The Guardians’ offseason search for pitching has already pointed them toward a familiar type of arm: a veteran who can steady the staff and fit just about anywhere.
One name tied to Cleveland is right-hander Paul Blackburn, who spent last season with the New York Yankees. Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors predicted the Guardians would land Blackburn this offseason, with a projected two-year, $15 million deal.
That kind of price tag would put Blackburn in range for Cleveland, and the fit makes sense on paper. He has spent most of his career working as a back-end starter, which lines up with a Guardians club that leaned heavily on bullpen games in the playoffs because it didn’t trust the rotation beyond its stars.
Blackburn also brings the kind of résumé that can help a staff in transition. He has been an All-Star in his career, and while he worked mostly out of the bullpen for the Yankees, he may be looking to return to a starting role.
His numbers last season were strong in a limited role. In 62 appearances, including two starts, Blackburn posted a 1.59 ERA over 85.0 innings and struck out 69 batters.
The right-hander isn’t built on overpowering stuff, but he does a good job keeping the ball on the ground. His ground-ball rate sat at 54 percent, and he limited hard contact along the way.
That mix of durability, flexibility and efficiency could make him useful in more than one spot. Blackburn could begin the year as a starter, then shift into long relief or a high-leverage bullpen role depending on what Cleveland needs.
For a Guardians team coming off a run to the American League Championship Series and looking to add talent without breaking the bank, Blackburn checks a lot of boxes.
In Other News...
Guardians Trade Buzz Puts Clevelands Outfield Plans Under Pressure
The offseason has already put Cleveland in a familiar spot, with the front office expected to stay active as the market takes shape and the possibility of a lockout after December 1 hovering over everything. Coming off a strong season, the Guardians have reason to keep reworking the roster, and the outfield is one of the areas drawing the most attention as trade discussions begin to heat up.
Steven Kwan has emerged as the more prominent name in the chatter, giving Cleveland a high-value piece that could bring back real help if the club decides to move him. Blake Perkins is also in the mix as a defense-first option, and the fact that both names are being floated suggests the Guardians may be weighing more than one path as they try to balance short-term competitiveness with whatever comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Just Lost A Key Piece Of Their Pitching Pipeline
After 10 seasons in Cleveland, Joe Torres is moving on to join the Cincinnati Reds as their major league pitching coach, taking over the role vacated by Derek Johnson. Torres had become a familiar and important part of the Guardians pitching operation, working closely with the staff and helping guide a number of young arms through their development.
For the Guardians, the timing matters as much as the departure itself. They now have to find someone to step into that lane alongside pitching coach Carl Willis for the 2027 season, and replacing a longtime voice in the room is never a simple matter when a club has leaned on that continuity to shape its pipeline. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Lose Another Pitching Voice As Francona Reunites With Familiar Staffer
Another familiar pitching voice is leaving Clevelands staff, with Joe Torres set to take over as the Reds head pitching coach under Terry Francona. Torres has been with the Guardians organization since 2017, working his way through a series of minor league coaching roles before moving into his major league assistant pitching coach job in 2022.
For the Guardians, the move adds another layer of turnover to a pitching group that has leaned on continuity in recent seasons. There is no replacement announced yet, leaving one more opening for the club to sort out as it looks to keep its staff intact heading into the next phase of the offseason. [Read more 🡒]