Does quantity equal quality?

The Cleveland Guardians are willing to find out.

John Means is the latest pitcher to sign with the team, according to MLB.com. Like Shane Bieber, he is coming off Tommy John surgery and won’t be able to help until the second half of the season.

That’s okay, because the Guardians needed the late additions of Matthew Boyd and Alex Cobb to get through the end of last season and through the playoffs.

MEET MR. MEANS

Means is a 31-year-old left-hander who debuted with the Baltimore Orioles in 2018.

He made the All-Star team in his first full season in 2019. Means went 12-11 with a 3.60 ERA.

Means was a mainstay of the Baltimore rotation in 2021 as well. He was 6-9 with a 3.62 ERA and a career-high 134 strikeouts.

He even pitched a no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners.

INJURY PROBLEMS

However, Means has only pitched in 10 games over the last three seasons due to injuries.

He underwent Tommy John elbow surgery in 2022 and came back in late 2023.  However, he needed a second round of surgery last year.

The Guardians are hoping Means can give the team a late-season boost and compete for a regular spot in the starting rotation in 2026.

STARTING ROTATION OUTLOOK

Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, and Luis Ortiz are locked in as the Guardians’ top three starting pitchers.

Ben Lively, Tristan McKenzie, Logan Allen, and Jakob Junis will compete with several other candidates for the final two spots.

This battle, along with the second-base competition, will be the focus of Guardians fans during spring training.