The Guardians cleared a roster spot for Jo Adell on Thursday by designating infielder Juan Brito for assignment, according to a team announcement. Cleveland also formally announced the addition of Adell, which had been reported earlier.
Brito’s exit comes after a stretch that never really gave the Guardians much reason to hold on tighter. The 24-year-old was acquired a few years ago in the one-for-one deal that sent Nolan Jones to Colorado, a swap that eventually came full circle when the Rockies traded Jones back to Cleveland. In the end, neither side got much lasting value from that exchange.
For a while, Brito looked like one of the more intriguing names in the system. But his upper-minors production has slipped in recent seasons, and that downturn has carried into 2026.
At Triple-A Columbus, he’s hitting .237/.351/.394. His first run in the majors has been even rougher: 56 plate appearances, a .176/.250/.255 line, and 17 strikeouts, which works out to 30.1%.
That strikeout rate stands out because Brito’s bat-to-ball ability had long been one of his best calling cards in the minors. He still has a track record that could draw interest, though. Cleveland has until 6pm ET to work out a trade, and if that doesn’t happen, Brito will go to waivers for the other 29 clubs to consider.
Across four Triple-A seasons, Brito owns a .249/.361/.426 slash line. He’s mostly been a second baseman, but he’s also seen recent time at the infield corners and has played shortstop in the past, with only nine total games there since the end of the 2023 season.
In Other News...
Guardians Finally Made The Roster Move Fans Wanted Most
The Guardians continued their trade-deadline roster makeover by making a move many fans had been waiting on, parting with a longtime familiar face to open space for a younger piece in the organization. It marked another sign that Cleveland is willing to keep reshaping the roster as it looks for better production and a cleaner fit down the stretch.
Gabriel Arias, who had been with the club for nearly six years, was designated for assignment even after showing some recent signs of progress at the plate. His overall time in Cleveland has been a mixed bag, and the organization chose to move on as Angel Genao was brought in to take the roster spot, leaving one more layer to the Guardians' broader deadline overhaul. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Infield Shakeup Puts Cleveland's Playoff Push Under New Pressure
The Guardians used the days after the MLB Trade Deadline to remake part of their roster, bringing in Foster Griffin, Jo Adell, Craig Yoho and Nathaniel Lowe as they try to keep pace in a crowded race. Cleveland also moved on from Gabriel Arias, designating the infielder for assignment while adding Angel Genao back to the active mix after his strong run in Triple-A, a sign the club is leaning into both short-term depth and longer-term upside as the stretch run sharpens.
Arias now sits in limbo as he goes through waivers, with the possibility of ending up elsewhere if another club wants to take a look. Genaos return adds a different kind of intrigue, since the organization has been rewarding his Triple-A performance and appears ready to give him his first major league chance soon, a reminder that Clevelands infield picture is still very much in motion as the playoff push gets tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Just Sent A Clear Message About This Championship Push
The Guardians didnt sit still at the trade deadline, and that alone said plenty about where they see themselves in the standings. Cleveland gave up eight minor leaguers, including one top 30 prospect, to add outfielders Jo Adell and Nathaniel Lowe along with pitchers Foster Griffin and a reliever, a clear sign the front office was willing to pay a real price to improve the roster right now.
It also felt like a familiar kind of swing for a franchise that has made this sort of deadline push before, including a busy stretch 26 years ago. With Jos Ramrezs contract situation still part of the bigger picture, these moves carry more weight than a simple midseason upgrade, because they point directly at a team trying to turn a competitive window into something bigger. [Read more 🡒]