Lane Thomas’ signature moment in a Guardians uniform came in Game 5 of the 2024 American League Division Series, when he crushed a go-ahead grand slam off Tarik Skubal against the Detroit Tigers and instantly carved out a permanent place in Cleveland memory.
That blast ended up being the peak of his run with the Guardians. Cleveland gave up three prospects to land him from the Nationals, and after the home run, Thomas didn’t provide much else before leaving for nothing in free agency. For a while, that made the deal a difficult one to sort through.
Now, the trade looks a little better for Cleveland after Washington designated José Tena for assignment on Monday as part of a 40-man roster purge. If the Guardians didn’t get a huge return from Thomas, the Nationals got even less from Tena.
Tena’s 2026 season was the most active of his career, but the results were modest. He appeared in 114 games, mostly as a utility player, and hit .222/.302/.370 with seven home runs and 27 RBI.
The bat wasn’t enough to carry him, and the glove didn’t help much either. Tena led the Nationals with 58 appearances at designated hitter, and in the field he finished at -3 Outs Above Average.
Washington had been in a tough spot with him because he was out of options and served as useful insurance if the front office moved CJ Abrams, which kept him on the big league roster longer than his production probably warranted. That only delayed the decision.
Tena had once been viewed as an above-average prospect in the Guardians’ system, but he hit just .200 in 21 games with Cleveland before being dealt for Thomas. Even so, his tools give him a decent chance to get claimed on waivers by another club, though sticking on a roster all season is a different matter. The Nationals now have five days to decide whether to trade him or place him on waivers.
His DFA is also the first real sign of how the Nationals’ side of the Thomas deal is shaping up. Alex Clemmey, one of the pitchers Washington got back, posted a 4.64 ERA in Double-A, while Rafael Ramirez, the middle infielder in the trade, just reached High-A.
For Cleveland, the move only reinforces the idea that the Thomas trade made sense. The Guardians needed his bat, and Tena’s exit from Washington makes that even clearer.
In Other News...
Guardians Suddenly Have A Real Shot At Needed Pitching Help
Colin Rea is suddenly on the market after the Cubs declined his contract option for 2027, and that makes him a name worth watching for a Guardians club that could use more pitching depth. Rea has bounced around the majors long enough to know how to handle different roles, and that kind of versatility matters for a team that always seems to value arms who can cover innings in a variety of ways.
For Cleveland, the appeal is pretty straightforward: Rea has worked both as a starter and a reliever, which gives him a profile that fits the kind of veteran bullpen swingman the Guardians often look to stockpile. No signing has been reported, so this is still a matter of fit rather than fact, but the opening is there and the need is clear enough to make it a logical connection. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Outfield Shuffle May Have Cost Steven Kwan Gold Glove History
Steven Kwans Gold Glove run came to an end this year, even though he remained one of the better defensive outfielders in the league and was named a finalist. The Guardians outfield alignment played a part in the conversation, with Kwan splitting his time between left and center field and logging more innings in center, a switch that gave his season a different shape than the one voters had seen in past years.
Kwan shook off a slow start and finished strong on both sides of the ball, especially after settling in more regularly in center. Still, the award went to Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela, whose defensive metrics were stronger over the full season and ultimately tipped the race in his favor. [Read more 🡒]
Stephen Vogt Just Gave Guardians Fans A Fresh Snub Debate
Stephen Vogts name was nowhere to be found when the Baseball Writers Association of America announced its 2026 finalists for AL Manager of the Year, a surprising omission for a skipper who had just won the award in both 2024 and 2025. The finalists instead were Kevin Cash, Chad Tracy and Will Venable, even though Vogt had guided the Guardians to an 85-77 finish and a third straight AL Central title.
The timing of the vote helps explain the disconnect, since ballots were submitted before the postseason and did not account for Clevelands comeback in the ALDS. Still, leaving Vogt off the finalist list gives Guardians fans another reason to revisit how much weight should be placed on a regular season that ended with the division crown and a manager who has already built a strong case as one of the leagues best. [Read more 🡒]