CLEVELAND — Houston Astros players were taking batting practice Saturday in the 4 o’clock hour at Progressive Field.
First pitch was about two hours away and highlights of Guardians players were playing on the large video board beyond the left field fence.
Among the highlights were home runs and extra base hits by Jose Ramirez, Amed Rosario, Andres Gimenez, Josh Naylor, Oscar Gonzalez, Steven Kwan, Owen Miller, Myles Straw and Franmil Reyes from earlier this season.
The song ‘Life in the Fast Lane’ by the Eagles played in the background, which was a bit ironic with Saturday’s news that the Guardians designated Reyes for assignment and released Bobby Bradley on Saturday in a series of moves.
Earlier this season, Reyes and Bradley were starters.
By August 6, Bradley is gone and Reyes could be next depending on whether he is traded, cut or sent back to Class AAA Columbus.
“We want to see our young guys play,” Guardians manager Terry Francona said before Saturday’s game.
Reyes and Bradley had each struggled this season with Cleveland after being in the Opening Day starting lineup. Reyes was Cleveland’s designated hitter and batted fourth and Bradley was the Guardians’ first baseman and batted fifth in the opener on April 7 against the host Kansas City Royals.
News from earlier this month:Guardians further commit to youth movement after inactive deadline; Franmil Reyes optioned
That Opening Day lineup also included former Guardian Yu Chang starting at second base and hitting sixth. Chang, 26, is now a member of the Tampa Bay Rays after a brief stint with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Reyes, 27, had a .213 batting average with nine home runs, 28 RBI, a .254 on-base percentage and a .350 slugging percentage in 70 games this season with the Guardians. He had 104 strikeouts in 280 plate appearances.
Last season in 115 games, Reyes compiled a .254 batting average with 30 home runs, 85 RBI, a .324 on-base percentage and a .522 slugging percentage. He had 149 strikeouts in 466 plate appearances.
Reyes was optioned to Class AAA Columbus on Tuesday.
“It was tough,” Francona said of Reyes’ season to date.
“It was difficult. You know that a guy like him can get hot and carry a team, and then they bounce off. Swing and miss comes with the territory. But he wasn’t getting to the fastball and it seemed like a hanging breaking ball, he was hitting maybe for a single and there was an occasional home run. He wasn’t getting to pitches he used to.”
Cleveland acquired Reyes, Yasiel Puig, Logan Allen, Scott Moss and Victor Nova in a three-team trade on July 31, 2019. The San Diego Padres received Taylor Trammell and the Cincinnati Reds acquired Trevor Bauer.
Reyes and Bradley each struggled with consistently making contact at bat while strikeouts piled up.
Bradley, 26, was Cleveland’s third round pick in the 2014 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut in 2019.
Bradley had a .118 batting average with no home runs, no RBI, a .118 on-base percentage and a .118 slugging percentage in eight games this season with the Guardians.
Last season in 74 games, Bradley posted a .208 batting average with 16 home runs, 41 RBI, a .294 on-base percentage and a .445 slugging percentage.
The Guardians designated Bradley for assignment on May 2, he cleared waivers and was sent to Columbus on May 5.
“He was having a tough time [in Columbus],” Francona said. “… The thought is that a change of scenery would be really good for the kid. He is a good kid. He wasn’t going good offensively. He was going to be a free agent in five weeks.”
The Guardians also announced Saturday that it selected the contract of right-handed relief pitcher Jake Jewell from Class AAA Columbus and optioned right-handed starting pitcher Hunter Gaddis to Columbus.
The Guardians also announced Saturday that it selected the contract of right-handed relief pitcher Jake Jewell from Class AAA Columbus and optioned right-handed starting pitcher Hunter Gaddis to Columbus.
Gaddis cleaned out his locker inside the Guardians clubhouse Saturday afternoon and left to join the Clippers. Gaddis made his MLB debut in Friday’s loss to the Astros, pitching 3 1/3 innings and allowing eight earned runs, seven hits, two walks and two home runs (both to Trey Mancini). Gaddis also struck out two.
“We need to find out [what we have] and then you can make better decisions moving forward,” Francona said. “… Opportunities — you can go from prospect to suspect, but I guess you gotta live through it.”
Francona added that Jewell has a “really good change-up.”
“We are trying to fortify our pen,” Francona said. “… We don’t want to run through our bullpen.”
Guardians pitcher Aaron Civale set to return Wednesday in Detroit
Francona said right-handed pitcher Aaron Civale is set to return to the team and make a start Wednesday at Detroit against the Tigers.
“He said he felt good and is weird to go, so that is good,” Francona said of Civale. “He certainly will not be fully stretched out, but he is going to pitch Wednesday.”
Michael Beaven can be reached at [email protected]. Follow Beaven on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MBeavenABJ.
More Guardian news:Franmil Reyes expected to be optioned to triple-A; Amed Rosario continues hot stretch
This article originally appeared on the Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians designate Franmil Reyes for assignment