John Means Fantasy Stats

The Cleveland Guardians declined their 2026 option on left-hander John Means (elbow) on Thursday, officially making him a free agent this offseason, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. Means was an All-Star with the Baltimore Orioles in 2019, posting a 3.60 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 121:38 K:BB in 155 innings over his 31 outings (27 starts) in his first full season in the big leagues. The 32-year-old veteran southpaw has struggled to return to that form, though, and injuries have been the biggest issue. He was recovering from Tommy John surgery and did not pitch at all in the big leagues in 2025. However, Means did make seven minor-league rehab appearances late in the season, so barring a setback, he should be ready for the start of the 2026 campaign. It remains to be seen where he'll land in free agency, though, and fantasy managers will want to see him stay healthy before considering him off the waiver wire.

Cleveland Guardians left-hander John Means (elbow) struggled in his latest rehab start with Triple-A Columbus on Sunday. Means lasted 3 2/3 innings and yielded six runs on five hits, including two homers, and four walks. The 32-year-old did throw 82 pitches, his most in any of his six rehab starts, but has managed a brutal 9.60 ERA with 11:10 K:BB in four appearances and 15 innings with Columbus. It's unclear if the Guardians plan to activate Means from the 60-day injured list before the season ends. If he does get into a game this year, it'll be the first time since May 2024 for the former Baltimore Oriole. Means underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2024, and he settled for a one-year, $1 million guarantee with the Guardians in free agency last offseason. The Guardians will have to decide during the upcoming offseason whether to pick up Means' $6 million club option for 2026.

Cleveland Guardians left-hander John Means (elbow) didn't fare too well in his fifth minor-league rehab start on Sunday with Triple-A Columbus, giving up five earned runs on six hits while waking two and striking out three in 4 1/3 innings of work. He threw 46 of his 72 pitches for strikes in the outing. Means had his fifth rehab start pushed back from Friday to Sunday because of an illness, and perhaps he still wasn't feeling all that great. The good news is that the 32-year-old southpaw was extended out to 72 pitches. However, it's expected that he'll need at least one more rehab start before the Guardians consider activating him for what will be his 2025 debut in the big leagues. Given the time of year, fantasy managers will not be able to consider Means a realistic option when he makes his debut with Cleveland, and he won't even be guaranteed a starting role.

Cleveland Guardians left-hander John Means (elbow) will throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, followed by a rehab start for Triple-A Columbus on Friday, MLB.com reports. Friday's outing will be the fifth rehab start for Means, who threw four innings and 58 pitches in his previous outing on Sunday. His pitch count will bump up to 75 on Friday, after which the left-hander could rejoin Cleveland's rotation. At this time, it's unclear how Means will fit into the rotation for the Guardians, but based on his 73 career starts and 3.68 career ERA, it's fair to think he will get a spot in the rotation. Means is recovering from a left elbow UCL injury and has not been healthy since 2021, throwing only 52 1/3 innings over the past three seasons. With the Guardians currently four games back in the AL Wild Card Race, any help they can get will be accepted. Regarding fantasy value, Means is not a recommended add at this time due to his uncertainty and time missed over the last three seasons.

Cleveland Guardians left-hander John Means (elbow) made his fourth minor-league rehab start on Sunday and pitched well for Triple-A Columbus. Means tossed four innings of two-hit ball, allowed one unearned run, and recorded four strikeouts against two walks on 58 pitches (37 strikes). The former Baltimore Oriole hasn't gone past 61 pitches in any of his rehab outings, so he'll likely need at least one more start in the minors before potentially joining the Guardians' rotation. The 32-year-old last pitched in the majors on May 22, 2024, and underwent Tommy John surgery that June.

Cleveland Guardians left-hander John Means wasn't very sharp in his latest minor-league rehab start on Tuesday with Triple-A Columbus, as he allowed four earned runs on three hits (all homers) while walking two and striking out two in three innings of work in a loss to Triple-A Louisville. It was his first start at the Triple-A level after his first two rehab starts came at High-A. The 32-year-old southpaw got his pitch count up to 61 in the outing, and he's likely to need one or two more minor-league tune-ups before the Guardians consider activating him for his 2025 debut. Means, who was an All-Star in 2019 and finished as the runner-up for the American League Rookie of the Year, has made only 10 starts at the major-league level since the start of the 2022 season. There's no guarantee he'll return to a starting role in Cleveland, either, so he should remain on the waiver wire in mixed leagues.

Cleveland Guardians left-hander John Means (elbow) will make his next minor-league rehab start on Tuesday with Triple-A Columbus, according to MLB.com. In his second rehab outing with High-A Lake County on Aug. 20, Means tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings and got up to 51 pitches last Wednesday. He has been on the injured list all year after having Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in June of 2024. The 32-year-old veteran southpaw is working his way back, though, and is expected to be available to pitch for the Guardians at some point in September, barring a setback. If Means looks good in his third rehab outing on Tuesday, it's possible he'll be in line to come off the 60-day injured list after that. Because of his long layoff and unclear role in Cleveland when he's cleared to return, fantasy managers in 12-team leagues can continue to ignore him.

Cleveland Guardians left-hander John Means (elbow) was solid in his first rehab outing as he works his way back from June 2024 Tommy John surgery. Starting for High-A Lake County, Means threw 38 pitches over 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and zero walks while striking out three. Given that Means has not pitched in a major league game in over a year, he will surely be making several more rehab starts. He may be a rotation or bulk relief option for Cleveland in September, but Means is unlikely to factor in fantasy until 2026. Injuries have limited Means to just 10 starts since the start of the 2022 season, but he's been a very effective pitcher (career 1.05 WHIP) when healthy.

Cleveland Guardians left-hander John Means (elbow) is scheduled to make a minor-league rehab start for High-A Lake County on Friday and will throw three innings, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. It's a big step for Means, who will be pitching in his first game since having a second Tommy John surgery in June of 2024. The 32-year-old southpaw is going to probably need a handful of starts in the minors, but if he can avoid a setback, it's possible that he could be a starting-rotation option for the Guards in September as they look to get into the postseason. For fantasy purposes, managers shouldn't be expecting Means to make any kind of impact. Means made his only All-Star squad in his second year in the big leagues with Baltimore in 2019 and has yet to do much since. He has started only 10 games in the big leagues since the start of 2022 due to injuries.

Cleveland Guardians left-hander John Means (elbow) was able to use his full repertoire during an 18-pitch bullpen session on Wednesday, according to the team. Means is slowly building back up as he rehabs from the elbow surgery he underwent in June 2024 as a member of the Baltimore Orioles. The owner of a lifetime 3.68 ERA over 401 innings and 78 appearances (73 starts), Means hit free agency last winter and joined the Guardians on a one-year, $1 million guarantee. The deal also includes a $6 million club option for 2026, so the Guardians will want to see Means in game action before deciding whether to pick it up. The Guardians expect the 32-year-old to debut in September if he avoids setbacks.