The Cleveland Guardians made several moves involving pitchers ahead of their Players’ Weekend series against the Atlanta Braves. Cleveland has surged in the American League standings, cutting the Detroit Tigers’ division lead to just 6.5 games and the New York Yankees’ lead for the last Wild Card spot to half a game entering Friday.
Before the series-opener, Cleveland announced that they have outrighted pitcher Trevor Stephan to Triple-A Columbus, and pitcher John Means will begin a rehab assignment in the minor leagues.
Roster Moves
+RHP Trevor Stephan outrighted to AAA Columbus (roster now at 39).
+LHP John Means on rehab assignment (@LCCaptains )— GuardsInsider (@GuardsInsider) August 15, 2025
Trevor Stephan’s demotion to the minors opened up a roster spot on the team’s 40-man roster. The 29-year-old relief pitcher hasn’t made a big league appearance since 2023 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March of 2024. He was recently activated from the Guardians’ 60-day injured list and will either elect to play for the Cleveland in the minors or test free agency.
In 180 appearances from 2021 to 2023 with the Guardians, Stephan’s shown that he belongs on a roster somewhere. He has career statistics that include a 16-13 record, 3.73 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 232 strikeouts in 195.2 innings.
MORE: Guardians ranked among MLB’s top farm systems, per MLB.com
As for John Means, the 32-year-old hasn’t made an appearance since May of 2024, when he was on the Baltimore Orioles’ roster. He signed with Cleveland this past offseason on a one-year, $1 million deal with a $6 million club option in 2026.
After undergoing his second Tommy John surgery in two years, Means will look to take the mound in the minors in hopes of progressing towards his Guardians debut sometime this season.
Means was productive for the Baltimore Orioles before sustaining multiple elbow injuries. In 78 big league appearances over a seven-year career, Means has career statistics including a 23-26 record, 3.68 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 334 strikeouts over 401 innings.
