The Cleveland Guardians encountered a significant deadline on Thursday afternoon.
They were given time until 1 pm ET to finalize their contracts with arbitration-eligible players who had not yet signed.
There were two players in that group, and those two were the starting outfielders: Steven Kwan and Lane Thomas.
Both will be back for this season, and both have now determined their salary for 2025.
In Thomas’s particular situation, he will receive a generous increase as he enters his last season under team control.
“Lane Thomas and the Guardians have agreed to a $7.825 million contract for 2025, according to a source, sidestepping arbitration,” MLB insider Mark Feinsand shared on X.
During the previous offseason, there were whispers that the Guardians were considering the option of trading Thomas since he will become a free agent after this season.
Although that aligns with the team’s overall philosophy, he continues to be the optimal choice for center field, and there is no obvious alternative on the roster, unlike the situation with Josh Naylor.
It consistently seemed logical to retain Thomas.
The trade acquisition at last year’s deadline began poorly with the Guardians after being obtained.
Fortunately, the organization stayed patient and reaped the benefits: following a dreadful 30 wRC+ in August, he rebounded with a 137 score in the final month of the regular season and then recorded a 124 wRC+ in October, highlighted by two significant ALDS home runs and nine RBI in 10 games.
Thomas adored his time in Cleveland, and supporters became fond of the ‘Lane Train’.
He will devote all his efforts once more in his final season prior to free agency.
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