For a season and a half, Mark Leiter Jr. quietly went about his business in the Yankees bullpen. He wasn’t the headline act like Devin Williams or Luke Weaver, but he was dependable-logging 80 appearances in pinstripes and doing the kind of work that often flies under the radar. That stint came to an abrupt end last week when the Yankees chose not to tender him a contract ahead of the November 21 deadline, making the 34-year-old right-hander a free agent.
Now, with his market open, there’s one team that stands out as a logical landing spot: the Cleveland Guardians. And for a club that’s shown it can squeeze value out of overlooked arms, Leiter might just be the kind of buy-low addition that pays off in a big way.
Don’t Let the ERA Fool You
At first glance, Leiter’s 4.84 ERA from last season doesn’t inspire much confidence. But dig a little deeper, and the picture starts to shift.
He came out of the gates strong, posting a 2.70 ERA through April before injuries started to take their toll. A stress fracture in his left fibular head, suffered in July, likely played a role in his second-half struggles.
Even with the injury dragging down his numbers, the underlying metrics tell a more optimistic story. He finished with an expected ERA of 3.72 and a FIP of 3.55-both suggesting he pitched better than the surface numbers indicate.
And when it comes to limiting hard contact, Leiter was among the best in the league. He ranked in the 94th percentile in hard-hit rate (33.3%), 92nd in average exit velocity (87.2 mph), and 88th in barrel rate (5.6%).
In other words, hitters weren’t squaring him up very often.
Still, the Yankees opted to move on, likely due to a projected arbitration salary of $3.3 million. For a team with a deep bullpen and bigger financial priorities, it was a numbers game. But for the Guardians, this could be an opportunity.
A Fit in Cleveland’s Bullpen Puzzle
Cleveland doesn’t need to overhaul its bullpen. Even after the departure of Emmanuel Clase, the Guardians have a solid high-leverage trio in Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis, and Erik Sabrowski. What they could use, however, is a reliable middle-relief arm-someone who can bridge the gap on nights when the starters don’t go deep or when the top relievers need rest.
That’s where Leiter fits in.
Slotting in alongside Matt Festa and Andrew Walters, Leiter could thrive in a middle-leverage role. He wouldn’t be asked to close games or face the heart of the order in the ninth. Instead, he’d be tasked with getting key outs in the sixth or seventh-situations where his ability to generate weak contact and avoid barrels becomes especially valuable.
And here’s another wrinkle: Leiter has shown reverse splits throughout his career. Left-handed hitters have posted just a .680 OPS against him, compared to a .823 OPS by righties. That’s a unique asset for a right-handed pitcher, and it gives a manager flexibility when matching up late in games.
Proven Track Record, Low-Risk Investment
Leiter’s career numbers-4.60 ERA over 352 1/3 innings with the Phillies, Blue Jays, Cubs, and Yankees-don’t jump off the page, but they tell the story of a pitcher who’s consistently found ways to contribute. That includes a strong showing in the 2024 postseason, where he allowed just one run over 5 1/3 innings during the Yankees’ World Series run.
Compare that to Cleveland’s bullpen moves last offseason. The Guardians handed Paul Sewald a $7 million deal that didn’t pan out.
Leiter wouldn’t require that kind of investment. Even if Cleveland were to match his $3.3 million arbitration projection, it would still be a relatively low-cost move for a pitcher with a solid resume and recent playoff experience.
Final Thoughts
The Guardians don’t need to chase a splashy bullpen signing this winter. They’ve already got the high-leverage arms in place. But depth matters-especially over a 162-game grind-and Leiter offers the kind of dependable, low-risk option that could quietly become a key piece.
He’s not going to dominate headlines, but that’s not what Cleveland needs. What they need is someone who can come in, throw strikes, keep the ball off the barrel, and get outs in the middle innings. Mark Leiter Jr. checks all those boxes-and if he’s healthy, he might just be one of the more underrated bullpen additions of the offseason.