Guardians Take a Flyer on Justin Bruihl in Low-Risk Bullpen Move
The Cleveland Guardians are dipping back into the reliever reclamation pool, acquiring left-hander Justin Bruihl from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for cash. It’s the second time this offseason Cleveland has taken a chance on a former Dodgers reliever, following their earlier move for Connor Brogdon. And while Bruihl’s track record isn’t quite as rocky as Brogdon’s, this is still a classic low-risk, high-upside play for a team that knows how to get the most out of its bullpen arms.
Bruihl, 26, has become something of a journeyman since his initial stint with the Dodgers. Between 2021 and 2023, he logged 66 2/3 innings in Los Angeles, bouncing between the majors and Triple-A.
His 3.65 ERA over that span was respectable, but he never quite established himself as a reliable bullpen piece. Since then, he’s worn four different uniforms - Colorado, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and most recently Toronto - mostly toiling in the minors while waiting for another shot.
That shot came briefly in 2025. Bruihl pitched well enough in Triple-A for the Blue Jays (3.43 ERA over 42 innings) to earn a postseason call-up.
He made the ALDS roster but only saw the mound for a third of an inning in Game 2 - a forgettable outing that ended with a two-run homer off the bat of Cody Bellinger. That was the end of his October; he didn’t make the cut for the ALCS or the World Series.
Since leaving the Dodgers via DFA and a cash deal to the Rockies, Bruihl has only thrown 23 major league innings. Teams have largely viewed him as a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option - a guy who can eat innings when the bullpen’s worn thin, but not someone you build a bridge to the ninth with.
The Guardians, though, might see something more. This is an organization that’s quietly become one of the best in baseball at maximizing bullpen talent.
In 2024, they built one of the league’s most effective relief units, leaning on a mix of homegrown arms and savvy pickups. If there’s a place for Bruihl to turn things around, Cleveland’s pitching lab is as good a bet as any.
Of course, the upside is still modest. Bruihl’s stuff doesn’t overwhelm - he’s more finesse than firepower - and his strikeout rates have never jumped off the page.
But he’s a lefty with some big-league experience and a history of keeping the ball in the park when he’s right. For a bullpen that’s always looking for matchup flexibility, that has value.
Cleveland isn’t banking on Bruihl being a late-inning weapon. This is about depth, upside, and seeing if their development team can unlock something other clubs couldn’t. And with the bullpen market heating up - just look at Toronto shelling out $37 million over three years for Tyler Rogers - these kinds of under-the-radar moves can pay dividends if they hit.
The Dodgers, for their part, had bullpen issues of their own in 2025. Their relief corps struggled enough down the stretch that it became a storyline in October.
Starters were forced to go deep into games to avoid leaning too heavily on shaky middle relief options. And while the Blue Jays weren’t in much better shape, the Dodgers capitalized in the World Series - a series where the bullpen depth, or lack thereof, was on full display.
That Bruihl made Toronto’s ALDS roster in the first place says plenty about where their bullpen stood. Cleveland’s hoping the situation is different this time - that in their system, Bruihl can be more than just the next arm up.
It’s a long shot. But for a team that’s made a habit of turning overlooked pitchers into key contributors, it’s a shot worth taking.