The Cleveland Guardians made a couple of key moves in the offseason after winning 92 games en route to an AL Central title.
They brought in catcher Mike Zunino to replace the departed Austin Hedges and also signed slugger Josh Bell to bolster their offense.
However, the Guardians were sellers at this year’s trade deadline.
Back in June, they released Zunino after a tough start to the season.
On Tuesday, they waived the white flag on Bell as well, trading him to the Miami Marlins.
On Twitter, The Athletic pointed out just how badly the Guardians messed up on their free agent acquisitions.
Mike Zunino lasted in Cleveland until June 16. Josh Bell made it another 46 days.
The Guardians’ two big offseason adds won’t be playing for the club in August or September.
What a free-agency failure, writes @ZackMeisel.https://t.co/7e0OwpFZ2A pic.twitter.com/JYlqBsuezS
— The Athletic MLB (@TheAthleticMLB) August 2, 2023
Bell and Zunino were brought in to strengthen the Guardians roster.
While Bell is having a decent season, Zunino did not.
These were the only two notable players the Guardians signed in the offseason.
Now, both of them are gone and the 2023 season isn’t even over just yet.
Bell was given a two-year deal with an opt-out clause after the first season.
Zunino’s contract was just a one-year deal.
But this was all the Guardians were able to accomplish last offseason, and as the regular season reaches its final two months, the Guardians will be without both players.
Not only has the team officially waived the white flag on the 2023 season, but they have also given up on their two offseason signings, not even a year after the deals were made.
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