The Cleveland Guardians enter the offseason with some breathing room on their 40-man roster, but that cushion won’t last long.
Friday night brought a pair of moves that changed the board a bit: veteran pitcher Shawn Armstrong was allowed to test free agency, and infield prospect Milan Tolentino signed a contract. After those transactions, Cleveland sits at 36 players on the 40-man roster, leaving four open spots for the moment.
That number, though, is only part of the story. Those vacancies do not automatically translate into four openings for outside additions, because the Guardians still have to account for prospects they may need to protect from the Rule 5 Draft later this offseason.
Two names that look likely to get that protection are outfielder Jaison Chourio, ranked No. 5, and right-hander Justin Campbell, ranked No. 9. It also would not be surprising if the club adds infielder/catcher Kody Huff and left-hander Franklin Gomez.
Cleveland could use all four available spots on players already in the system, but there’s still room for the front office to surprise. A prospect not currently on the radar could still work his way onto the roster, much like Yorman Gomez did last November.
The Guardians also have another way to create space if needed. They can trade players or outright them off the roster, and a few names fit that category.
That part of the process should come into focus over the next few weeks. The non-tender deadline arrives on November 20, and that date could force Cleveland into some difficult calls.
Andrew Walters is one of the more notable cases. At one point, he looked like a future high-leverage bullpen arm for years to come, but injuries have slowed his career. Colin Holderman is in a similar situation after wrist surgery early last month.
Both pitchers are occupying roster spots right now, but either one could open the door for a healthy player.
Then there are David Fry and Daniel Schneemann. Both have been important pieces for the big-league club over the last two to three years, but their roles shrank in 2026. Each was optioned to Triple-A during the regular season, even though both were on the playoff roster.
For now, the Guardians have room to maneuver. Before long, though, that flexibility could disappear fast.
In Other News...
Guardians Get A Big Defensive Honor As Kwans Run Suddenly Stops
Tanner Bibees season had its rough patches, but his work on the mound still earned him a major piece of hardware. The Cleveland right-hander won the American League Rawlings Gold Glove Award for best defensive pitcher, the first Gold Glove of his career and the first by a Cleveland pitcher since 2022, a fitting nod to the kind of athleticism and fielding instincts that can get overlooked when the focus is usually on wins and losses.
The bigger surprise around the Guardians came with Steven Kwan, whose run of four straight Gold Gloves came to an end this year. Kwan was again among the finalists, but this time the award went to Ceddanne Rafaela, leaving Cleveland without one of its most familiar defensive honors even as Bibee gave the club another reason to celebrate its glove work. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Alex Cobb Trade Just Took Another Painful Turn
When the Guardians dealt Nate Furman and Jacob Bresnahan to San Francisco for Alex Cobb, the move was supposed to bring Cleveland a veteran arm for the stretch run. Cobb instead managed only 23 innings because of a hip injury, leaving the trade looking thin for the Guardians and putting the focus on what they gave up to get him.
Furman has since moved on again, with the Giants sending him to Washington as part of their roster cutdown process. The infielder has built a solid minor league resume and now has a chance to fight for a utility job with the Nationals, who are carrying a crowded 40-man roster and will have to sort out where he fits. [Read more 🡒]
Steven Kwans Defensive Run Just Hit A Tough New Reality
Steven Kwans defensive excellence carried him across the outfield all season, but the Gold Glove results brought a different kind of ending. After four straight wins in left field, Kwan was a finalist in center field this time around, reflecting how often Cleveland asked him to move around and cover ground. He split his work between left and center and still finished with 17 defensive runs saved, a reminder that the value was there even if the trophy case wont grow this year.
For Cleveland, the bigger picture is still encouraging. Tanner Bibee gave the club its lone Gold Glove winner, taking the honor at pitcher, while Kwans shift in position showed just how much defensive flexibility he gave the Guardians. The streak is over, but the season also reinforced that Kwan remains one of the more dependable defenders on the roster, even as the award race moved in another direction. [Read more 🡒]