The Cleveland Guardians are in the middle of a rocky season. Despite sitting within reach of the postseason still, it’s not been pretty. One of the biggest issues has been in the outfield, and specifically, with one of their fan favorite players.
Jhonkensy Noel, otherwise known as ‘Big Christmas’, got off to a terrible start this season. With his poor start, but clear potential, Clay Snowden of Just Baseball named Noel as a player in need of a change-of-scenery.
“If they are on the fringes,” Snowden writes. “They could elect to move Noel in order to upgrade the team while keeping their prospects and ridding themselves of a player that doesn’t fit the mold of what they typically like. Plenty of teams would love to get his power in their building and see what they can do.”
The Guardians’ fan favorite has incredible power, but can’t consistently tap into it. While he was solid in 2024, hitting .218 with a .774 OPS, this season has been significantly worse.
Through 46 games, Noel hit just .146 with a .168 on-base percentage and a .223 slugging percentage. His .392 OPS and nine OPS+ are, to not mince words, terrible numbers.
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His struggles this season sent him down to the minor leagues, and while he’s been fine in the minors, hitting .280 with five home runs, his Major League statistics have been terrible.
Snowden mentions that the team should look to move him and find a new organization that could work with him through his struggles. Noel may not fit the Guardians’ mold in Snowden’s eyes, but he could be a fun fit elsewhere.
With his power, he could hit massive home runs with the Colorado Rockies. Or he could go to an offensive superpower like the Los Angeles Dodgers as a reclamation project.
Regardless of where he ends up, Snowden still believes in his potential and is urging the Guardians to ship him off. ‘Big Christmas’ is a fan favorite, but his struggles have put him in a spot to be moved.
Snowden wants to see the 23-year-old Noel get traded. A change-of-scenery could lead to Noel becoming one of the game’s most entertaining sluggers, thanks to his incredible power.
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