Guardians Add Lefty Justin Bruihl, Designate Jhonkensy Noel in Roster Shuffle
CLEVELAND - The Cleveland Guardians are continuing to reshape their bullpen heading into 2026, making another move on Wednesday by acquiring left-handed reliever Justin Bruihl from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations.
Bruihl, 27, brings another left-handed option to a bullpen that’s clearly a work in progress this offseason. He appeared in 15 games in 2025, logging 13.2 innings with 13 strikeouts and a 5.27 ERA.
The numbers don’t jump off the page, but Bruihl has shown flashes of being a serviceable matchup arm, especially against left-handed hitters. He now joins a growing list of new faces in the Guardians’ bullpen mix, alongside Zak Kent, Colin Holderman, and Conor Brogdon - all offseason additions as Cleveland looks to deepen its relief corps.
To clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Bruihl, the Guardians designated OF/1B Jhonkensy Noel for assignment - a move that underscores just how quickly things can change in baseball.
Noel, affectionately nicknamed “Big Christmas” by fans, etched his name into Guardians lore with a dramatic two-out, game-tying home run in the ninth inning of Game 3 of the 2024 ALCS against the Yankees. That moment felt like a coming-out party for the 24-year-old slugger - a sign that his prodigious power might soon become a staple in Cleveland’s lineup.
But the 2025 season told a different story.
Noel struggled to find consistency at the plate, finishing the year with a .183 batting average and 13 home runs over 69 big league games. He also spent significant time with Triple-A Columbus, appearing in 61 games there as he tried to rediscover his swing. Despite his raw power, Noel’s contact issues and defensive limitations made it tough for the Guardians to carry him on a roster that’s increasingly focused on versatility and run prevention.
It’s a tough break for a player who’s spent his entire professional career in the Guardians organization, but it also reflects the reality of roster construction in today’s game. With the Guardians doubling down on bullpen depth and pitching flexibility, decisions like this - tough as they may be - are part of the process.
For now, Bruihl gets a fresh start in Cleveland, and Noel awaits his next opportunity, whether that’s via trade, waivers, or a potential return to the organization if he clears. Either way, Wednesday’s move is another signal that the Guardians are serious about retooling their staff and tightening up the margins as they look ahead to 2026.