Austin Hedges is now a free agent and can sign elsewhere starting 5 p.m. ET Monday. Chris Antonetti praised the catcher's leadership but said he's earned a look from other teams, so a Guardians return looks less certain than in past years. 🧢
The Alex Cobb trade tree grew a branch: the Giants sent Nate Furman, a prospect Cleveland dealt in 2024, to the Nationals for minor leaguer Tony Neubeck. Cobb threw just 23 innings for the Guardians, so the original deal still looks lopsided. 🌳
Former Guardians slugger Franmil Reyes just signed a four-year, $40 million extension with Japan's Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, reportedly the richest deal in NPB history. He hit .313 with 32 homers this year. Cleveland's loss, Hokkaido's power surge. 💰
Tanner Bibee won the 2026 AL Gold Glove for pitchers, posting 5 Defensive Runs Saved and 0.4 Fielding Run Value. The glove work stood out more than a 4.52 FIP, which came with too many flyballs leaving the yard. 🧤
Fresh from the Gold Glove announcements: Cleveland's Gavin Williams... correction, Bibee is the club's 2nd Gold Glove pitcher in franchise history. Defense on the mound now has hardware. 🧤 Let me tighten that: Bibee is now the second pitcher in Cleveland history to win a Gold Glove, per the 2026 AL awards. The mound has hardware for defense, and the glove work gets its own trophy. 🧤
Former Guardians reliever Codi Heuer cleared waivers and stays with the Orioles, assigned to Triple-A Norfolk. He left Cleveland with a 4.66 ERA over 9 2/3 innings before the Brewers trade, so he's now just a depth arm in Baltimore's system. 🔄
Covering the Corner: Guardians News: None
Guardians' offseason outlook: Foster Griffin, Nathaniel Lowe, Austin Hedges and Rhys Hoskins hit free agency, and Shawn Armstrong's 2027 option was declined. Griffin is the top priority, and an offense that ranked 24th in runs still needs help. 🔧
Former Guardians reliever Jakob Junis is a free agent again after the Rangers paid a $1.25M buyout rather than exercise his $5M mutual option. He posted a 3.64 ERA with a career-high six saves in Texas, fading to 5.21 in the second half.
MLB.com's All-postseason team included six Guardians: two position leaders and four honorable mentions, including Patrick Bailey (.788 OPS, two HR) and José Ramírez (1.025 OPS after an 0-for-6 ALDS start). Strong core, confirmed. 🔒
Guardians opened the offseason by declining Shawn Armstrong's mutual option and Trevor Stephan's club option, sending both right-handers to free agency. They also selected infielder Milan Tolentino's contract, putting the 40-man roster at 36. Armstrong's reunion door stays ajar. 🚪
Shawn Armstrong is headed to free agency after the Guardians declined his $8M mutual option for a $1.25M buyout. A reunion still makes sense after his 1.04 postseason ERA, including two ALCS starts as an opener against the Rays. 🔄
Guardians selected shortstop Milan Tolentino's contract from Triple-A Columbus, adding the 24-year-old to the 40-man roster. The move shields him from the Rule 5 draft. He hit 21 homers with a .225 average in 2026. Power and walks, minus the contact. 🔒
A proposed offseason wish list, not actual moves: the Guardians could target Zach Neto, CJ Abrams, Jeremy Peña, Wyatt Langford, Reid Detmers and Logan Gilbert. The pitch leans on their young core, deep farm system and low payroll after an ALCS Game 6 exit. 🎯
Guardians added Triple-A slugger Milan Tolentino to the 40-man roster before he hit minor league free agency. He hit 21 homers with a .225/.328/.453 line in 2026, and he's a utility option in a crowded infield. Power over contact. 💥
Guardians declined Trevor Stephan's 2027 team option, making him a free agent. The 2023 four-year, $10M deal yielded one solid big-league season (4.06 ERA) before Tommy John surgery and a 10.44 ERA in 25 innings this year. Quiet exit. 📉
Jim Thome drew fan backlash for wearing black in Chicago's crowd at ALDS Game 3 against the Guardians. One columnist argues it's no betrayal: Thome works in the White Sox front office, and Cleveland can still honor his legacy. 🎩
Guardians offseason pitching wish list, with a projected payroll just under $100M: Shane Bieber rates a 10/10 for realism (projected 1 year, $8M). Dustin May, Matthew Boyd, Jonathan Loáisiga and JoJo Romero follow, though a Dolan-led budget limits the ceiling. 💰
José Ramírez's Game 5 ALDS homer off Sean Burke, a pitch 0.89 feet off the ground and the lowest hit for a homer since 2008, made MLB.com's top 2026 postseason moments. It gave Cleveland a 2-0 win and ended a 2-5 home winner-take-all slump. 🔥
Guardians declined 2027 options on relievers Shawn Armstrong (4.58 ERA in an injury-hit 2026) and Trevor Stephan, and selected shortstop Milan Tolentino's contract. The glove-first 24-year-old is a depth piece. Rule-5 protection deadline: Nov. 17. ⚾
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