Guardians Free Agent Pitcher Projected To Get This Contract

Matthew Boyd is predicted to receive a one-year deal for the 2025 season, and the Cleveland Guardians should be ready to offer him that.

Oct 7, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) pitches during the first inning during the first inning against the Detroit Tigers during game two of the ALDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images / David Richard-Imagn Images

It's hard to imagine how the Cleveland Guardians would have gotten through the 2024 regular season, let alone the playoffs, if they hadn't addressed their starting rotation in the middle of the year.

The front office took a flier on veteran pitcher Matthew Boyd, who was still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He became an anchor in Cleveland's rotation for the rest of the season and was their number-two pitcher in the playoffs.

However, that was only a one-year deal. Boyd is now a free agent and will likely attract plenty of interest on the open market because of how he rebounded and performed in the postseason last season.

MLB analyst and insider Jim Bowden of the Athletic predicted that Boyd would earn a one-year $10 million deal for the 2025 season.

Oct 7, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) reacts after getting the last out of the fourth inning against the Detroit Tigers during game two of the ALDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images / Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

"Matthew Boyd really increased his value in the postseason as he logged a 0.77 ERA over three starts (11 2/3 innings)," wrote Bowden. "With a deceptive delivery and an arsenal that includes a fastball, changeup and slider, Boyd commands the strike zone well, adding and subtracting with unique shapes and sizes. He underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2023 but now looks healthy with a good mindset."

If this is, in fact, the deal Boyd gets over the summer, the Guardian should be first in line to offer it to him. Cleveland still has holes and unknowns in its starting rotation, and increasing that depth is something they have to do over the winter.

Boyd was not only an effective pitcher on the mound, but he also appeared to provide a solid locker-room presence. He originally chose the Guardians because of how tight of a group they were.

Re-signing Boyd at this value should be a no-brainer move for Cleveland this offseason.