Ben Lively, who logged nearly 90 innings for the Cincinnati Reds in 2023, has signed a major league deal with the Cleveland Guardians.
Per Zack Meisel of 'The Athletic' on social media:
This is a one-year, $750,000 deal, per source. None of it is deferred, I assume.
The deferral comment is a reference to the insane contract structure that Shohei Ohtani is going to have with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Lively started 12 games for the Reds this past season as they chased their first playoff appearance since 2020. He made 19 total appearances, logging those 88.2 innings and going 4-7 with a 5.38 ERA. He struck out 79 batters.
The 31-year-old Florida native will be 32 before Opening Day of next year. He made his major league debut in 2017 with the Philadelphia Phillies while also pitching for the Kansas City Royals. He appeared in one game for the 2019 Royals and then didn't appear in a major league game until 2023 with the Reds.
It's unclear at this point what Lively's role will be for the Guardians and new manager Stephen Vogt. The team currently has Shane Bieber, Triston McKenze, Tanner Bibee, and Logan Allen as rotation options. Perhaps Bieber will get traded, perhaps the Guardians will sign other pitchers, no one knows at this point.
Since Lively has experience in multiple roles on a staff, he could be of multiple uses to the Guardians in 2024 as they attempt to get back to the playoffs.
They finished third in the AL Central a season ago.
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