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The Cleveland Guardians put a whole lot of faith in Jhonkensy Noel heading into the 2025 MLB season, as they did not make any major outfield additions over the winter.
Yes, the Guardians did swing a trade for Nolan Jones shortly before the start of the campaign, but there was more to find a platoon bat for Noel in right field.
To put it simply, Cleveland was hoping that Noel would break out this year after displaying some significant flashes in 2024, but it hasn't panned out thus far.
Heading into Tuesday night's game against the Baltimore Orioles, Noel was slashing just .188/.229/.188 with no home runs and two RBI. Sure, he had cut down on his strikeouts, but his inability to generate any power thus far this season has been a problem.
James Mastrucci of Away Back Gone is none too pleased with Noel's power shortage through the first couple of weeks and sent a rather strong warning to the 23-year-old amid his struggles.
"The Guardians need Noel to hit home runs and doubles, end of story," Mastrucci wrote. "There is nothing wrong with hitting singles, and it is a positive of sorts that Noel has managed to get the hits he has so far in 2025, but that is not what he is in the lineup for (they have Steven Kwan for that). If Noel is unable to turn things around soon, some uncomfortable conversations regarding his playing time/role and maybe even his major league roster status might have to take place."
Noel was promoted to the big leagues last June and managed to smash 13 homers over 198 plate appearances, which had Guardians fans buzzing wondering what the Dominican native would be able to achieve in his first full season.
However, the slugger has been unable to put it together thus far. We'll see if Noel can right the ship before it's too late.
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Athletics' Nick Kurtz makes MLB history vs. Astros
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Nick Saban responds to speculation about coaching return amid NFL rumors
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Warriors' Stephen Curry believes NBA players are 'underpaid'
Are NBA players underpaid? Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry argues yes. The greatest shooter in NBA history said Thursday on Complex’s “360 With Speedy” that because the league’s current CBA doesn’t allow for current players to invest in league and team equity, players are leaving money on the table. “I would say, yes, we are underpaid,” Curry admitted when asked, despite enormous salaries, if the players were getting short-changed, “because you wanna be able to participate in that rise [of equity].” “It’s a partnership with ownership, [and] it’s a partnership with the league,” the 37-year-old stressed, revealing that league salaries do not reflect players’ impact on team valuations. If anyone has the right to begrudge the current CBA on player participation in equity, it’s Curry. When drafted in 2009, the Warriors were worth $315 million. Current valuations in May of 2025 have the team at $9.4 billion, the most in the league. Curry’s been paid handsomely during his time in Golden State, and he doesn’t overlook it. “I know we’re blessed to be in a position where we’re playing basketball for a living, and these are the type of checks that people are earning,” he told Complex. However, when he signed his $62.6 million one-year extension in 2024 that would keep him in a Warriors’ jersey until 2027, many felt that no amount of money the franchise could offer him would represent his worth. Curry had an undeniable impact on the Warriors’ valuation increasing by nearly 3,000%. He’s benefited by being the most salaried player on the roster and plenty of endorsement deals. But is he getting his fair share? Something similar may happen with reigning NBA Finals MVP and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who just signed the richest contract in league history with an average annual value of $71.25 million. According to Forbes, the Thunder’s valuation increased 20% from 2023 to 2024 and will likely take another jump after this year’s championship. Curry concedes that player participation in equity isn’t a simple concept and not all markets are created equal: “You got competitive advantage considerations…and want every market to have a fair chance, like I get all that.” He believes, however, that finding a solution is a “mutually beneficial proposition” for players, teams and the league. Even the most expensive people in the world need to find other investors to make owning an NBA team possible. The best example of Curry’s point is the Boston Celtics sale in March. The most-championed franchise in league history was sold to Bill Chisholm for $6.1 billion, the largest ever sports franchise sale in North America at the time. Chisholm needed Rob Hale, Bruce Beal Jr., and private equity firm Sixth Street, to afford the purchase. Because team ownership is already a multi-investor operation, the league could potentially come to an agreement with the players by the next CBA negotiation at the end of the decade. If not, the league's best players will continue to simultaneously earn a ridiculous amount of money, and it will not be nearly enough.
2024-25 Los Angeles Lakers Player Review: Jalen Hood-Schifino
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