Bold moves by Browns, Cavaliers, Guardians highlight 2022 | Jeff Schudel

Dec. 31—The 2022 seasons for each of Cleveland's three pro sports teams were memorable for different reasons, but there was one common thread — each team made a bold offseason move to make their respective team better.

One of those moves tops the list of the 10 biggest stories for the year, and it was one loaded with controversy.

1. Browns trade six draft picks to the Houston Texans for Deshaun Watson.

The Browns could have selected Watson with the 12th pick of the 2017 draft. Instead, they traded the pick to the Texans for Houston's first-round pick in 2017 (25th overall) and the Texans' first-round pick in 2018. Those two picks turned into safety Jabrill Peppers and cornerback Denzel Ward.

The Texans used the 12th pick on Watson, who went to the Pro Bowl every year from 2018-20.

Of course, the Browns got much more than a Pro Bowl quarterback when they traded the Texans their first-round pick in 2023, 2024 and 2025 plus three more picks for Watson. Watson was accused by 22 massage therapists of sexual misconduct during his time with the Texans. The Browns were willing to take the publicity hit and knew the NFL was going to suspend Watson — though they didn't know how many games — because they believe Watson will lead them to a Super Bowl someday.

"We realize. and we are not naive to the fact that there are many people who are not as comfortable with this transaction as we are today, but this is something that is a trade that we made to be evaluated over the long run," Browns general manager Andrew Berry said March 25 at Watson's introductory news conference.

Team owner Jimmy Haslam signed off on a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract for Watson to persuade Watson to waive the no-trade clause in his contract and accept a trade to Cleveland. That angered Haslam's fellow NFL owners because of the precedent it set.

2. Guardians win A.L. Central

Preseason projections from Major League Baseball analysts had the Guardians and Royals stepping over each other to stay out of the cellar in the Central Division. They got it half wrong.

The Guardians, with the youngest team in baseball, surged in September to finish 92-70 and win their division by 11 games over the second-place White Sox. They set a modern-day record by having 17 rookies make their Major League debut in 2022 — the most of any team since the inception of the American League in 1901.

The Guardians won with timely hitting — not by turning every game into a Home Run Derby. Their 127 home runs were the second-fewest in the Majors but their 1,122 strikeouts were the fewest.

The Gs swept the Tampa Bay Rays in a best-of-three wild-card series, winning 2-1 and 1-0. The 1-0 game was decided on a home run by rookie Oscar Gonzalez in the bottom of the 15th inning.

The Guardians led the Yankees, two games to one, in the best of five ALDS, but the Yankees won the next two to end Cleveland's season.

"The season doesn't wind down; it just comes to a crashing halt and that's kind of hard sometimes to wrap your arms around," Guardians manager Terry Francona said. "You know, we're sitting in New York thinking one day, 'We win this game and we're going to Houston tomorrow (to play in the ALCS)' and then all of a sudden you're watching on television. You're a bystander. So it's kind of hard sometimes to fully grasp it."

The Yankees lost to the Astros, the eventual World Series champions.

3. Cavaliers acquire Donovan Mitchell

The big move the Cavaliers made in the offseason involved no off-court controversy. But it was arguably more shocking than the one the Browns made for Watson because the Cavaliers doubled their win total of 22 in 2020-21 to 44-38 last season. However, the Cavs were bounced out of the play-in tournament in two games and missed the playoffs.

The Cavaliers sent guard Collin Sexton (via sign and trade), forward Lauri Markkanen, rookie guard Ochai Agbaji and three future unprotected first-round draft picks (2025, 2027, 2029) to Utah, while also agreeing to swap picks in 2026 and 2028 if the swap benefits Utah. In exchange, the Cavaliers acquired Donovan Mitchell, a dynamic three-time All-Star who has been sensational with the Cavaliers.

"We were happy with the group we had here," Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "We were in love with the team. When you have an opportunity, as heartbreaking as it could be because of the relationship you had with guys, to add somebody of Donovan's class, you can't really afford to say no."

Mitchell is averaging 29.3 points a game. The Cavaliers won 15 of their first 17 home games. Mitchell missed the two home games they lost (Hawks and Timberwolves) because of injuries.

4. Browns trade Baker Mayfield

It is hard to believe that just two years ago the Browns were 11-5 and Baker Mayfield was the star quarterback who led them to their first playoff victory since 1994, but so it is.

The relationship between head coach Kevin Stefanski and Mayfield fractured beyond repair in 2021. Mayfield played most of the season with a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. Mayfield's final game with the Browns was notable because he was sacked nine times by the Steelers in a 26-14 loss in Pittsburgh. Mayfield took a swipe at Stefanski in his postgame news conference.

"This is the NFL," he said. "You have to be able to adapt mid-game and we didn't do a good enough job, as you could tell."

The 2021 season was Mayfield's fourth with the Browns after being selected with the first pick in 2018. The Browns picked up his fifth-year option of $18.86 million for 2022 prior to the 2021 season but did not offer a contract extension.

Mayfield had left shoulder surgery in January 2022. Berry said he expected a full recovery and that Mayfield would be the starting quarterback in 2022.

The Browns visited Watson on March 15. Mayfield felt disrespected and asked for a trade. Watson at first said he would not accept a trade to Cleveland. The Browns informed Mayfield they would not trade him. The Browns increased their offer to Watson and Watson took the deal.

The Browns were stuck with a disgruntled Mayfield recovering from surgery and a bulky contract no team wanted.

Finally, on July 6, the Browns found a buyer. They traded Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers for a fifth-round pick. Part of the agreement included the Browns paying $10.5 million of Mayfield's 2022 salary. The Panthers released Mayfield on Dec. 5 at his own request. He signed with the Rams for the remainder of 2022.

5. Guardians sign Jose Ramirez, Josh Bell, Mike Zunino

The Guardians signed third baseman Jose Ramirez to a seven-year, $140 million contract extension just before the start of the 2022 season. They signed free agent first baseman Josh Bell in a two-year $33 million deal in early December and sandwiched their 92-win season in between.

Perhaps Bell would not have signed with Cleveland had J-Ram not shown the commitment to the Guardians that he did. Ramirez could have made more money had he taken the free agent route to sign with another team, but he loves playing in Cleveland and loves playing for Francona.

Bell is the biggest free agent signing by the Guardians since they signed Edwin Encarnacion to a three-year, $60 million contract after the Indians lost to the Cubs in the seventh game of the 2016 World Series. Bell was signed for the same purpose — to add power to the lineup. Bell has 130 home runs over seven seasons with the Pirates, Nationals and Padres.

The Guardians signed free agent catcher Mike Zunino to a one-year, $6 million deal on De. 15. It wasn't a headline grabber, but if Zunino comes close to duplicating his 33 home runs with the Rays in 2021, it will be money well spent.

6. Cavaliers fade in last two months of 2021-22 season

The Cavaliers were the feel-good story of the NBA for the first 3 1/2 months of the 2021-22 season. They were 35-21 and tied for second place with the Chicago Bulls on Feb. 11, one game behind first-place Miami, after beating the Pacers, 120-113, in Indianapolis.

The Cavs lost six of their next seven games and didn't stop the bleeding. They finished 8-17 and tumbled to eighth in the NBA East.

All-Star center Jarrett Allen missed the last 18 games with a broken middle finger on his left hand. He was not 100 percent for the play-in tournament and consequently, the Cavaliers were eliminated, first losing to the Nets and then to the Hawks.

7. Watson suspended 11 games.

The Browns knew Deshaun Watson would be suspended by the NFL because the sexual assault allegations violated the league's personal conduct policy even if he faced no criminal charges. On that subject, two Texas grand juries chose not to indict Watson.

Sue L. Robinson, the disciplinary officer hired jointly by the NFL and NFL players' union, recommended a six-game suspension.

"Although this is the most significant punishment ever imposed on an NFL player for allegations of non-violent sexual conduct," Robinson wrote in her ruling, "Mr. Watson's pattern of conduct is more egregious than any before reviewed by the NFL."

The NFL argued for an indefinite suspension of not less than one season and appealed Robinson's ruling. The 11-game suspension was reached as a compromise between the NFL and NFLPA so the matter wouldn't be dragged out in court. Watson was also ordered to pay a $5 million fine and undergo behavioral counseling.

8. Steven Kwan has breakout season.

There was no guarantee that when the Guardians began training camp in Goodyear, Ariz., in March that Steven Kwan would be part of the 26-man roster when the team broke camp. But he had such an incredible Cactus League season that there was no reason to send him to Triple-A Columbus.

Kwan didn't cool off when the season began. In fact, he just got hotter. He reached base three times on opening day, reached three times in the second game and then went 5-for-5 in the third game. He also got on base when he was hit by a pitch in the third game in a 17-3 pounding of the Kansas City Royals.

Francona eventually moved Kwan into the leadoff spot in the batting order. He set the table for the small ball that was so successful for the Guardians. He played in 147 games, batted .298, hit six home runs and drove in 52 runs. He scored 89 times. Ramirez with 90 runs was the only Guardians player to score more.

"We often talk with our minor leaguers not about if you hit adversity, but when you hit adversity, how you respond to that," general manager Mike Chernoff said. "I think that was one of the things that stood out to all of us. All that happened in the first month of the season was amazing, probably even to Steven, honestly. But then he struggled a little bit, and he was able to adjust and respond in just such an amazing way to get through that. He never had a bad day mentally despite all those struggles."

Kwan hit .354 in April, but just .173 in May. He bounced back and hit .341 in June, .314 in July, .296 in August and .309 in September/October.

Kwan played left field so well he was awarded a Rawlings Gold Glove. He finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting behind Julio Rodriguez of the Mariners and Adley Ruttschman of the Orioles.

9. Browns disappoint fans again

The Browns' 2022 season has been more than a tale of two quarterbacks. The season started with Cade York kicking a dramatic 58-yard field goal with eight seconds to play to beat the Panthers, 26-24, in the season opener. One week later they lost in dramatic fashion, 31-30, by giving up two touchdowns to the Jets after taking a 30-17 lead with 1:55 to play.

The Browns were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention on Dec. 24 when the Saints beat them, 17-10. The loss dropped the Browns to 6-9, thus cementing their 21st losing season in 24 years since being reborn as an expansion team.

Injuries decimated the linebackers; Anthony Walker (quadriceps tendon), Jacob Phillips (pectoral), Sione Takitaki (knee) and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (foot) were put on injured reserve.

Fans called for defensive coordinator Joe Woods and special teams coordinator Mike Priefer to be fired and for head coach Kevin Stefanski to turn over play calling to offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. Time will tell if any of those changes happen.

Nick Chubb was the one constant. Chubb rushed for more than 1,000 yards for a fourth straight season and was voted to his fourth straight Pro Bowl, as was defensive end Myles Garrett.

Jacoby Brissett was 4-7 as a starting quarterback. Watson was 2-2 in his first four starts.

10. Francona Manager named of the Year

Terry Francona was named American League Manager of the Year in November in a vote by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America for guiding the Guardians to a 92-70 record and the AL Central title.

The other finalists were Scott Servais of the Mariners and Brandon Hyde of the Orioles.

It was the third time Francona has won the award, but he never won it in Boston despite leading the Red Sox to the World Series championship in 2004 to end an 86-year drought. He led the Red Sox to another World Series title in 2007, but didn't win it then, either. The voting takes place immediately after the end of the regular season.

"I know he's not one for individual awards but I do want to take the time to congratulate him, because it would be impossible for me to overstate the impact he continues to have on our major league team, our organization and our city," Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said when the award was announced. "I continue to be so grateful to work alongside him in all the ways that he impacts us.

"Certainly he is well deserving of the honor he received yesterday. I told him the other night, in my view, he should be manager of the decade, not just manager of the year. I wanted to make sure I officially congratulated Tito in addition to the congratulations I shared with him in private."

Francona also won the honor in 2013 and 2016 with the Indians. Since 2013, Francona has guided the Indians/Guardians to an 845-671 record (.557). It is the American League's second-best winning percentage behind only the Yankees (.566).

Cleveland has posted a winning record in nine of 10 seasons with Francona as manager. Only the Dodgers, Cardinals and Yankees with 10 each have had more sustained success in the same span.

Francona is the club's all-time leader in tenure (10 seasons) and wins (845) and is 16th in MLB history with 1,874 career managerial wins. During his time as manager, the Indians/Guardians have been out of contention for just 18 games over that entire span.