12 appearances pinch nan Guardians and he did you look astatine his numbers astatine AAA Columbus, he really sounded good and that’s why he kept bouncing betwixt Cleveland and Columbus. He was up and down respective times and I deliberation he, he sounded successful nan postseason arsenic well. So I’m beautiful judge possibly no, I don’t cognize if he did transportation successful nan postseason but he was still, you know, he helped them triumph nan division. I cognize he was connected nan squad erstwhile they clinched. Hopefully, you know, Zach Kent gets different look location down present and pinch personification catching connected pinch somebody.

Joe Noga: Yeah, I conscionable retrieve his, his awesome convention debut was successful April against the, against nan Yankees and benignant of a, a large unit business to beryllium thrown successful for your, your awesome convention debut and you cognize he came retired of it, you know, beautiful well. So you know, champion of luck to Zach Kent arsenic as he moves guardant pinch his, his opportunities there. Another feline pinch different opportunity again pinch nan Guardians. For nan 3rd twelvemonth successful a row, Cleveland signed a catcher, Dom Nunez, and invited him to large convention camp. This is 1 of those signings wherever it’s, it’s inevitable nan Guardians are going to request catchers and guys to benignant of transportation nan workload location erstwhile pitchers and catchers study successful mid February. And Dom Nunez has filled that domiciled and moreover you know, appeared successful a mates of games for nan Guardians past play erstwhile Austin Hedges went connected the, nan injured database pinch concussion. It’s astir apt a safe stake erstwhile you, you know, nan team’s looking for a backup for illustration that. Austin Hedges has had immoderate issues pinch concussions successful nan past and there’s, there’s possibly opportunities location if, if you’re a Dom Nunez, knowing that you know, you’re ever 1 transportation aliases 1 foul extremity distant from getting a telephone and getting a stint pinch nan large convention club.

Paul Hoynes: Yeah, he what he played 2 games pinch Cleveland past season. The remainder of nan clip was astatine Triple-A. You know, coagulated backup guy. He’s had immoderate large convention clip pinch nan Rockies and arsenic you suggested Joe, going into outpouring training you’re going to request six, seven, 8 catchers. So you know, bringing Nunez backmost makes a batch of consciousness for Cleveland.

Joe Noga: Yeah, good traveled Nunez, Rockies, Giants, Pirates, Cubs and Guardians. He’s, he’s been successful a batch of different organizations and good regarded for you Know, conscionable being that seasoned beingness successful AAA erstwhile he’s down location arsenic well. He’s, you know, erstwhile he, erstwhile he doesn’t drawback and obvious, you know, AAA is going to person a feline for illustration Cooper Engel, guys that are, they’re trying to bring on arsenic catchers. He can, he tin service arsenic a mentor there. He tin DH erstwhile he needs to for the, nan Clippers. So yeah, conscionable a bully opportunity. Nunez joins Stuart Fairchild arsenic really truthful acold nan only 2 non roster invites position players signed by Cleveland. We would expect that number to, to possibly spell up, you know, possibly different outfielder location on nan line. With nan number of infielders that nan Guardians already person successful nan pipeline, I think, you know, that that mightiness beryllium pushing it. But Pedro Avila, Cody Heuer coming to campy connected non roster invitations arsenic well. So you know, expect a fewer much of those signings conscionable randomly. But we’re besides waiting to perceive who nan soul invitees will beryllium to, to large convention camp.

Paul Hoynes: Yeah, and you know, that usually comes out, you know, some, you know, but it has to travel retired sometime this month, Joe, pinch campy opening what, February 10th, astir apt successful Goodyear. So you know, they’ll have, you know, a bunch of, you know, they’re highly, I mean they’re, they’re precocious level prospects come, travel to camp. I would ideate Travis Bazzana will get a look, we’ll get a telephone and that, you know, that’s going to beryllium breathtaking to spot really he mixes successful and really gets his first benignant of extended look astatine nan large convention style of baseball.

Joe Noga: And he came up, he appeared in. Bazzana did look successful a bunch of Cactus League games past year, but that was coming complete from nan insignificant convention camp. That wasn’t. Hey, he’s successful large convention campy nan full clip getting that experience. So it’ll beryllium different this twelvemonth and evidently it’ll start, you know, a batch earlier. And past you besides person to facet successful Bazzana playing for Timo Australia successful nan World Baseball Classic this year. That’s different benignant of wrinkle that’s going to beryllium thrown successful and would astir apt interrupt astatine slightest a information of his large convention camp. All of, each of that’s to say, you know, it astir apt won’t lead to a awesome opportunity for him to make nan opening time roster, sloppy of really good he performs.

Paul Hoynes: Yeah, nary uncertainty astir it. You know, he’s not going to make nan opening time roster. I mean, I would think, you know, I’m not judge wherever Team Australia is going to train for nan WBC. Joe. I cognize you know, he spent what, you know, correct aft nan insignificant convention play ended past year, he went location to Australia. Then, you know, I deliberation he spent clip astatine location and then, you know, astatine nan wintertime meetings we were told that he had, you know, returned to a bully twelvemonth and I was, I would ideate he was getting prepared for Australia for, for nan WBC. Now, you know, possibly he won’t be, you know, induce yet. One of the, nan invitees to travel to, you know, Arizona and train pinch nan large league. He’ll beryllium training pinch w. With Australia. If Australia is training what successful Australia aliases location successful nan Far East. You know, that’s a batch of recreation truthful it’ll beryllium absorbing to spot where, really he fits.

Joe Noga: Gotta ideate that Australia will beryllium playing its games successful nan WBC successful immoderate the, nan Japanese aliases the, nan Asian, you know, theatre will beryllium for, for those games. Yeah, I can’t ideate them that location being that overmuch recreation progressive and those teams will astir apt train aliases believe retired of Arizona because of nan proximity aliases location successful Southern California and nan games return spot there. So conscionable a batch to, to benignant of fig retired pinch wherever Bazan is going to extremity up. But for illustration we said, each signs correct now pointing to him having spending clip successful nan large convention campy but you know, surely not being 1 of nan candidates favored to make an opening time roster. We besides conscionable wrong nan last, you know, 12 to 14, they’re seeing reports that nan Guardians have, you know, signed different correct handed pitcher. Speaking of nan World Baseball Classic, Ettore Giulianelli, a difficult throwing correct hander, tin get it up to 98 miles an hour. He’s Italian if you couldn’t show by the, nan past sanction Hoynsie. I’m not moreover going to fto you effort to pronounce this guy’s past name. But he spent 4 years successful nan Cardinals organization, a insignificant convention free supplier and apparently according to John Morosi and a fewer others, is signing pinch nan Guardians. Don’t cognize if he’s going to get an induce to outpouring training, but he fits nan bill. Six ft three, 190 pounds, throws difficult from nan correct side. Ettore Giulianelli. Practice up connected your Italian enunciation there, Hoynsie.

Paul Hoynes: Yeah, absorbing sign. We’ll person to spot really he fits into nan statement and what nan statement tin do for him to get him connected a way to Cleveland.

Joe Noga: Yeah, I deliberation past play in, successful thing for illustration 28 inn for nan Florida Coast League squad for nan Cardinals he walked 31, but he struck retired 39. You know, it’s, it’s nan aged Bull Durham line. Uh, you know, walked 15, a caller convention record, struck retired 18, and besides a caller convention record. You know, uh, 1 of nan awesome lines in, uh, successful a, successful a shot movie. Yeah, Nuke Leash. Well, Nuke Leash is harder to spell than Tori Giulianelli. So we’ll support an oculus on, connected nan Italian Stallion. Hoynsie. All right, we want to talk a small spot astir a station that we saw, absorbing workout that our friends complete the, astatine nan Athletic did wherever they went done fundamentally each of nan remaining free agents retired location correct now, and they put together a roster, fundamentally a 1 done 9 and starting pitchers and chair and everything. They made up a roster of remaining free agents. And I’ll show you this, if this were a first squad successful nan league, I would, I put immoderate money connected these guys. They could triumph immoderate shot games. Hoynsie, what do you deliberation of a lineup that has Bo Bichette, Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, Cody Bellinger, Eugenio Suarez, jt, Rio Muto, Luisa Rise, Harrison Bader, and Willie Castro? They could triumph immoderate shot games.

Paul Hoynes: You’re not kidding, Joe. And that’s, that’s an costly starting 9 arsenic good if these guys get paid what they’re looking for connected a free Asian market. But it, it’s, it’s astonishing that truthful overmuch talent is still retired there, Joe, and it’s still benignant of twisting successful nan wind. And you wonder, you know, why these guys haven’t been snapped up and is it just, you know, nan domino mentation guy, Kyle Tucker yet gets signed owed to nan remainder of them, you know, autumn successful statement reasonably quickly because nan timepiece is ticking and we’re into January astatine camps unfastened successful early February, particularly pinch nan WBC. I’m judge these guys are looking to spot where, you know, would for illustration to find a location for themselves earlier nan commencement of nan season.

Joe Noga: Yeah, I mean, this year, the, nan free supplier market, it’s moved slowly, but not possibly arsenic slow arsenic we deliberation backmost to 2022 erstwhile location was besides a labour speech going on, a prolonged benignant of agelong speech location that really delayed nan commencement of nan play by a week backmost successful 2022. And past location were, location was a campy that, you know, nan free agents were each moving retired at. And you know, guys, it took everlastingly for guys to get signed. You know, this twelvemonth doesn’t needfully consciousness for illustration it’s astatine that level rather yet, but yeah, there’s a, there’s a spot of a delay. I mean, nan apical guys, the, the, the, nan premier guys Went early. You know, Josh Naylor was 1 of nan first ones to motion and he was 1 of nan large guys taken disconnected the, nan database early. But you know, these guys, you know, Bregman, Bellinger, Tucker are each guys who tin make an effect this season. Of that group, of that, those 9 that I listed there, who do you deliberation mightiness beryllium nan first 1 disconnected nan committee present earlier things get going?

Paul Hoynes: Yeah, that’s, that’s a awesome question. I would think, you know, there’s not that overmuch competition. You know, there’s not. I would deliberation Bichette would beryllium a feline to me, Joe, that, that would want to get this point done and you could, you could. It looks for illustration he, he’s, you know, Toronto is astir apt retired of it correct now, truthful I would deliberation Bichette is astir apt possibly nan first to spell amongst that starting nine.

Joe Noga: Yeah, I mean, erstwhile you opportunity Toronto is retired of it, Toronto has had spent their measurement retired of Bo Bichette by going and signing, you know, Japanese players and, and Dylan Cease and Toronto’s had an fantabulous disconnected play by each accounts successful adding to an already winning core. It’s almost for illustration they, they don’t request Boba Shed, which benignant of, benignant of sounds, you know, silly to, to say, but Andres Jimenez is going to play shortstop there, it looks like, and they’ll be, they’ll beryllium successful bully shape. You can’t, you can’t, you know, contradict Bichette’s talent. The feline who can, you know, lead nan convention in, successful hits astatine immoderate fixed moment, he’s, he’s ever sewage the, nan deed full up there. You know, we saw what he could do moreover connected show successful nan World Series. I’m conscionable curious, you know, is he going to beryllium a 2nd baseman, is he going to beryllium a shortstop? Wherever he signs, you know, there, there’s teams retired location that could decidedly usage him. I conscionable don’t cognize what nan champion fresh for him is.

Paul Hoynes: Yeah, definitely, Joe. You know, he wounded that ankle precocious past season, put him connected nan IL erstwhile he was playing shortstop, but he looked beautiful bully astatine 2nd guidelines erstwhile he came backmost and played successful nan postseason. So, you know, you would deliberation that. I conjecture it each depends what a squad is looking for. If you request an violative minded shortstop, I mean, Boba Shed is astir apt nan guy.

Joe Noga: Yeah, Tucker, Bregman and Bellinger are each guys who can, tin make a large impact. And I’m looking astatine some New York teams and I’m thinking, you know, nan Mets person by each accounts had a disastrous offseason, not conscionable connected who they’ve, you know, fto walk, but besides who they’ve grounded to beryllium capable to bring in, for illustration anybody of value and impact. You know, they suffer Pete Alonso, they haven’t really added to that lineup successful immoderate way. I gotta judge that they’re, they’re going to beryllium consenting to walk immoderate it takes to get 1 of those 3 guys, if not much than 1 of those 3 guys.

Paul Hoynes: Yeah, you know, you would think, I would ideate Bellinger is waiting to spot what Tucker gets and past would, would, would benignant of, you know, possibly effort to level disconnected that aliases spring, you know, springboard disconnected that contract. But Tucker is coming disconnected that, you know, benignant of a basking and acold play pinch nan C projections interest he was going to motion for 500, a $500 cardinal deal. You know, he’s been wounded for 2 years, truthful you don’t know. I don’t cognize if that benignant of woody is retired location for him correct now, Joe. So maybe, you know, Bellinger, you know, it seems for illustration nan Yankees really want him back. Toronto is still talking to Tucker. You know, Bregman is simply a feline that, that really benignant of interests me. You know, he, he opted retired of a 3 year, $120 cardinal woody pinch Boston. I deliberation he could extremity up going backmost location maybe. But, you know, he’s, he’s an absorbing feline arsenic well.

Joe Noga: Yeah. And absorbing successful that, you know, he had been adjacent to signing or, you know, had astatine slightest been successful talks pinch Detroit arsenic well. You know, that’s thing that impacts nan Guardians and their play is if Bregman winds up successful nan division, you know, joining a section opponent, joining nan squad that, that knocked you retired of nan postseason. You know, if they, you know, a Bregman reunion pinch AJ Hinch successful Detroit is simply a possibility, past that’s thing that nan Guardians fans decidedly person to support an oculus on. But Bellinger, to me, seems to beryllium nan 1 retired of that group that could person nan biggest effect connected immoderate squad that he joins. You know, you wonderment if the, nan Yankees are superior astir paying him, bringing him back, or, aliases if he’s going to research different options.

Paul Hoynes: Yeah, I deliberation they really, nan Yankees really want him back, Joe, and I think, you know, that’s wherever he’ll, he will yet land. Well, nan 1 feline is absorbing that’s been connected pinch Cleveland is Harrison Bader, I should say. He’s playing halfway section successful this lineup. But, you know, I don’t cognize if he’s, you know, he’s said to beryllium looking for a 2 to Three twelvemonth deal. I don’t cognize if nan Guardians will spell that, you know, this is simply a feline that we saw a mates years agone wounded Cleveland successful nan postseason erstwhile he was playing pinch nan Yankees and is coming disconnected really a beardown year. Last play he ended up pinch nan Phillies.

Joe Noga: Yeah. And he swings nan bat from nan correct broadside of nan plate. So that tin only thief capable a request for nan Guardians if that’s thing that they’re willing in. I was going to inquire you of that remaining group that, that I listed there, J.T. Realmuto, Eugenio Suarez, we talked astir earlier successful nan week, Willie Castro, Luis Arraez. Do immoderate of those guys fresh with, pinch what Cleveland wants to do aliases do you deliberation that overarching accuracy of keeping nan Runway clear for immoderate of these prospects is what’s going to yet triumph retired for nan Guardians?

Paul Hoynes: You know, I, I can’t spot him going aft Realmuto.

Joe Noga: Right.

Paul Hoynes: I deliberation it’s astir apt excessively overmuch money and you emotion nan player, you know, great, great. You know, 3 clip batting champion. Just what, had adjacent to 200 hits again past season? I, I don’t know. I, I, you know, if he’s only going to play first base, I conscionable don’t spot that. I deliberation he’s blocking nan Manzardo aliases Kayfus. And past Bader is still up successful nan air. Castro, you know, evidently he came from Cleveland. He’s a Cleveland guy, inferior guy, plays each over. That’s probably, if they travel suit, that’s astir apt nan feline they, they would astir apt motion retired of that group.

Joe Noga: Yeah, he, he, he really does. You cognize what, erstwhile Chris Antonetti, Mike Chernoff and, and Steven Vogt spot a feline who can, you know, play infield, outfield, I deliberation he’s a move hitter arsenic well. You know, their, their eyes ray up for illustration nan meme of nan feline opinionated down nan tree. So nan area location at, you know, nan opportunity to, to motion a feline for illustration that, I don’t know, I don’t spot that happening. I don’t spot them bringing anybody other successful astatine this point. But interesting. With Arise, you could brace him astatine nan apical of nan bid pinch Stephen Kwan and fundamentally person 2 clones of each other. High connected base, guys pinch precocious bat to shot skills Arise, possibly a small spot much power, but Kwon processing that benignant of power. Stephen Kwan is possibly Luis Arai’s light, but nan 2 of them were would surely springiness you a batch of hits astatine nan apical of nan order.

Paul Hoynes: Yeah, decidedly that would amended that.226 squad batting mean for sure.

Joe Noga: Yeah, by a lot. So, yeah, there’s a batch of opportunities, a batch of guys still retired location to beryllium considered, possibly not by nan Guardians, but surely by immoderate of their divisional opponents and playoff contenders successful nan American League. So it’s a, it’s thing to support an oculus on. A bully small workout done by nan guys complete nan diversion hoy that’s going to wrap up today’s version of nan Cleveland Baseball Talk podcast. We will cheque successful again pinch you connected Thursday.

Paul Hoynes: Well, thanks, man.