Guardians Sign John Means to One-Year Deal with 2026 Option

The former Orioles pitcher, recovering from a second Tommy John surgery, is not expected to pitch until late 2025 at the earliest.

John Means, a 2019 All-Star and 2021 no-hitter pitcher, has agreed to a one-year contract with the Cleveland Guardians, including a club option for 2026, pending a physical.
Means, 31, is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in June 2024, and is unlikely to pitch in 2025 until late in the season, if at all.
The left-hander has spent his entire career with the Baltimore Orioles, compiling a 3.68 ERA across seven MLB seasons, but has been limited to just 10 appearances since 2021 due to injuries.
Means will report to the Guardians' Spring Training facility in Goodyear, Arizona, on Tuesday to continue his rehabilitation under the team's supervision.
The move follows Cleveland's strategy of adding veteran pitchers recovering from injuries, as seen with Matthew Boyd's successful late-season contribution in 2024.