Jake Bauers cashes in on post-Guardians success with hefty Red Sox contract

For 43 games in the 2021 MLB season, the Guardians put Jake Bauers in their lineup. While Bauers looked like a ballplayer in the box and came with the pedigree of being a former top prospect, he was never able to make it work in Cleveland. 

By the time the Guardians designated him for assignment on June 5 (part of the reason he lasted that long was because he was out of options), it looked like his big league career was approaching its end. 

Turns out that was about as far from the case as it could be. On Friday, Bauers and the Red Sox agreed to a four-year, $58 million contract that comes after one of the best walk years in recent memory. That contract also means that the Guardians are going to see a lot more of Bauers than they did previously when he was in the National League with the Brewers. 

Jake Bauers is back in the American League with the Boston Red Sox

Bauers’ final year with Milwaukee was him at his best, as he had a .266/.389/.484 slashline with 26 homers and 86 RBI in the regular season before winning National League Championship Series MVP during the Brewers’ quest to the World Series. 

Bauers finished the NLCS with a team-high six RBI while recording a hit in all four games of the series. He picked up three RBI in the Brewers’ clinching win over Los Angeles along with having two game-changing 10+ pitch at-bats in Games 2 and 3. 

But just because he had a strong showing with the Brewers doesn’t mean the Guardians are to blame for his struggles, as the Mariners, Yankees and Reds were all unable to get the most out of Bauers before he joined the Brewers in 2024. 

While adding Bauers helps give the Red Sox some even more length, it’s a bit of them trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. Willson Contreras is already entrenched at first base for the Red Sox, and they have a crowded outfield led by Ceddanne Rafaela, Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu and Jarren Duran. 

But there were already rumors out there that the Red Sox were listening on trade offers for their young outfielders, and their decision to sign Bauers all but confirms that. It also means the Guardians are going to go from seeing him in one series a year to seeing him twice a year. 

Although Bauers didn’t do much with those opportunities in Milwaukee (5-for-22 against the Guardians), the Red Sox have had the Guardians’ number for the past three seasons. 

And even if Bauers doesn’t end up hurting Cleveland during his time with Boston, he’s going to help the Red Sox keep pace in the American League East and Wild Card standings. That could have a huge impact on the Guardians.

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