The Cleveland Guardians are clearly still fine-tuning the edges of their roster, and their latest move is a perfect snapshot of how fluid things can be this time of year.
Just days after acquiring left-handed reliever Justin Bruihl from the Toronto Blue Jays, the Guardians have designated him for assignment. That decision came on the heels of the team officially signing veteran right-hander Shawn Armstrong, who now takes Bruihl’s spot on the 40-man roster.
It’s a quick turnaround for Bruihl, who barely had time to unpack before landing on waivers. That’s the nature of roster management in the offseason-especially when you’re dealing with the margins. Teams are constantly evaluating, adjusting, and sometimes making tough calls based on fit, depth, and flexibility.
Designating Bruihl for assignment means he’s now exposed to waivers, giving other teams the opportunity to claim him. If he goes unclaimed, the Guardians can outright him to the minors, where he’d likely begin the season at Triple-A. He wouldn’t occupy a spot on the 40-man roster, but he’d still be in the organization’s system, potentially available as a depth option down the line.
While Bruihl wasn’t a lock to make the Opening Day roster, the speed of this move does raise some eyebrows. It’s not often you see a team move on from a recently acquired arm this quickly. But again, that’s the reality of building a competitive roster-especially for a team like Cleveland that’s trying to maximize every spot.
As for Armstrong, his addition gives the bullpen another experienced option. The righty has bounced around a bit in recent years, but he brings a veteran presence and a track record of handling middle-to-late inning work. His signing likely signals Cleveland’s desire for more stability in the bullpen, and in that context, the roster shuffle makes a bit more sense.
Moves like this may not grab headlines, but they’re part of the daily grind of roster construction. For the Guardians, this one’s just another piece in the offseason puzzle.