The Cleveland Guardians made a quiet but intriguing move to strengthen their pitching depth on Thursday, acquiring left-handed prospect Franklin Gómez from the New York Mets in exchange for international bonus pool money. It’s the kind of under-the-radar transaction that doesn’t make headlines now but could pay off in a big way down the line.
Gómez, just 20 years old, is a name worth bookmarking for Guardians fans. He’s coming off a strong 2025 campaign that saw him climb from Class-A St.
Lucie to High-A Brooklyn, holding his own at both stops. Over 20 appearances-13 of them starts-he posted a 2.76 ERA and struck out 68 batters in 71 2/3 innings.
That’s solid production for a young arm still getting his footing in pro ball.
At 6 feet tall and 220 pounds, Gómez has a sturdy frame and a delivery that scouts believe can hold up over a starter’s workload. He’s not overpowering, but he mixes pitches well and shows the kind of poise you want to see from a developing rotation piece. The Guardians have a strong track record of identifying and developing pitchers, and Gómez fits their mold: projectable, polished for his age, and trending upward.
Originally signed by the Mets as an international free agent out of Venezuela in January 2022, Gómez has quietly put together a respectable minor league résumé. Across 69 games-47 of them starts-he’s logged a 3.39 ERA in rookie and Class-A ball. That kind of consistency, especially for a player still early in his development curve, is what makes him a compelling addition to Cleveland’s farm system.
Baseball America currently ranks Gómez as the No. 22 prospect in the Mets organization, and while that’s not elite-tier status, it’s a reminder that he’s viewed as a legitimate piece with upside. For the Guardians, who’ve built their competitive identity around homegrown pitching talent, this is a classic calculated bet: trade from your international bonus pool capital to bring in a young arm who could be a part of the next wave.
It’s not a move that changes the big-league roster today, but these are the types of transactions that help shape a sustainable future. Franklin Gómez isn’t a household name-yet-but if his development continues on its current path, he might be knocking on the door in a few years. And for a club that thrives on maximizing pitching potential, that’s exactly the kind of arm you want in your system.