Height
6'4"
Weight
225 lbs
Age
26
College
N/A
Draft
2017, Rd 16, #468
Experience
2 yrs
Bats/Throws
L/L
Fan Verdict
Grade this player:
Career StatsC
| Year | Team | GP | ERA | W-L | K | WHIP | IP | SV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career |  | 45 | 3.6503496 | 7-7 | 163 | 1.2797203 | 0.0 | 1 |
Current Contract
Length
1 year
AAV
$780K/yr
Contract Value Index (CVI)
Joey Cantillo's one-year, $0.8M deal with the Guardians earns a C+ CVI, reflecting a sensible low-risk investment in a serviceable starter with upside potential. At just above the league minimum, Cleveland is essentially getting a free look at a left-handed arm who showed flashes of competence in his limited big league exposure, making this the type of depth signing that contending teams need to fill out their rotation. The Guardians' front office has consistently excelled at developing pitchers and maximizing value from reclamation projects, giving Cantillo an ideal environment to build on his foundation and potentially outperform this modest salary. While he's currently pegged as organizational depth rather than a cornerstone piece, the contract structure allows Cleveland to retain him without significant financial commitment if he develops into a more reliable option. The deal makes particular sense given the Guardians' competitive window and need for affordable rotation depth behind their established starters. This represents smart roster construction rather than a splash signing, but sometimes the most valuable moves are the ones that quietly fill needs without breaking the budget.
Performance Analysis
Joey Cantillo grades as a near-elite performer among MLB relief pitchers, earning a A- Performance grade. He carries a 3.69 ERA (near the league average of 4.20) and a 1.27 WHIP across 134.0 innings pitched with a 10.2 K/9 rate. His 7-7 record with 1 saves provides context on team support and run prevention. His strikeout rate of 10.2 per nine innings ranks among the best in the league, showing dominant swing-and-miss ability. As a sophomore at 26, Joey is a key contributor for the Guardians.
Recent Games
| Date | OPP | Result | AB | H | R | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, 4/8 | vs KC | W 10-2 | - | - | - | 0 | - | - | - |
| Fri, 4/3 | vs CHC | W 4-1 | - | - | - | 0 | - | - | - |
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