Cleveland Guardians News

CENTRAL

Connor Brogdon • RP • Guardians

Guardians Agree to Major-League Deal With Connor Brogdon

The Cleveland Guardians agreed to a major-league deal with free-agent right-hander Connor Brogdon on Wednesday, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Brogdon, 30, has had limited success in his six seasons in the majors, posting a 4.36 ERA with a 15.3 K-BB% across 192 innings. However, with the Los Angeles Angels last year, he pitched to a 3.86 SIERA with a 24.6% strikeout rate while averaging 95.5 miles per hour on his fastball in 47 innings. For Cleveland, Brogdon is just another arm in the bullpen, but he could help fantasy managers who play in leagues that count holds as a category.

Yesterday

Steven Kwan • LF • Guardians

Dodgers Still Interested in Trading for Steven Kwan?

The Cleveland Guardians almost traded outfielder Steven Kwan to the Los Angeles Dodgers over the summer, and the Dodgers will "come calling again," according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. After the Dodgers' failed experiment with the left-handed-hitting Michael Conforto, they will have an opening in their outfield for 2026, and Kwan could fill that spot while giving the back-to-back World Series champions another on-base machine for either the top or bottom of their stacked batting order. The Guardians' price tag for Kwan will be high, but the Dodgers have plenty of prospect capital to get something done. The 28-year-old has been an All-Star each of the last two years in Cleveland and hit .272/.330/.374 with a career-low .705 OPS, 11 homers, 56 RBI, 81 runs, and 21 steals in 156 regular-season games. Kwan lacks power, but he's plenty useful for a high-floor average, runs, and speed, and his fantasy value would receive a boost if he were to move to L.A.

Nov 11

Emmanuel Clase • RP • Guardians

Emmanuel Clase Indicted on Gambling Charges, Facing 65 Years in Prison

Cleveland Guardians right-handers Emmanuel Clase and Luis L. Oritz have both been indicted by prosecutors in Brooklyn, New York, on a "host of charges related to a scheme to rig bets on pitches" thrown during the 2025 season, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Ortiz was arrested on Sunday in Boston, while Clase is currently not in custody. Passan adds that both pitchers face up to 65 years in prison if they are convicted on all charges, including fraud, conspiracy, and bribery. Clase and Ortiz missed the final two months of the year while the league looked into the two hurlers getting money to intentionally throw balls on certain pitches. Clase has been one of the most dominant closers in baseball the last few seasons, so this is a big loss for the Guardians. The 27-year-old Dominican is a three-time All-Star and has had 181 saves since the start of 2021. Neither Clase nor Ortiz will pitch again in the big leagues.

Nov 10

Emmanuel Clase • RP • Guardians

Guardians Will Not Allow Emmanuel Clase to Pitch in Venezuelan Winter League

Evan Drellich of The Athletic reports that the Cleveland Guardians will not allow closer Emmanuel Clase to pitch in the Venezuelan winter league. Clase is one of the subjects of an ongoing gambling investigation by Major League Baseball. He was placed on paid leave by the Guardians in July, and there's been speculation that he may never pitch in the big leagues again once the investigation concludes. Clase appeared in 48 games during the 2025 season, pitching to a 3.23 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with 47 strikeouts and 24 saves. From 2022-2024, Clase recorded 133 saves and made three consecutive All-Star teams. If Clase is not a member of the Guardians in 2026, right-hander Cade Smith could open the season as the team's closer.

Oct 23

Austin Hedges • C • Guardians

Austin Hedges Re-Signs With Guardians

The Cleveland Guardians re-signed catcher Austin Hedges to a one-year, $4 million deal on Tuesday that includes $500,000 in incentives, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Hedges is not on the fantasy radar at all as a zero with the bat in his hands, but the 33-year-old veteran is a strong defensive catcher and will return to serve as Bo Naylor's backup in 2026. Hedges will head into his third year in Cleveland after hitting .157/.229/.251 with a rough .480 OPS, seven home runs, six doubles, 25 RBI, 25 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 134 games over the past two seasons. The former second-round pick has a .185/.244/.313 career slash line, .556 OPS, and 74 long balls in 820 regular-season games across his 11 big-league seasons. Avoid him in fantasy, even in deep two-catcher formats.

Oct 15

Emmanuel Clase • RP • Guardians

Emmanuel Clase to be Banished for Life After Gambling Allegations?

According to a source, Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase will never pitch again in Major League Baseball again, with the gambling evidence found against him being irrefutable, according to Hector Gomez. The same can be said about fellow Guardians hurler Luis L. Ortiz. Clase and Ortiz were placed on "non-disciplinary paid leave" in July due to an ongoing gambling investigation. Neither pitcher played again for Cleveland the rest of the year, and a decision has also been made to keep both Clase and Ortiz from playing winter ball in their native Dominican Republic. Nothing is official yet, but this will be a big storyline to follow in the offseason. If it's true, it would be a massive blow to the Guardians' organization, as Clase has been one of the most dominant relief pitchers in baseball over the last few years. The three-time All-Star led baseball in saves for three consecutive years from 2022-24.

Oct 15

Chase DeLauter • RF • Guardians

Chase DeLauter Making MLB Debut in Game 2 of Wild-Card Series

Cleveland Guardians outfield prospect Chase DeLauter will make his major-league debut on Wednesday in Game 2 of the wild-card series against the division-rival Detroit Tigers and right-hander Casey Mize at Progressive Field. DeLauter is starting in center field and will hit seventh in the batting order. It's a bold move by Cleveland after falling down 1-0 in the series with a loss in Game 1 of the series on Tuesday. The 23-year-old DeLauter has lots of upside, but he also hasn't played in a game since July 11 in the minors due to a right-wrist injury that required surgery. The former first-rounder only played in 42 games at Triple-A Columbus and in the Arizona Fall League this year before his injury and hit .264/.379/.473 with an .852 OPS, seven home runs, 24 RBI and 28 runs scored. The Guards are looking for a spark given their lack of productivity in center field from Angel Martinez, but DeLauter is a big dice role in the postseason in a must-win game.

Oct 1

Gavin Williams • SP • Guardians

Gavin Williams Shines in Postseason Start Despite Guardians' Loss

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams was one of the lone bright spots in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers in Game 1 of the 2025 Wild Card Series. Making his second career postseason start, the 26-year-old struck out eight and allowed only two unearned runs on five hits and one walk. Williams showed poise and command on the mound, keeping Cleveland within reach despite limited offensive support. While he was tagged with the loss, his performance proved he can handle the October stage.

Sep 30

Chase DeLauter • RF • Guardians

Chase DeLauter Will Make His Debut in the Wild Card Series

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Chase DeLauter didn't make his major league debut during the regular season, but he will be on the active roster for the Wild Card series and will make his debut in the postseason. DeLauter is the team's No. 2 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, but he underwent surgery to repair a right hamate fracture back on July 23rd and has not played since. He hit .278 with five homers, 25 runs scored, 21 RBI, and a .384 wOBA in his 34 games at Triple-A before his injury. He will obviously be making a huge jump in competition, diving right into the postseason, but the lefty has a dynamic bat and has shown a high ceiling while navigating multiple injuries throughout his time in Cleveland's farm system. The Guardians could use his help in the outfield, and he could be the next surprise contributor in Cleveland's improbable postseason run. Update: DeLauter is on the active roster but not in the starting lineup for Game 1.

Sep 30

Gavin Williams • SP • Guardians

Gavin Williams Starting Game 1 for the Guardians

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams will get the ball for the first game of his team's Wild Card series against the Tigers. He'll go head-to-head with Tarik Skubal on Tuesday afternoon in Cleveland. The Guardians went 8-5 against Detroit this season, winning five of six head-to-head matchups in September while surging past the slumping Tigers and claiming the division crown. Williams was outstanding down the stretch for Cleveland, going 5-1 in his last seven starts with a 2.04 ERA, 3.74 FIP, and 46 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings. He beat the Tigers in each of his final two regular-season starts, allowing a total of two runs on seven hits with 21 strikeouts in 11 innings against the Tigers. He'll look to continue that dominance and give his team a chance to take Game 1 if he can match Skubal on Tuesday.

Sep 30

José Ramírez • 3B • Guardians

Jose Ramirez Steals Three Bags in Win

Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez was a menace on the base paths in a 9-8 win over the Texas Rangers on Sunday. Ramirez stole three bases in a game for the third time this year and also collected multiple hits, going 2-for-5 with a pair of singles. It was the last in a long line of productive regular-season games in 2025 for Ramirez, one of the driving forces behind an improbable AL Central-winning campaign for Cleveland. The 33-year-old earned his seventh All-Star nod this season and slashed .283/.360/.503 with 30 homers, 85 RBI, 103 runs scored, and a career-high 44 stolen bases in 158 games and 672 plate appearances. Ramirez and the Guardians will begin a wild-card series against a familiar foe, the Detroit Tigers, on Tuesday. The Guardians stunningly overcame a 15 1/2-game deficit to snatch the division from the Tigers.

Sep 29

Cade Smith • RP • Guardians |

Cade Smith • SP • Yankees

Cade Smith Picks Up Playoff-Clinching Win

Cleveland Guardians closer Cade Smith (8-5) earned the win in a 3-2 nail-biter over the Texas Rangers on Saturday and helped his team clinch an improbable playoff berth. Smith entered in the top of the eighth and threw 1 2/3 perfect innings with one strikeout before the Guardians won on a walk-off hit by pitch in the bottom of the ninth. The Guardians were a seemingly insurmountable 15 1/2 games back of Detroit in the AL Central on July 6, but almost four months later, they'll have a chance to take the division on Sunday with a win or a Tigers loss. Cleveland is in this position thanks in part to Smith, who took over as its closer in late July after Major League Baseball placed two-time AL Reliever of the Year Emmanuel Clase on leave for a sports betting investigation. Smith has tallied 16 saves this season, including seven in September, and logged a 2.93 ERA with a 1.03 WHIP, 103 strikeouts, and 19 walks in 73 2/3 innings.

Sep 28

Johnathan Rodríguez • RF • Guardians

Johnathan Rodriguez Recalled from Triple-A Columbus

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Johnathan Rodriguez was recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday to replace the injured David Fry (face). Rodriguez spent time with Cleveland earlier this season and part of last year, but owns just a .155/.255/.258 slash line with one home run and a 32.7 percent strikeout rate in 41 major league games played (110 plate appearances). The former third-round draft pick had a great year at Triple-A, slashing .312/.397/.515 with 16 home runs, and rode a 14-game hit streak from September 4-19 (.408, six home runs). If he can keep the momentum going, he could see success this time around, but he's not expected to get regular at-bats over the final week of the season.

Sep 24

David Fry • 1B • Guardians

David Fry Suffers Broken Nose, Facial Fractures

Cleveland Guardians designated hitter David Fry (face) suffered a broken nose and facial fractures on Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers when he was hit in the face by a pitch from left-hander Tarik Skubal, according to Tom Withers of The Associated Press. "He is doing OK, he's in good spirits. He's upright, he's alert," manager Stephen Vogt said. It was a scary situation at Progressive Field on Tuesday night, but the good news is Fry never lost consciousness and should be fine. However, the 29-year-old is going to miss some time and probably won't be available to close out the regular season, which ends on Sunday. If the Guardians make the playoffs, Fry could be fighting an uphill battle to be included on the postseason roster. Fry got a late start to the 2025 season after recovering from UCL surgery on his right arm, and he's currently hitting just .171 (25-for-146) with eight home runs, 23 RBI, and 16 runs in 66 games.

Sep 24

Lane Thomas • CF • Guardians

Lane Thomas to Miss 3-4 Months of Action After Foot Surgery

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Lane Thomas (foot) underwent successful surgery on Tuesday. Thomas needed to have surgery to address the plantar fasciitis issue that has bothered him throughout most of the season. He's expected to miss roughly 3-4 months of action following the surgery. That being said, Thomas won't be available if the Guardians make the playoffs, but he should be ready to go in time for spring training. It was basically a lost season for Thomas who only managed to play in 39 games.

Sep 23

Daniel Espino • SP • Guardians

Daniel Espino Returns to the Mound on Saturday at Triple-A

Cleveland Guardians pitching prospect Daniel Espino (shoulder) made his long-awaited return to the mound on Saturday at Triple-A Columbus. The Guardians' 29th-ranked prospect, who was the team's top-ranked pitching prospect back in 2022, has been working his way back from various arm injuries, including shoulder surgery this past March. The 24-year-old faced five batters in 2/3 of an inning pitched on Saturday, yielding three earned runs on three hits and no walks while striking out one. Pitching in regular-season game action for the first time since 2022 was a victory in itself, and from here, the former first-round draft pick will head to the Arizona Fall League to compete with some of the game's top prospects to make up for lost time and prepare for 2026. With a fastball that has touched 103 mph, he could debut in the majors next season, and fantasy managers should be on the lookout, as he was once touted as a future frontline starter.

Sep 21

Nolan Jones • RF • Guardians

Nolan Jones Heads to 10-Day Injured List

The Cleveland Guardians have placed outfielder Nolan Jones (oblique) on the 10-day injured list with a strained right oblique and promoted outfielder Petey Halpin from Triple-A Columbus. Jones came off the bench in the Guardians' 6-2 win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday and had to exit after he began feeling discomfort in his side while swinging. The injury will end Jones' regular season, though he may be able to return in October if the Guardians improbably earn a playoff berth. They've won eight in a row to charge within 1 1/2 games of a wild-card spot and 2 1/2 of the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers. Jones played in 136 of the Guardians' games this season and hit a lackluster .211/.296/.304 with five homers, 34 RBI, 34 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in 403 plate appearances.

Sep 20

John Means • SP • Guardians

John Means Knocked Around in Triple-A Rehab Start

Cleveland Guardians left-hander John Means (elbow) struggled in his latest rehab start with Triple-A Columbus on Sunday. Means lasted 3 2/3 innings and yielded six runs on five hits, including two homers, and four walks. The 32-year-old did throw 82 pitches, his most in any of his six rehab starts, but has managed a brutal 9.60 ERA with 11:10 K:BB in four appearances and 15 innings with Columbus. It's unclear if the Guardians plan to activate Means from the 60-day injured list before the season ends. If he does get into a game this year, it'll be the first time since May 2024 for the former Baltimore Oriole. Means underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2024, and he settled for a one-year, $1 million guarantee with the Guardians in free agency last offseason. The Guardians will have to decide during the upcoming offseason whether to pick up Means' $6 million club option for 2026.

Sep 15

Tanner Bibee • SP • Guardians

Tanner Bibee Fans 10 in Two-Hit Shutout

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee performed like an ace and improved to 10-11 in a 4-0 win over the Chicago White Sox on Friday. Bibee fired Cleveland's first complete-game shutout in six years, allowing just two hits (both singles) while racking up 10 strikeouts against no walks. He threw 103 pitches, 74 for strikes, and generated 14 whiffs in his best outing of 2025. The 26-year-old went through a brutal July-August stretch in which he pitched to a 6.15 ERA in 11 starts, but he has fared much better in September. Bibee has taken the mound twice this month and logged 15 2/3 innings of two-run, seven-hit ball with 13:1 K:BB. Overall, he owns a disappointing 4.44 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP, 149 strikeouts, and 50 walks in 170 1/3 frames this season. He's scheduled to take on the division-rival Minnesota Twins next Friday. Bibee has faced the Twins twice this year and given up five runs on 13 hits and two walks (10 strikeouts) across 11 2/3 innings.

Sep 13

Gabriel Arias • SS • Guardians

Gabriel Arias Returns to Guardians Lineup

Cleveland Guardians infielder Gabriel Arias (wrist) is back at shortstop and is hitting sixth in Friday's contest against the division-rival Chicago White Sox and left-hander Martin Perez at Progressive Field. Arias is returning to action after he missed the last three games with inflammation in his right wrist. Now that he's back, Brayan Rocchio will shift back to second base for the Guards. The 25-year-old Arias is a defense-first middle infielder, so he doesn't carry much value in fantasy. The Venezuelan is returning to a .223/.280/.363 slash line with a .643 OPS, 10 home runs, 48 RBI, 39 runs, and six stolen bases in 372 at-bats this year. Arias is hitless in just one career at-bat against the veteran Perez. Fantasy managers setting DFS lineups should have better sleeper options at the position on Friday.

Sep 12

Cleveland Guardians News

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