The Tanner Bibee Era Begins

 Let me go on record as saying this is a big mistake.  I haven't had time to do the research but I am pretty sure Bibee represents one of the first 2021 draftees to make his ML debut.  As a yardstick, Jack Leiter, the #2 overall pick in that draft and our own Gavin Williams, are still at AA.

This move appears to be one of desperation, trying to find a spark to ignite this team.  I guess when the only spark in the last 10 games was provided by a rookie pitcher, Logan Allen, in his major league debut, this type of desperate move may have some public relations merit in addition to being an act of desperation.

Of course, now his option clock will start, unless he stays up the whole season, at which point his arbitration and free agent clocks will be adversely impacted.

This is the play the Guardians are making but it smacks of when Cleveland brought Steve Dunning directly to the majors after drafting him in 1970 and us old guys know that didn't turn out too well.

I think Pilkington will clearly be picked up on waivers if we don't trade him first.  He provides enough upside as an end of the roster multi-inning reliever that some team, likely a rebuilding team, will pick him up as Washington did with the previously Guardian Logan Allen without the T.  I think what may have sealed this is his two innings of shutout relief yesterday.  Not that Pilkington, based on what he has shown already in Cleveland, is a great loss and I recently said that his DFA would not be the end of the world compared to some other moves.

I hope this works out better than Steve Dunning.  We are NOT nor should we ever strive to be the Cleveland baseball team of the '70s.

Go Guardians!