The Guardians have assigned right-hander Tyler Beede outright to Triple-A Columbus, as indicated by his MLB.com transactions tracker. This move suggests that he has cleared waivers subsequent to his designation for assignment last week. While he retains the option to become a free agent, it remains uncertain whether he has opted to pursue this route.
Beede, who will turn 31 later this month, returned to Major League Baseball after a stint in Japan during the 2023 season. Following a minor league deal with the Guardians, he earned a spot on the Opening Day roster after posting a 4.15 earned run average over 13 innings during Spring Training.
However, Beede encountered challenges during the regular season despite a notable 26.5% strikeout rate. Across 14 innings pitched, he conceded 13 earned runs, resulting in an ERA of 8.36. While some statistical outliers, such as a .389 batting average on balls in play and a 55.6% strand rate, may have contributed to his struggles, his 13.2% walk rate posed additional hurdles. Although his 5.00 FIP was an improvement over his ERA, his 3.78 SIERA painted a more optimistic picture.
Once regarded as a top prospect with the Giants, Beede faced difficulties establishing himself in the majors from 2018 to 2022, utilizing his option years in the process. Consequently, he is now out of options, meaning he cannot be readily demoted to the minors. Recently removed from the Guardians’ 40-man roster, Beede went unclaimed off waivers by the league’s other 29 clubs.
Players with at least three years of service time or a prior outright assignment possess the right to decline outright assignments and opt for free agency instead. Given Beede’s eligibility on both fronts, he could choose to explore opportunities in the open market.
