The Cleveland Indians came just short of taking home the 2016 World Series title. On Wednesday, the team announced that it was bringing back one of the players that helped them get to that particular precipice. The Indians and outfielder Brandon Guyer agreed to a two-year extension, with a team option for a third season. The deal will pay Guyer $5 million in guaranteed money.
The Indians announce they have signed Brandon Guyer to a 2-year deal.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) January 18, 2017
Brandon Guyer Re-signs with Cleveland Indians
Guyer, 30, is perhaps best known for the incredible frequency with which he gets hit by pitches. However, he does have other qualities that make him valuable. He as experience at all three outfield positions, and is a plus defender as a left fielder, where he has spent most of his time. He also hits lefties at a .289 clip over his career. That makes him a strong platoon mate for Lonnie Chisenhall, who performs poorly against southpaws, in right field.
Guyer broke into the big leagues in 2011 with the Tampa Bay Rays. He spent his entire career there until the Rays traded him to the Indians at the 2016 deadline for Nathan Lukes and Jhonleider Salinas. He was hitting just .241 for Tampa Bay before the trade, but turned his season around in his new home. With Cleveland, he recorded an impressive slash line of .333/.438/.469 in a small sample size of 81 at-bats. In many regards, 2016 was his best full season as a pro.
In the World Series, with the Indians down 6-3 in the eighth innings of Game 7, Guyer came off the bench and ripped a double to drive in Jose Ramirez and cut the deficit to two runs. That kicked off a rally against all-world closer Aroldis Chapman that would send the game into extras. Though the Chicago Cubs eventually came back to win their first title since 1908, Guyer helped make that game perhaps the best in World Series history.
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