The Mets have added another arm’s-length bet to their roster, claiming longtime Guardians infielder Gabriel Arias off waivers after Cleveland cleared space for top prospect Angel Genao.
The move came after the Guardians were forced into a tough choice on Wednesday. With Genao getting the call, Cleveland had to open a spot, and the options were narrow: put Jose Ramirez on the injured list because of renewed soreness in his surgically repaired left wrist, or move Arias off the 40-man roster. Ramirez had missed a couple of games this week, but he was already back in the lineup, so the Guardians went with Arias.
That designating-for-assignment move sent Arias through waivers, and the Mets jumped in. As team insider Tim Stebbins reported, “Mets claimed Gabriel Arias off waivers from the Guardians,”
- Tim Stebbins (@tim_stebbins) August 7, 2026
Arias had been part of the Guardians’ big-league picture since 2022, but Cleveland no longer had room to keep carrying him. Once a player is designated for assignment, he comes off the 40-man roster, and with the trade deadline passed, the waiver process becomes the path forward.
If he had cleared waivers, the Guardians could have kept him in the minors without using a 40-man spot. Instead, New York took him.
For the Mets, who swept the Guardians at home this week and sit at 50-66 in last place in the NL East, Arias fits the kind of low-risk pickup a rebuilding club can make without blinking. He brings a career line of .219/.275/.359 in 1,168 plate appearances, along with a 77 wRC+. Cleveland gave him plenty of runway, but he never fully locked down a lasting role.
What he does bring is glove work. Arias can handle multiple infield spots, and his versatility has always been his calling card.
He’s the kind of utility piece teams keep around for defense first, while hoping the bat gives a little more than it has so far. He posted an 85 wRC+ with the Guardians this year, still below league average, and now he gets a fresh shot with a new organization.
For Arias, it’s a new chance. For Cleveland, it’s the end of a long look.
In Other News...
Nathaniel Lowe Is Giving Cleveland Hope At A Position Still In Flux
Clevelands latest skid has only sharpened the attention on first base, where the Guardians are still trying to find something stable after a busy trade deadline and a rough stretch that has included five losses in six games. Nathaniel Lowe arrived from Cincinnati as one of five new players added at the deadline, and early on he has looked like a useful fit, giving the lineup a needed jolt at a spot that has not offered much certainty.
The timing matters because Kyle Manzardo was demoted after his production slipped this season, leaving the Guardians with even more of a long-term question there. Lowes strong start has at least given Cleveland a credible option to lean on while the organization keeps sorting out how it wants to handle the position, especially against right-handed pitching, where the future picture still feels unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Suddenly Face A Pitching Depth Test Before White Sox Series
The Guardians are heading into their White Sox series with a little less margin on the mound after adding another hit to the pitching depth chart. Cleveland had already been navigating the usual midseason grind, and now it will have to cover innings without one of the arms it had been counting on, turning to its organizational depth for a quick answer.
Franco Aleman is the next man up, back from Triple-A after spending much of the season in relief work. The right-hander has already shown he can miss bats with a fastball that brings real velocity, and his early major league line has been serviceable enough to keep him in the mix. For the Guardians, the immediate question is how long they can piece things together while waiting for the rotation picture to settle. [Read more 🡒]