News for John Means - 2025 5x5 Mixed League - $260 cap

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Sat Aug 1611:11John Means Throws 38 Pitches in Rehab Outing
Cleveland Guardians left-hander John Means (elbow) was solid in his first rehab outing as he works his way back from June 2024 Tommy John surgery. Starting for High-A Lake County, Means threw 38 pitches over 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and zero walks while striking out three. Given that Means has not pitched in a major league game in over a year, he will surely be making several more rehab starts. He may be a rotation or bulk relief option for Cleveland in September, but Means is unlikely to factor in fantasy until 2026. Injuries have limited Means to just 10 starts since the start of the 2022 season, but he's been a very effective pitcher (career 1.05 WHIP) when healthy.
Source: milb.comRotoBaller.com
Thu Aug 1416:07John Means to Make a Rehab Start on Friday
Cleveland Guardians left-hander John Means (elbow) is scheduled to make a minor-league rehab start for High-A Lake County on Friday and will throw three innings, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. It's a big step for Means, who will be pitching in his first game since having a second Tommy John surgery in June of 2024. The 32-year-old southpaw is going to probably need a handful of starts in the minors, but if he can avoid a setback, it's possible that he could be a starting-rotation option for the Guards in September as they look to get into the postseason. For fantasy purposes, managers shouldn't be expecting Means to make any kind of impact. Means made his only All-Star squad in his second year in the big leagues with Baltimore in 2019 and has yet to do much since. He has started only 10 games in the big leagues since the start of 2022 due to injuries.
Source: MLB.com - Tim StebbinsRotoBaller.com
Wed Aug 1321:59John Means Throws Bullpen Session
Cleveland Guardians left-hander John Means (elbow) was able to use his full repertoire during an 18-pitch bullpen session on Wednesday, according to the team. Means is slowly building back up as he rehabs from the elbow surgery he underwent in June 2024 as a member of the Baltimore Orioles. The owner of a lifetime 3.68 ERA over 401 innings and 78 appearances (73 starts), Means hit free agency last winter and joined the Guardians on a one-year, $1 million guarantee. The deal also includes a $6 million club option for 2026, so the Guardians will want to see Means in game action before deciding whether to pick it up. The Guardians expect the 32-year-old to debut in September if he avoids setbacks.
Source: MLB.comRotoBaller.com
Tue Aug 1209:23John Means Throws Two Innings in Bridge Game
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher John Means (elbow) threw two innings in a bridge game at the team's Arizona complex, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. Stebbins writes that the next step for Means in his recovery from Tommy John Surgery could be a rehab assignment with one of Cleveland's minor league affiliates. The 32-year-old lefty has thrown just 52 1/3 innings since the start of 2022 due to two separate Tommy John surgeries. In 401 career big-league innings (73 starts), Means is 23-26 with a 3.68 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 334 strikeouts. It appears there's a chance he could make his return very late in the 2025 season, but he's more likely to be fantasy-relevant in 2026.
Source: MLB.com - Tim StebbinsRotoBaller.com
Sun Aug 316:51John Means Still on Track to Pitch This Season
Cleveland Guardians left-hander John Means (elbow) has been throwing live batting practice and "feeling really good," according to manager Stephen Vogt. He remains on track to pitch later this season after undergoing his second UCL surgery in June 2024 while with the Baltimore Orioles. The Guardians signed Means to a one-year, $1 million contract with a $6 million option for 2026 last winter. Ideally, they'll get a look at Means in game action before deciding whether to pick up the option. Means is a former All-Star who has pitched to a solid 3.68 ERA in 401 innings, but injuries have limited him to 10 starts and 52 1/3 frames since 2022.
Source: MLB.comRotoBaller.com
Mon Jun 3014:18John Means Progresses to Live Batting Practice
Cleveland Guardians left-hander John Means (elbow) has progressed to throwing live batting practice, per MLB.com. According to president Chris Antonetti, Means' timetable for a return in 2025 is in the late-August to early-September range. The 32-year-old veteran southpaw began throwing off a mound in late June as he attempts to return from a second Tommy John surgery. The former 11th-round pick by the Baltimore Orioles in 2014 out of West Virginia made his lone All-Star team in his second year in the big leagues in 2019, but he has only made 25-plus starts in the majors twice in his seven years in the league. Since 2022, Means has managed to make only 10 starts, although he did have a nice 2.75 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 33:8 K:BB in 52 1/3 innings. Given the fact that Means may not make his big-league return until late this season, fantasy managers can continue to ignore him in most formats.
Source: MLB.comRotoBaller.com
Fri Mar 2813:19John Means Heads To Injured List
The Cleveland Guardians have placed pitcher John Means (elbow) on the 15-day IL, retroactive to Mar. 24. Means is unlikely to rejoin the team until late in the year as he recovers from Tommy John surgery in June. It was the second Tommy John surgery the 31-year-old required on his left elbow. He's proved a capable pitcher before, compiling a 3.62 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over 146.2 innings in 2021, and held a strong 2.61 ERA in 20.2 innings pitched before hurting his elbow in 2024. There's still a chance Means won't pitch in 2025. He can be left on waivers for the time being. Even if Means hits no snags in his recovery process, he may not be a factor on the field until September.
Source: MLB.comRotoBaller.com
Mon Feb 1714:34Guardians Agree With John Means On Monday
The Cleveland Guardians agreed with free-agent left-hander John Means (elbow) on a one-year deal worth $1 million guaranteed on Monday, a source told ESPN's Kiley McDaniel. The deal includes a club option for the 2026 season that is worth up to $7.5 million with no buyout. Means is recovering from the second Tommy John surgery of his career on his left elbow and isn't expected to make his debut with Cleveland until sometime in August, which makes him avoidable in most 2025 fantasy leagues. Depending on how the 31-year-old southpaw's recovery goes this year, there's a chance he doesn't pitch at all in 2025. He has made only 10 starts in the big leagues since the 2022 season due to injuries, although he was an All-Star in 2019 with the Baltimore Orioles and finished second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting that season.
Source: ESPN.com - Kiley McDanielRotoBaller.com
Sun Feb 1620:02John Means In Advanced Talks With Cleveland
According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, free-agent starting pitcher John Means (elbow) is in advanced talks with the Cleveland Guardians. Means underwent his second Tommy John surgery last June and is not expected to return to the mound early in the 2025 campaign. Before the surgery, he logged 20 2/3 innings with the Baltimore Orioles. During this small stint, he posted a 2.61 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP. Following the 2021 campaign, Means has logged just 52 1/3 innings in the major leagues. However, in 2021, the southpaw held a solid 3.62 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP across 146 2/3 innings of work. He tallied 134 punchouts and served up just 30 free passes. If Means were to finalize a deal with Cleveland, fantasy managers could expect him to push for a late-season return. However, given his unknown timetable, he should not be targeted in any fantasy formats.
Source: Chris CotilloRotoBaller.com
Wed Jan 2208:38John Means Not Expected To Sign Soon
According to Roch Kubatko of MASNSports, free-agent pitcher John Means (elbow) is not expected to sign a contract for the 2025 season anytime soon. The left-hander underwent his second Tommy John surgery last June, and according to Kubatko, the industry perception is that Means will not find a suitor until much later in the offseason. Kubatko noted that the Orioles have not closed the door on a potential reunion. Last summer, the southpaw logged just 20 2/3 innings before being shut down. However, he was quite productive, posting a 2.61 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP. He struck out 16 batters but showed elite command with a near-perfect 2.6% walk rate. In 2023, Means also logged just 23 frames and held a similar 2.66 ERA and a 0.72 WHIP. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring his progress, but he will likely not return to the mound until late in the 2025 season.
Source: Roch KubatkoRotoBaller.com
Thu Dec 12 202411:45Red Sox Have Had Talks With John Means
A day after landing left-hander Garrett Crochet, the Boston Red Sox are apparently still looking for pitching. They've been linked to the Mariners with intentions of acquiring one of their rotation pieces, presumably right-hander Luis Castillo, but have also reportedly been in talks with former Orioles left-hander John Means (elbow). The 31-year-old was an All-Star in 2019 and was second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting that season. However, it has been a challenge for him to stay healthy in recent years. From 2022 through 2024, the lefty has pitched a total of 52 1/3 innings after two Tommy John surgeries derailed those campaigns. Means had the second surgery in June 2024, so the southpaw likely won't be available until the second half of the 2025 season. Whenever he does make it back, with a career K/9 of just 7.5, he'd likely only help in other areas like ERA and WHIP for fantasy managers.
Source: Chris CotilloRotoBaller.com
Mon Jun 3 202416:40John Means Undergoes Second Tommy John Surgery
Baltimore Orioles left-hander John Means (elbow) underwent the second Tommy John surgery of his career on Monday, and his second such operation in two years. The recovery timeline is 12 to 18 months, meaning that Means will miss the rest of this season and at least half of 2025. The 31-year-old southpaw is set to be a free agent after the 2024 campaign, so it's a really bad time for him to have another elbow reconstruction. His first Tommy John surgery came in April of 2022. Given the lengthy rehab he has in front of him, Means is likely to remain on the free-agent market for a while before interested teams take a chance on him for 2025 and beyond. Means was a first-time All-Star back in 2019, but the elbow injuries continue to mount and he's made just 10 starts for Baltimore since the start of the 2022 season.
Source: Baltimore Banner - Danielle AllentuckRotoBaller.com
Fri May 31 202416:21John Means To Miss Rest Of The Season
Baltimore Orioles left-hander John Means (elbow) will miss the rest of the season, according to general manager Mike Elias. Means is set to undergo left-elbow surgery, but Elias said it's not yet known whether he'll have Tommy John surgery. That won't be known until Means goes in for his season-ending procedure. The 31-year-old had been seeking a second opinion after landing on the 15-day injured list last Thursday with a left-forearm strain. It's the same injury that caused him to get a late start to the 2024 season. Means has already had Tommy John surgery once in his career, but this time around he could have an internal-brace procedure. Either way, the veteran southpaw is going to miss the rest of this year and most likely half of the 2025 campaign. Fantasy managers that had been stashing him can cut bait in redraft leagues.
Source: The Baltimore Banner - Andy KostkaRotoBaller.com
Fri May 24 202421:10John Means Seeking Second Opinion On Throwing Elbow
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher John Means (forearm) will be seeking a second opinion on his throwing elbow according to Orioles manager Brandon Hyde. On Thursday the Orioles placed Means on the 15-day injured list with a forearm strain, the same strain that caused him to miss the beginning of the season. Given that the forearm injury is now causing concern for his throwing elbow, it's not a great sign for the lefty. Means could likely stay on the injured list for much longer than 15 days if the second opinion delivers similar news as the first opinion. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Means to be active any time in the near future.
Source: Andy KostkaRotoBaller.com
Thu May 23 202412:32Orioles Place John Means On 15-Day Injured List
The Baltimore Orioles placed left-hander John Means (forearm) on the 15-day injured list on Thursday with a left-forearm strain and recalled right-hander Jonathan Heasley from Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move. The frustration around Means continues after he was forced to leave his start on Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals early due to a flare-up with his left forearm. The 31-year-old southpaw got a late start to the 2024 campaign due to a similar issue with his arm, so fantasy managers should expect him to miss more than the 15 days on the IL. The O's are likely to play it safe with Means at this point, although hopefully he'll be able to return to Baltimore's starting rotation before the All-Star break in mid-July. With Means now sidelined again, it's likely that Cole Irvin will take his rotation spot.
Source: Dan ConnollyRotoBaller.com
Wed May 22 202418:37John Means Pulled Early On Wednesday
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher John Means (elbow) has been removed early during Wednesday's outing against the St. Louis Cardinals. The left-hander saw a decrease in velocity during his three innings before being taken out of the contest. The team is calling it left elbow discomfort, so the expectation is that Means will undergo further testing to determine the severity of the issue. Fantasy managers will need to check back for another update on his status.
Source: Matt WeyrichRotoBaller.com
Sat May 4 202423:11John Means Throws Seven Scoreless Innings In Season Debut
Baltimore Orioles left-hander John Means (1-0) allowed three hits and no walks while striking out eight over seven scoreless innings in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds. Means started the season on the injured list after having a setback on his surgically repaired left elbow. Means picked up his first victory of the season. He completed a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk and made his 2024 debut on Saturday against the Reds. He was stellar in Saturday's win, blanking the Reds over seven innings on 85 pitches. The 31-year-old owned a 2.66 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, and a 10:4 K: BB across 23 2/3 innings in 2023. Means will look to build on Saturday's performance at his next start on Friday against the Seattle Mariners.
Source: MLBRotoBaller.com
Thu May 2 202412:12John Means To Make Season Debut Saturday
Baltimore Orioles left-hander John Means (forearm), who was activated from the 15-day injured list on Wednesday, will make his 2024 season debut on Saturday against the Reds in Cincinnati. Although the 31-year-old lefty has been bothered by injuries in recent seasons, he's worth a flier in mixed fantasy leagues now that he's back in Baltimore's starting rotation. The matchup in Cincinnati against the Reds in his first start isn't the greatest spot to roll him out there, but his final minor-league rehab start should have fantasy managers encouraged that he can transfer it into his first big-league start of the year. Means struck out eight over seven shutout innings for Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday. He was an All-Star for the O's back in 2019 and placed second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting that season.
Source: MASN Sports - Roch KubatkoRotoBaller.com
Wed May 1 202412:46John Means Activated From Injured List
The Baltimore Orioles activated left-hander John Means (forearm) from the 15-day injured list on Wednesday. We knew that the O's planned to activate Means at some point this week, but now it's official. The 31-year-old southpaw will take the rotation spot of the injured Grayson Rodriguez (shoulder) for now, but eventually one of Albert Suarez or Cole Irvin will get booted from the rotation when right-hander Kyle Bradish (elbow) returns this week. It's unclear yet when Means will make his season debut for the O's. If it doesn't come in the series finale on Thursday against the New York Yankees, it should come this weekend in a series against the Reds on the road in Cincinnati. He struck out eight hitters and threw 95 pitches in his final minor-league rehab start, so Means shouldn't be limited at all from a pitch-count perspective.
Source: MLB Network - Jon MorosiRotoBaller.com
Mon Apr 29 202419:26Orioles To Activate John Means This Week
The Baltimore Orioles plan to activate left-hander John Means (forearm) from the 15-day injured list this week to make his 2024 season debut, according to manager Brandon Hyde. It's unclear exactly what day Means will make his his return to Baltimore's starting rotation, but the best bet is on Friday in Cincinnati against the Reds. That wouldn't be the greatest matchup for the 31-year-old southpaw for fantasy streamers, but he did look good in his final minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Norfolk, tossing seven scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and one walk. Right-hander Kyle Bradish (elbow) is also on track to make his season debut for the O's this week, so both Cole Irvin and Albert Suarez will soon be bumped from the team's rotation.
Source: The Baltimore Sun - Matt WeyrichRotoBaller.com
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