Forty-eight players suited up for the 2026 AL Central-winning Guardians, including short-stint cameos from Stuart Fairchild (19 at-bats), Kolby Allard (8 2/3 innings, cut after four rough outings) and Carlos Hernández. Depth chart, meet revolving door. 🚪
Guardians declined 2027 options on Shawn Armstrong (mutual) and Trevor Stephan (club), sending both righties to free agency. Infielder Milan Tolentino was selected from Triple-A Columbus, putting the 40-man at 36. Armstrong could still be a bullpen target. 🔄
MLB Trade Rumors (Guardians): Guardians Select Milan Tolentino
Transaction Alert: RHP Shawn Armstrong has elected free agency and is no longer with the Cleveland Guardians. 📋
Potential witnesses in the Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz federal trial reportedly include Mike Chernoff, Matt Forman, Carl Willis, and catchers Austin Hedges, Mike Zunino and Bo Naylor. Witness lists remain sealed, so who testifies is unconfirmed. ⚖️
Welbyn Francisca is raking in the Arizona Fall League, hitting .462 with a 1.301 OPS after a recent homer. Fresh off a 2026 season split across three levels, the Guardians infield prospect is pushing his way into the big league conversation. 🔥
Guardians' deadline deal sending Bo Naylor to Milwaukee may pay off for the Brewers in 2027, with Gary Sánchez headed to free agency and Naylor poised for a backup catcher role. Cleveland got Craig Yoho and Blake Perkins, with little return so far.
Guardians could pursue Angels lefty Reid Detmers this offseason, per speculation, not a reported deal. Coming off a 3.36 ERA in 185 innings, he'd bolster an already strong rotation, with two years of control left. Bats remain the bigger need. 🎯
Blake Perkins, stashed at Triple-A since August's Brewers trade, could finally debut for Cleveland in 2027. The glove-first center fielder hit .253/.394/.424 for the Clippers and is entering arbitration, which suggests the Guardians see a real role for him. 🧤
Luis Robert Jr. is headed to free agency after the Orioles reportedly decline his $20M option, and the argument is that Cleveland should pass. The Guardians' outfield surplus means no gamble is needed on a player who played just 61 games in 2026. 🎲
Steven Kwan could be a Guardians trade candidate this offseason, per MLB Trade Rumors' top-40 list. He's in his last arbitration year, hit .282/.382/.349, and Cleveland often moves stars nearing free agency. Nothing is confirmed. 🔍
A fan-built offseason mock for the 2026 Guardians: trades for Alec Burleson and Gabriel Hughes, Alex Vesia signed at 2 years/$16M, and a $110M payroll. None of it is real, only a hypothetical roster sketch. 🃏
Guardians catcher Patrick Bailey earned an honorable mention on the 2026 All-Postseason Team, behind World Series MVP William Contreras of the champion Brewers, who closed out the Rays in five games. 🏆
Austin Peterson could be the Guardians' 2027 pitching X-factor. He flashed in two bullpen outings, closing the season with five innings vs. the Royals, and the rotation behind Williams, Messick and possibly Bibee is unsettled. 🎯
Steven Kwan has one year of team control left, and Terry Francona's Reds could be a speculative fit. Chris Antonetti says Kwan is a "big part" of 2027 plans, but trade scenarios are likely being explored. Old reunion, new twist. 👀
ESPN's way-too-early 2027 power rankings put the reigning AL Central champ Guardians at No. 8, one spot behind No. 7 Detroit. The Tigers, a fourth-place 76-86 club this year, may be the toughest division rival again. 🐯
Austin Hedges has hit free agency, one of four Guardians doing so, possibly ending his run in Cleveland. After a career-best .247 with six homers and 25 RBIs in 78 games, he said he hopes it isn't his last time in a Cleveland jersey. 🧤
Junior Caminero, the former Guardians prospect, hit .513 OPS with one RBI in 19 World Series at-bats as the Rays fell to the Brewers. His ALCS walk-off-style signature moment against Cleveland makes the slump hard to enjoy. 😬
Four Guardians hit free agency after the World Series: pitcher Foster Griffin, first basemen Rhys Hoskins and Nathaniel Lowe, and catcher Austin Hedges. Lowe looks the liklikeliest to be re-signed; Hoskins and Lowe both seem likelier to land elsewhere. Let me fix that to be accurate and concise: Four Guardians are now free agents: Foster Griffin, Rhys Hoskins, Nathaniel Lowe and Austin Hedges. Griffin should draw multi-year interest; if Cleveland re-signs a first baseman, Lowe is the likelier...
Stephen Vogt is staying in Cleveland, but MLB.com's Daniel Kramer reports the Guardians were open to letting him explore the Mariners' opening. He declined, and Seattle reportedly never called. Mostly a wrinkle, though it keeps his long-term future a talking point. 🤔
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