Has Trevor Stephan Lived Up To His Contract Extension?

The Cleveland reliever completed his first season since signing a contract extension earlier this year. Is it paying off?

Over the past two seasons, the Cleveland Guardians have signed a handful of players to contract extensions to keep them in Cleveland long-term.

The first of two players to sign an extension with the Guardians earlier this year was second baseman Andrés Giménez, whose contract has been worth its price so far.

Just days later, relief pitcher Trevor Stephan signed a four-year, $10 million extension with the team. This came nearly a year after Cleveland secured another piece of its bullpen, closer Emmanuel Clase, with a five-year, $20 million extension.

While 2023 was Stephan’s first season after signing his contract extension, has it looked like a good deal for Cleveland thus far?

The 27-year-old signed his extension following a breakout 2022 campaign.

The right-hander totaled career-bests in many categories, including wins (six), ERA (2.69), appearances (66), innings pitched (63.2), strikeouts (82), and WHIP (1.18).

He also pitched remarkably well in his first postseason, pitching 5.2 hitless innings with a 1.59 ERA, one walk, and 11 strikeouts in four relief appearances.

In 2023, he went 4-3 with a 2.54 ERA in 39.0 innings pitched before the All-Star Break. But in his next 29.2 innings pitched, Stephan’s ERA skyrocketed to 6.07, as he compiled a 3-4 record.

Aug 30, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Trevor Stephan (37) throws to the Minnesota Twins in the ninth inning at Target Field / © Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Overall, the reliever had career-worsts of seven losses, a 4.06 ERA, and eight blown saves. Stephan also doubled his 2022 home runs allowed and had 26 walks, while his average fastball velocity decreased from 96.5 MPH in 2022 to 94.9 MPH in 2023.

However, he did notch career-highs of seven wins, 71 appearances, 28 holds, and 68.2 innings pitched.

While Stephan was still a steady contributor in Cleveland’s bullpen this season, he still has some work to do to live up to his new contract.