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Hey, Hoynsie: What has happened to Nolan Jones’ power this year? — Darren Donato, Reading, Pennsylvania.
Hey, Darren: The Guardians, since re-acquiring Nolan Jones late in spring training, have not seen the player who hit .297 (109 for 367) with 20 homers, 62 RBI, a .542 slugging percentage and a .931 OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) in 2023 with the Rockies.
What they have seen is a player who looks a lot like the 2024 version of Jones, who battled a back injury in Colorado. Here are the numbers:
2024, Rockies: .227 (58 for 297), three homers, 28 RBI, .320 slugging percentage and a .641 OPS.2025, Guardians: .220 (55 for 250), three homers, 26 RBI, .312 slugging percentage, .625 OPS.
Jones, even in the minors, never had a big breakout year power-wise. In 2018, he hit 19 homers in the low minors for Cleveland. Jones’ exit velocity and hard-hit percentage have improved this year compared to 2024, but they have not produced results in hits, runs and RBI.
Slade Cecconi, Cleveland Guardians.Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Hey, Hoynsie: How does the Josh Naylor trade look in the rearview mirror? — Ryan M, Austin, Texas.
Hey, Ryan: Let me ask you this, how does Slade Cecconi and five more years of control look to you?
This was a deal that helped everyone involved. Naylor has put himself in position for a big free agent payday, the Diamondbacks got a good first half out of him and now collect prospects from Seattle, and the Guardians get a young right-handed starter in Cecconi, along with 18-year-old right-hander Will Hynes from Canada with the Compensation Round B draft pick (No.70) they received in the Naylor deal.
Hey, Hoynsie: If the front office can’t trade fan favorite Carlos Santana by the deadline, what other options should the front office explore? — John Kyle, Westfield Center.
Hey, John: Santana has traditionally been a solid player in the second half of the season. If they can’t or won’t trade him, they’ll continue to get Gold Glove caliber defense at first base, while giving Kyle Manzardo more time there.
If Santana is traded, it could lead to C.J. Kayfus getting promoted to Cleveland to play some first base.
Hey, Hoynsie: Ramón Laureano did nothing in Oakland and Cleveland. He goes to Atlanta last year and starts hitting, and now he’s killing it for Baltimore. That doesn’t set well with a fan like me. — Virgil Houser, Gustavus.
Hey, Virgil: It’s amazing what playing time, a sense of urgency and confidence will do for a player. Some guys can play in a platoon situation, some guys can’t.
One more thing, Laureano had some good years with the A’s.
Catcher Austin Hedges and closer Emmanuel Clase celebrate a 3-2 win over Baltimore at Progressive Field on July 23, 2025. It was Clase’s 23rd save of the season.Getty Images
Hey, Hoynsie: Will the Guardians trade Steven Kwan or Emmanuel Clase before or at the deadline on July 31? — Carl Conrad, Canton.
Hey, Carl: Trading one of those All-Stars would qualify as a fire sale. Trading two would be akin to backing up the truck and starting over.
They’re both under team control for at least two more years. It’s hard to believe they’d trade them both by the deadline.
Hey, Hoynsie: I saw C.J. Kayfus play left field recently. In my opinion, he is not ready to play the outfield in Cleveland? — Chuck, Bainbridge.
Hey, Chuck: The Guardians probably feel the same way, or he’d already be here. He came up as a first baseman, and is being tested in the outfield. But with Chase DeLauter down for six to eight weeks following hand surgery, Kayfus is that much closer to Cleveland regardless of where he plays.
Hey, Hoynsie: Manager Stephen Vogt says he’s going to use newly activated Gabriel Arias at shortstop and Brayan Rocchio at second. I would have gone the other way because of Rocchio’s range. — John, Lakewood, California.
Hey, John: It doesn’t sound like Arias at short and Rocchio at second is written in stone. There will be some adjustments in the final 2 1/2 months of the season.
I love Arias’ arm and Rocchio’s range. Let’s hope one of them hits.
Guardians’ Shane Bieber is scheduled to make a rehab start Sunday for Triple-A Columbus.AP
Hey, Hoynsie: While Shane Bieber is doing his two-inning rehab starts, Tanner Bibee is having trouble getting out of the first inning. Why not have Bieber pitch the first two innings when/if he’s activated and then bring in Bibee? Bieber has been the Guardians’ No. 1 starter in the past and Bibee wants to be, so we could just go with a No. 1 1/2. — Charlie Bentley.
Hey, Charlie: As I have said many times before, there is only room for one wise guy around here — me.
Hey, Hoynsie: With Chase DeLauter’s hand injury probably sidelining him for the season, do you think he’ll ever make his big league debut? — Bobby, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Hey, Bobby: Yes, I do, and I think he’s going to be a good player. A lot of young players have had trouble early in their professional careers with injuries.
DeLauter, granted, has had more than his fair share. But what he’s done when healthy is hard to ignore.
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