David Fry
#6 1B · Guardians
Height
6'1"
Weight
215 lbs
Age
30
College
Northwestern State
Experience
3 yrs
Bats/Throws
R/R
A-
B
C+
N/A
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The Verdict on David, in One Read
On the field, David Fry grades out as a strong 1B for Guardians (B Performance). That places him 23rd of 57 graded first basemen. Against that production, his deal reads as a clear bargain on the Contract Value Index (A-) — the team is paying below what the play would command. The public read is mixed (C+ Sentiment), drawn from current news and social signal rather than the box score.
Career StatsB
| Year | Team | GP | AVG | HR | RBI | OPS | SB | H |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career |  | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2026 | | 38 | .250 | 3 | 8 | .750 | 0 | 21 |
| 2025 |
Current Contract
Length
1 year
Total Value
$1.4M
Guaranteed
$825K
AAV
$1.4M/yr
Guaranteed %60%
Contract Value Index (CVI)
A-
Great Value
OverpayFair ValueGreat Value
David Fry's one-year, $1.4M deal with Cleveland earns an A- CVI, representing exceptional value for a depth piece who can contribute across multiple positions. While Fry profiles as a utility player rather than an everyday starter, his ability to handle first base, catcher, and corner outfield spots makes him invaluable for a Guardians team operating on one of baseball's tightest payrolls. At just $1.4M AAV, Cleveland is paying well below market rate for a player who can provide 1-2 WAR in a super-utility role while their young position players continue developing. The short-term commitment aligns perfectly with the Guardians' competitive window, as they can reassess Fry's role after 2025 while maintaining financial flexibility to address other roster needs. For a franchise that consistently maximizes value from overlooked players, this contract represents exactly the type of shrewd, low-risk move that has kept Cleveland competitive despite their payroll constraints.
Performance Analysis
B
FCA+
The B performance grade on David Fry reflects MVP-caliber peaks alongside cooler stretches. As a 30-year-old third-year player on a rookie scale contract, Fry has established himself as a credible power bat at first base for a Guardians team currently positioned as the AL Central's #2 seed—a testament to his offensive ceiling when healthy. However, the absence of specific 2026 season statistics in the current snapshot means his exact production metrics remain difficult to pin down at this juncture, though media framing consistently emphasizes his expected major role and potential return to All-Star form. The real story here is durability: facial fractures suffered in late 2025 have resurfaced as a legitimate health question, and while the fanbase has responded with sympathy rather than skepticism, the underlying concern is whether Fry can sustain the innings and at-bats required for significant offensive contributions in a competitive window. Beat writers express cautious optimism about his full recovery, but that modifier—*cautious*—reflects the reality that elite first basemen cannot afford prolonged absences, especially on a win-now roster. For Cleveland to maximize Fry's B-tier performance profile, he needs to prove he can deliver the All-Star-caliber numbers the team is banking on without the injury interruptions that have clouded his early career.
Contracts in the Same Value Band
Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the A band — a quick read on where David's contract sits relative to comparable money.
How David Compares at the Position
David Fry ranks 23rd of 57 graded first basemen by performance. That slots David between Ty France (B+) just ahead and Willson Contreras (B) just behind.
Graded higher
Ty FrancePadresB+Ildemaro VargasDiamondbacksBYandy DiazRaysBDavid FryB
Graded lower
Willson ContrerasRed SoxRecent Games
| Date | OPP | Result | AB | H | R | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, 6/16 | @ MIL | L 1-2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Wed, 6/10 | vs NYY | L 4-8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
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About this player
David Fry is a player in his 3rd MLB season listed at 1B for the Guardians. FanVerdicts covers every MLB player, team, GM, and transaction — and puts your verdict on all of it. Sign in to cast your Fan Verdict on David Fry, see where the crowd lands, and argue the call. FanVerdicts also brings its own read — performance, sentiment, and Contract Value Index — as one honest input alongside the crowd's. Where FanVerdicts has weighed in so far: Contract Value Index A-, Performance B, Sentiment C+.
The crowd's Fan Verdict moves in real time as fans vote on this profile. FanVerdicts' own read updates as new data lands — performance recalculates when MLB game stats post, sentiment shifts with media coverage and fan discussion, and the Contract Value Index recomputes when contract terms change. Contract details below show the structure (years, total value, average annual value, guarantees) behind the Contract Value Index read.
For league-wide context, the MLB hub has team rankings, GM report cards, the transactions feed, and live scoreboards. The MLB player rankings page sorts every active player by performance and contract value within their position.