John Means - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Signs MiLB deal with Royals Means (Achilles) signed a two-year, minor-league contract with the Royals on Friday.

Impact Means missed all of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and he's now due to miss the entire 2026 campaign after rupturing his Achilles during the offseason. His two-year deal will allow him to remain with the Royals in 2027, at which point he'll attempt to return to the big leagues after making just 10 major-league starts since 2022.

FEBRUARY 13 • ROTOWIRE

John Means tears Achilles tendon and says he was about to sign a 2026 contract

Former All-Star pitcher John Means says he tore an Achilles tendon this week just before signing a 2026 contract

DECEMBER 19, 2025 • Associated Press

Long-time Orioles pitcher's hard luck just got far worse after free agency tragedy Former Baltimore Orioles starter John Means cannot catch a break when it comes to injuries after his latest major setback.

DECEMBER 19, 2025 • BIRDSWATCHER.COM

Ruptures Achilles Means ruptured his Achilles on Tuesday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

Impact Means posted the news on his own social media. He noted that he was set to be recovered fully from Tommy John surgery in time for Opening Day, and that he was on the verge of signing before the Achilles injury occurred. No timeline for his recovery has been announced, but he'll almost certainly miss the entire 2026 season. This continues a run of bad injury luck for Means, who last pitched in the majors in May of 2024.

DECEMBER 19, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Hits free agency The Guardians declined Means' (elbow) 2026 club option Thursday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Impact Means is near the end of his recovery from Tommy John surgery but hasn't pitched in the majors since May 22, 2024. He made seven total rehab appearances in the final six weeks of the campaign, so he should be ready for the start of spring training with his new club.

NOVEMBER 7, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Guardians decline John Means' $6 million option, allowing pitcher to become free agent

Left-hander John Means’ $6 million option has been declined by the Cleveland Guardians

NOVEMBER 6, 2025 • Associated Press

Guardians have no-brainer decision to make on risky signing's contract option While John Means failed to pitch in a major league game for the Guardians in 2025, they should still pick up his team option for 2026.

OCTOBER 29, 2025 • AWAYBACKGONE.COM

The one contract situation Guardians fans might've forgotten about for 2026 The Guardians are about to make a decision about John Means' $6 million player option for next season. It could make or break Cleveland's of...

OCTOBER 17, 2025 • AWAYBACKGONE.COM

Guardians and Tigers meet in decisive AL Wild Card Series Game 3

The Cleveland Guardians and the Detroit Tigers take the field in Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series

OCTOBER 2, 2025 • Associated Press

Guardians host the Tigers in Game 1 of AL Wild Card Series

The Cleveland Guardians host the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series

SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 • Associated Press

Guardians and Rangers play, winner secures 3-game series

Both the Cleveland Guardians and the Texas Rangers are looking for a series win with a victory on Sunday

SEPTEMBER 28, 2025 • Associated Press

Rangers play the Guardians leading series 1-0

The Texas Rangers lead 1-0 in a three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians

SEPTEMBER 27, 2025 • Associated Press

Rangers take road losing streak into matchup against the Guardians

The Texas Rangers will try to end their four-game road slide in a matchup against the Cleveland Guardians

SEPTEMBER 26, 2025 • Associated Press

Guardians host the Tigers, try to continue home win streak

The Cleveland Guardians, on a six-game home winning streak, host the Detroit Tigers

SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 • Associated Press

Tigers aim to stop losing streak in game against the Guardians

The Detroit Tigers look to end their seven-game skid with a win over the Cleveland Guardians

SEPTEMBER 24, 2025 • Associated Press

Guardians host the Tigers to open 3-game series

The Cleveland Guardians host the Detroit Tigers to begin a three-game series

SEPTEMBER 23, 2025 • Associated Press

Twins look to break losing streak in game against the Guardians

The Minnesota Twins aim to stop their five-game slide when they play the Cleveland Guardians

SEPTEMBER 21, 2025 • Associated Press

Makes fifth rehab start Means (elbow) allowed three runs on four hits while striking out four over 5.1 innings for Triple-A Columbus on Friday.

Impact Means threw 84 pitches (52 strikes) in his seventh rehab start and fifth at Triple-A. The outing is expected to be his final rehab outing, and the left-hander could join the Guardians next week as they vie for a playoff spot. Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt told Patrick Donnelly of MLB.com on Friday that he's considering adding Means to the roster but will wait to see how the pitcher responds. The Guardians are already working with a six-man rotation, but Means could offer length out of the bullpen.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Guardians aim to keep win streak going against the Twins

The Cleveland Guardians will try to continue an eight-game win streak with a victory against the Minnesota Twins

SEPTEMBER 20, 2025 • Associated Press

Guardians take 7-game win streak into game against the Twins

The Cleveland Guardians are looking to continue a seven-game win streak with a victory against the Minnesota Twins

SEPTEMBER 19, 2025 • Associated Press

Guardians bring win streak into matchup with the Tigers

The Cleveland Guardians will attempt to keep a six-game win streak intact when they play the Detroit Tigers

SEPTEMBER 18, 2025 • Associated Press

Tigers take on the Guardians after Torkelson's 4-hit game

The Detroit Tigers take on the Cleveland Guardians after Spencer Torkelson's four-hit game on Tuesday

SEPTEMBER 17, 2025 • Associated Press

Starts strong, finishes poorly Means (elbow) allowed six runs on five hits and four walks while striking out two over 3.2 innings for Triple-A Columbus on Sunday.

Impact Means navigated minimal traffic over two scoreless innings to begin the game but ran into trouble in the third, when he allowed two solo home runs. Still, that was nothing compared to the fourth inning, when he walked the bases loaded followed by a two-run double. Means then balked in the go-ahead run. The left-hander has given up six home runs and walked 11 over 21.1 rehab innings. The good news is that Means worked his pitch count to 82 (49 strikes), which puts him on schedule to help the Guardians over the final two weeks, if that's the direction they decide go.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Guardians look to keep home win streak going, host the White Sox

The Cleveland Guardians host the Chicago White Sox looking to continue a three-game home winning streak

SEPTEMBER 14, 2025 • Associated Press

Guardians face the White Sox with 1-0 series lead

The Cleveland Guardians host the Chicago White Sox, leading the series 1-0

SEPTEMBER 13, 2025 • Associated Press

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