Cleveland Guardians News

Riley Pint  • RP  •  Guardians

Guardians Sign Riley Pint To Minor-League Deal

The Cleveland Guardians announced on Wednesday that they signed free-agent right-hander Riley Pint to a minor-league deal. Pint is a former first-round pick (fourth overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2016 but has only appeared in five major-league games in relief since making his MLB debut in 2023. In 3 2/3 innings pitched for the Rockies, he allowed nine earned runs on six hits (two homers) while walking eight and striking out seven. Control has been the biggest issue for the 27-year-old, but the Guardians will be hoping they can figure something out with Pint as he comes to spring training this year in minor-league camp. In eight seasons in the minors, Pint has posted a 5.30 ERA and 1.70 WHIP with a save, 376 strikeouts and 262 walks in 311 innings over 193 appearances (40 starts). He will most likely start the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Columbus.
5 days ago   
Paul Sewald  • RP  •  Guardians

Guardians Sign Paul Sewald On Wednesday

The Cleveland Guardians announced on Wednesday that they signed free-agent right-handed reliever Paul Sewald to an undisclosed major-league contract for the 2025 season. The deal includes a mutual option for 2026. It was a rough 2024 season for Sewald in his final year with the Arizona Diamondbacks, as he missed time due to injury and also lost his job as the closer. The 34-year-old veteran finished with a 4.31 ERA (3.95 FIP) and a 1.13 WHIP with 16 saves, a 26.1% strikeout rate and a 6.1% walk rate in 39 2/3 relief innings. He got a late start due to an oblique injury and saved 11 straight saves while being unhittable before everything fell apart. Although Sewald won't be the closer in Cleveland with Emmanuel Clase locked into that role, he did have 81 saves the last four years and should be worth a look in holds leagues as a setup man for the Guardians in 2025. UPDATE: Sewald will make $7 million, and his 2026 option will be worth $10 million.
5 days ago   
Chase DeLauter  • OF  •  Guardians

Guardians Invite Chase DeLauter To Spring Training

Cleveland Guardians outfield prospect Chase DeLauter is among the team's non-roster invites to major-league spring training this year. Per MLB Pipeline, DeLauter is Cleveland's No. 2 prospect. The 23-year-old is one of the best up-and-coming outfield prospects in the game from a pure athletic standpoint, but he's going to need to stay healthy to have a shot at panning out at the next level. He was limited to only 39 games in the minors in 2024 due to foot and hamstring ailments and slashed a combined .261/.342/.500 with an .842 OPS, eight home runs, 24 RBI and 25 runs scored in 164 plate appearances at three different stops. If DeLauter stays healthy this spring and impresses, he could break camp with the big-league squad. He missed his entire first pro season in 2022 with a broken foot. The former first-rounder has little left to prove in the minors but is an injury risk for those in keeper leagues.
Jan 14   
Steven Kwan  • LF  •  Guardians

Steven Kwan, Guardians Avoid Arbitration

According to Mandy Bell of MLB.com, the Cleveland Guardians and outfielder Steven Kwan have agreed to a one-year contract worth $4.175 million to avoid arbitration. In 2024, Steven Kwan enjoyed the best season of his career as he posted a .292/.368/.425 line. He launched a career-best 14 home runs. He also swiped double-digit bags for the third straight campaign. This was a nice bounce-back compared to the .268/.340./.370 line he held in 2023. Last summer, he generated an impressive .284 xBA, which placed him in the 94th percentile among qualified hitters. In addition, the 27-year-old showed a great eye at the plate with a 9.4% K rate, 8.2% whiff rate, and 19.2% chase rate, which placed him within the 96th percentile among qualified hitters. Despite his lack of power, Kwan remains a top pick for batting average, given his elite contact skills.
Jan 10   
Luis Frías  • RP  •  Guardians

Guardians Sign Luis Frias To Minor-League Deal

The Cleveland Guardians signed free-agent right-hander Luis Frias to a minor-league deal on Thursday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training camp. Frias will join Cleveland this year after spending time with both the Arizona Diamondbacks and Toronto Blue Jays in 2024. In only 9 2/3 innings pitched in 11 appearances in relief, Frias allowed a whopping 16 runs (15 earned) on 19 hits (two homers) while walking seven and striking out 12. However, the 26-year-old Dominican did post a 1.35 ERA during the Diamondbacks' run to the World Series in the fall of 2023. Most of his struggles in 2024 could be attributed to a right-shoulder injury that he dealt with. Frias could bounce back with Cleveland in 2025 if he stays healthy and could be a decent source of strikeouts in deep holds leagues.
Jan 2   
Jake Anchia  • C  •  Guardians

Jake Anchia Signs With Guardians

Free-agent catcher Jake Anchia signed a minor-league deal with the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, according to his agent, Gavin Kahn. Anchia was previously with the Seattle Mariners and was ranked by Baseball America as the organization's best defensive prospect at his position. The 27-year-old former seventh-round selection by Seattle in 2018 out of Nova Southeastern University spent all of the 2024 campaign at Double-A Arkansas, slashing .210/.246/.358 with a weak .604 OPS, nine home runs, 39 RBI, three stolen bases and 33 runs scored in 290 trips to the plate over 79 games played. Anchia's calling card is obviously his defense, leaving him very little fantasy upside if he ever reaches the major-league level in Cleveland.
Jan 1   
Carlos Santana  • 1B  •  Guardians

Seattle Showed Interest In Carlos Santana

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Seattle Mariners offered free-agent first baseman Carlos Santana a higher salary and a player option for 2026, but the veteran first baseman decided to sign with the Cleveland Guardians instead. The Mariners have been in the first base market all offseason and have been linked to other top options such as Christian Walker. However, with Walker signing in Houston, the Mariners were willing to place a higher bid on Santana but were unable to agree to a deal. Instead, Santana choose to return to his old club on a one-year contract. Santana will now be the everyday first baseman in Cleveland with Josh Naylor being traded to Arizona. Last season, the 38-year-old held a .238/.328/.420 slash line with 23 home runs. Outside of Pete Alonso, other options at first base for Seattle are Justin Turner, Josh Bell, and Anthony Rizzo.
Dec 24   
Slade Cecconi  • SP  •  Guardians

Slade Cecconi Traded To Cleveland

According to Jeff Passan, right-handed pitcher Slade Cecconi was traded to the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for first baseman Josh Naylor. Cecconi has spent his entire professional career in the Arizona Diamondbacks system. He made his major league debut in 2023 and posted a 4.33 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP across 27 innings. Last summer, posted a high 6.66 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP across 77 innings. The Miami product bounced between the rotation and the bullpen during both of his major league stints. In the minor leagues he operated primarily as a starter and held a 5.23 ERA and 1.27 WHIP through 163 1/3 innings. Despite his high ratios, he possess great command as he posted an impressive 5.0% walk rate. With the Guardians losing Matthew Boyd earlier this offseason to the Chicago Cubs, Cecconi could have an opportunity to compete for a spot in the starting rotation during Spring Training.
Dec 22   
Carlos Santana  • 1B  •  Guardians

Carlos Santana Inks One-Year Contract With Cleveland

According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Cleveland Guardians have signed first baseman Carlos Santana to a one-year contract worth $12 million, pending a physical. This transaction occurred just minutes after the Guardians traded first baseman Josh Naylor to the Arizona Diamondbacks. This will be Santana's third stint with Cleveland. Last season, the veteran first baseman posted a .238/.328/.420 line with 23 home runs and four stolen bases in Minnesota. He tallied 71 RBI with 26 doubles. He showed a great eye at the plate with a strong 10.9% walk rate and 16.7% K rate which placed him in the 82nd and 79th percentile respectively among qualified hitters. He also held a slightly above average .330 xwOBA. Fantasy managers should expect Santana to operate as the everyday first baseman and does carry solid RBI upside this season batting behind Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez.
Dec 21   
Josh Naylor  • 1B  •  Guardians

Josh Naylor Mentioned In Trade Talks With Mariners

Cleveland Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor has been mentioned in trade talks between the Guardians and Seattle Mariners this offseason, according to sources. Naylor is one of multiple names under consideration by the Mariners as they look for an offensive upgrade at first base. Free-agent first baseman Christian Walker is another name that the Mariners could consider as they look for another bat this winter. The 27-year-old Naylor was a first-time All-Star in 2024 and finished with career-highs in home runs (31), RBI (108) and runs scored (84) while stealing six bases and slashing .243/.320/.456 with a .776 OPS in a career-high 152 regular-season games. His drop in average can be attributed to him facing more left-handers over the course of a full season. Repeating his 30-homer season will be difficult, especially if he heads to T-Mobile Park with less protection in the lineup.
Dec 19   
Shane Bieber  • SP  •  Guardians

Shane Bieber Throwing From 90 Feet

According to Tom Withers of the Associated Press, Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber (elbow) is throwing from 90 feet three times per week. Withers noted that Bieber expressed that he is confident but still has "a long way to go." Bieber underwent Tommy John surgery last April and was only able to make two starts last season. Across these 12 frames, the former Cy Young winner held a perfect 0.00 ERA with a stellar 0.92 WHIP. During the 2023 campaign, the right-hander posted a 3.80 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. While this is a great sign to see him progress in his throwing program, fantasy managers should not expect him to return to the major league mound at least a few months into the 2025 campaign. However, if he continues to progress without facing any setbacks, he could be worth targeting in deeper formats as a high-upside stash candidate.
Dec 12   
Luis L. Ortiz  • SP  •  Guardians

Guardians Acquire Luis L. Ortiz From Pirates

The Cleveland Guardians acquired pitchers Luis L. Ortiz, Josh Hartle and Michael Kennedy from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night in exchange for infielder Spencer Horwitz, according to sources. Ortiz is the biggest name in the swap for the Guardians as they look to add pitching depth to their system. The 25-year-old Dominican right-hander had his best year in the big leagues in his third year with Pittsburgh in 2024, going 7-6 with a 3.32 ERA (4.25 FIP), 1.11 WHIP, a career-high 107 strikeouts and 42 walks in 135 2/3 innings over 37 appearances (15 starts). Even though the Guardians re-signed Shane Bieber already this offseason, Ortiz could be primed for a spot near the back end of Cleveland's starting rotation to open the 2025 regular season. Ortiz was slightly better as a starter in 2024 but had a strikeout rate under 20%, limiting his overall upside as a matchup-based streamer in deeper leagues.
Dec 11   
Shane Bieber  • SP  •  Guardians

Shane Bieber Returning To Cleveland On One-Year Deal

Free-agent right-hander Shane Bieber (elbow) and the Cleveland Guardians agreed to a one-year, $14 million deal on Friday that includes a $16 million player option for the 2026 season, according to sources. Bieber has chosen to return on a one-year pact after undergoing Tommy John surgery back in April. He isn't expected to return until the middle of 2025, so it makes sense for him to return to the Guardians to try and boost his value once again before potentially hitting the open market again next offseason. The two-time All-Star and former American League Cy Young (2020) only made two starts in 2024 before going under the knife, but he was dominant with 20 strikeouts over 12 shutout innings. Bieber has been excellent in the past, but fantasy managers would be foolish to assume he'll suddenly regain velocity and whiffs in his return from TJ surgery in 2025. He'll be a risk/reward fantasy starter on the cheap.
Dec 7   
Josh Naylor  • 1B  •  Guardians  |  Lane Thomas  • RF  •  Guardians

Guardians Open To Trading Josh Naylor, Lane Thomas

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal writes that the Cleveland Guardians are open to trade offers for first baseman Josh Naylor and outfielder Lane Thomas, both of whom are entering their walk years. Naylor is projected to earn $12 million in salary arbitration, while Thomas is at $8.3 million. Cleveland has concerns in their outfield, but they just landed Thomas in a midseason trade in 2024. Naylor, on the other hand, has emerged as one of the team's most valuable position players while also being a leader in the clubhouse. If Naylor were dealt, Kyle Manzardo would be the obvious replacement for Naylor at first base in Cleveland. The small-market organization has already lost left-hander Matthew Boyd to free agency, and right-handers Shane Bieber and Alex Cobb could be next. Naylor had a career year for the Guards in 2024, but his struggles against left-handed pitching remains an issue.
Dec 5   
Johnathan Rodriguez  • RF  •  Guardians

Johnathan Rodriguez Named Top Cleveland Hitting Prospect Of 2024

MLB Pipeline named outfielder Johnathan Rodriguez Cleveland's top hitting prospect of the 2024 campaign. Rodriguez, the No.12 ranked prospect in the system on MLB.com, spent most of his season with Triple-A Columbus before getting a brief taste of the big leagues. Through 117 games at Triple-A, the 25-year-old carried a stellar .301/.390/.540 slash line with 18 doubles, 29 home runs, 94 RBI, and eight stolen bases. This was a steady improvement from the .280 AVG and 11 home runs he hit at Triple-A during the 2023 season. In the majors, the former third-round selection posted an underwhelming .129/.325/.161 line through a small 13-game stint. Fantasy managers in deeper five-outfielder leagues should pay attention to his development during Spring Training as he could contend for a spot on the Opening Day Roster.
Dec 1   
José Devers  • SS  •  Braves  |  Jose Devers  • SS  •  Guardians

Jose Devers Joins Braves On Minor-League Deal

Free-agent infielder Jose Devers agreed to a minor-league deal with the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, according to sources. Devers is the cousin of Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers. He spent the last six seasons in the Miami Marlins organization and appeared in 24 games at the big-league level, posting a weak .611 OPS. The 24-year-old Dominican only played in three games for the Fish in 2024 and hit .239/.304/.362 with three home runs, 17 RBI, three stolen bases and 28 runs scored in 54 games at Triple-A Jacksonville. Devers is mostly useful for his glove in the middle infield and he's likely to begin the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Gwinnett as infield depth for the Braves. In seven minor-league seasons, Devers has slashed .261/.324/.362 with a .686 OPS and only 13 home runs.
Nov 30   
George Valera  • RF  •  Guardians

Guardians Re-Sign George Valera

The Cleveland Guardians re-signed outfielder George Valera (knee) to a minor-league deal on Monday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training next year. Valera was non-tendered by the team last Friday but quickly has rejoined the organization. The 24-year-old underwent surgery on his right knee in September and therefore will probably be unavailable for the start of spring training and the start of next season. In all likelihood, he will be assigned to Triple-A Columbus in 2025 when he's fully recovered from his knee surgery. Valera spent the entire 2024 season at Columbus, slashing .248/.337/.452 with a .789 OPS, 17 home runs, 50 RBI, six stolen bases and 51 runs scored in 90 games and 374 trips to the plate. He sports a .243/.358/.452 career slash line with 80 homers and 273 RBI in his six minor-league seasons.
Nov 26   
Triston McKenzie  • SP  •  Guardians

Guardians And Triston McKenzie Avoid Arbitration

The Cleveland Guardians and pitcher Triston McKenzie avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a $1.95 million deal for one year. McKenzie was the 42nd overall pick in the 2015 Draft, but after peaking with a 2.96 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and a 19.7% K-BB% in 2022, the last two seasons have been marred by injury and underperformance, culminating with his demotion to the minors in late June. Things didn't go well there either, posting a 5.23 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, and a 9.7% K-BB% over 53 1/3 IP. The Guardians need rotation help though and McKenzie is still only 27 years old, so if he can return to some semblance of his former self, then he could help Cleveland and fantasy managers. Keep an eye on how his spring goes to see if he appears to be headed in the right direction.
Nov 22   
Chase DeLauter  • OF  •  Guardians

Chase DeLauter Doubles Twice In Three-Hit Day In The AFL

Cleveland Guardians outfield prospect Chase DeLauter went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, a walk, two RBI, and a run scored on Thursday in the final regular season game of the Arizona Fall League (AFL) for the Surprise Saguaros. The former first-round draft pick is slashing .350/.475/.511 with five doubles, a home run, and a strong 12:6 BB:K in 12 AFL games. The 23-year-old missed most of the 2024 regular season due to complications from a previous foot injury but hit well in his return and is getting some extra reps in the AFL with an 2025 MLB debut likely on the horizon. Fantasy managers should be keeping an eye on his spring performance as the left-handed hitter offers good power and a keen eye that should translate to the majors.
Nov 15   
Austin Hedges  • C  •  Guardians

Austin Hedges Re-Signs With Guardians

The Cleveland Guardians have re-signed veteran backup catcher Austin Hedges to a one-year contract. Hedges played 66 games for Cleveland last season, posting a .152-2-15-12-2 line in 146 PA. While the offensive statistics don't jump off the page, the 32-year-old is said to be a clubhouse leader and mentor to young starting catcher Bo Naylor. That's certainly a good thing for the Guardians, however, it doesn't move the needle for fantasy. Even if something were to happen to Naylor, as a career .186 hitter over 12 major league seasons, the former second-round draft pick would likely be best left on the waiver wire.
Nov 7   
LEGEND
✕