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

EDGE Analysis

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.

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

EDGE Analysis

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.

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

EDGE Analysis

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.

Means (elbow) allowed six earned runs on five hits and four walks while striking out two over 3.2 innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Columbus on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

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. His struggles continued into the fourth inning, when he walked the bases loaded before giving up a two-run double. Means then balked in the go-ahead run. The left-hander is now six starts into his rehab assignment, and he's yet to find much success since shifting his assignment to Triple-A in late August, producing a 9.00 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 11:10 K:BB in 15 innings over four outings with Columbus. While Means has built his pitch count up to 82 and appears to be ready from a workload standpoint to take on a traditional starting role, his poor form at Triple-A could make the Guardians reluctant to activate him from the 60-day injured list during the upcoming week. The Guardians will have a stretch of six games in five days due to a doubleheader Saturday in Minnesota, but since the team is already running with a six-man rotation, Means may not be called upon to make a spot start for the big club.

Means (elbow) struck out three and allowed five earned runs on six hits and two walks over 4.1 innings in a rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Columbus.

EDGE Analysis

Means had originally lined up to make the fifth start of his rehab assignment Friday with Columbus, but after falling ill, he ended up being pushed back a couple of days in the pitching schedule. The additional time off didn't prove beneficial for Means, who got stretched out to 72 pitches but wasn't particularly effective, as he surrendered four extra-base hits. The southpaw will presumably make at least one more rehab start with Columbus during the upcoming week before potentially returning from the 60-day injured list to make his Guardians debut in the second half of September.

Means (elbow) will not make his scheduled rehab start with Triple-A Columbus on Friday due to an illness, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Means' fifth rehab start will be delayed by at least a day, with the Guardians hoping that the 32-year-old southpaw will be able to pitch Saturday. Means is in the final stages of his recovery from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in June of 2024, and the hope is that he will rejoin the Guardians' rotation before the end of the regular season.

Means (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday followed by a rehab start for Triple-A Columbus on Friday, MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Friday's outing will be the fifth rehab start for Means, who logged four innings and 58 pitches in his previous outing Sunday. His pitch count will bump up to 75 on Friday, after which the left-hander could rejoin Cleveland's staff. Presumably, Means would join the rotation, but the Guardians are moving to a six-man rotation this week that currently doesn't include Means, per Molly Burkhardt of MLB.com. Joey Cantillo will start Wednesday's series finale against Boston at Fenway Park, joining the existing five-man rotation. Of the six current starters, Slade Cecconi and Gavin Williams have already passed their career highs in innings pitched, while Logan Allen and Tanner Bibee are nearing theirs. That suggests Means could be a replacement for one of the starters at or past their previous career high in innings.

Means (elbow) allowed one unearned run on two hits and two walks while striking out four over four innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Columbus on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Making his fourth rehab start and second in a row with Columbus, Means tossed 58 pitches (37 strikes). The left-hander is on track to return from the 60-day injured list at some point in September, though Means will likely need one or two more outings in the minors to build up his pitch count before the Guardians consider him for a spot in the rotation. Per Tim Stebbins of MLB.com, Cleveland 's brass has discussed moving to a six-man rotation in September, as the team facing a taxing schedule that includes a stretch of 17 games in 17 days.

Means (elbow) is scheduled to start for Triple-A Columbus on Sunday, MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Means will be making his fourth rehab start and second for the Clippers. He was knocked around in his previous start for Columbus, allowing four runs on three hits (all home runs) in three innings. Means had much better results in his first two rehab starts, which were for High-A Lake County.

Means (elbow) allowed four runs on three hits and two walks while striking out two over three innings for Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Means made his third rehab start and first at the Triple-A level, which provided more pushback than his previous outings in High-A. All three hits allowed by the left-hander left the park. The one positive to take away is that Means upped his pitch count to 61, putting him another start or two away from potentially joining the Guardians for the final month.