Blue Jays Sign Nic Enright To Two-Year Minor League Deal

By Nick Deeds | December 31, 2025 at 11:27am CDT

The Blue Jays have agreed to a two-year minor league deal with right-hander Nic Enright, according to a report from ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez.

Enright, 28, has had a difficult career to this point despite solid results. A 20th-round pick by Cleveland back in 2019, the righty made his way up the organizational ladder to reach Triple-A with excellent results in 2022. That seemingly put him on the radar for a call-up to the majors, but was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma in December of that year. The diagnosis came shortly after Enright was selected by the Marlins in the Rule 5 draft and severely limited him throughout the 2023 campaign, although he did eventually begin a rehab assignment while undergoing treatment. He struggled before being returned to the Guardians, but by 2024 was back to posting excellent numbers in the minors.

That earned Enright the opportunity to make his MLB debut this year, and he made the most of the opportunity with a sterling 2.03 ERA and a 23.7% strikeout rate in 31 innings of work. Enright had the look of a quality bullpen piece when on the mound, but his health derailed things once again when the righty underwent Tommy John surgery in October. The timing of that injury will cost Enright the entire 2026 season, which led the Guardians to non-tender him last month despite his status as a pre-arbitration player. That sent Enright into minor league free agency for the first time in his career, and he’s now managed to catch on with the reigning AL champions.

The deal between Toronto and Enright is for both the 2026 and ’27 seasons. While minor league deals are typically for just one year, two-year deals are somewhat common for talented players who are rehabbing from significant surgery. They serve as a way for the acquiring club to take control of the player’s rehab process with the assurance that they’ll be the organization with the first crack at reaping the benefits once the player returns to health. From the player’s perspective, the two-year guarantee offers some security that otherwise would not be afforded to them, saving them from having to go back into minor league free agency coming off a season lost to rehab.

While Enright won’t have an impact on the Blue Jays in 2026, it would hardly be a surprise to see him join the Toronto bullpen at some point in 2027 given his previous results and obvious talent when healthy. The Blue Jays’ pitching staff figures to look very different in 2027, as Shane Bieber and Kevin Gausman will depart the rotation for free agency after the 2026 campaign while Eric Lauer and Yimi Garcia figure to leave a hole in the bullpen when they hit the open market. It’s hard to know exactly how open the competition for Toronto’s 2027 pitching staff will be more than a year in advance, but it’s certainly plausible that those impending departures could help create an opportunity for Enright to join players like Jeff Hoffman, Tyler Rogers, and Louis Varland in the team’s relief corps once he’s healthy.

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Blue Jays give rehabbing former Guardians reliever a fresh chance after recent DFA

Bittersweet.

By Henry Palattella

2 hours ago

So far this offseason, the big story around the Cleveland Guardians has been the striking number of additions to their bullpen.

But that doesn’t mean they haven’t subtracted from their bullpen either.

One of those subtractions came in the form of Nic Enright, who was designated for assignment at the end of the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in September.

Enright officially found a new home on Wednesday by signing a two-year minor league contract with the Blue Jays, per ESPN's Alden Gonzalez.

Source: The Blue Jays have agreed to a 2-year minor league deal with RH Nic Enright.

Enright, 28, beat Hodgkin lymphoma and had a really nice year with the Guardians in 2025, with a 2.03 ERA in 31 innings.

He'll spend 2026 rehabbing Tommy John and look to bounce back in 2027.

— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) December 31, 2025
While Enright posted a 2.03 ERA in 31 innings last season, that aforementioned injury hurt his standing on Cleveland’s roster, which led to the Guardians deciding to DFA him to free up some additional space ahead of the Rule 5 Draft deadline.

Now Cleveland’s loss has become Toronto’s gain.

Former Guardians reliever Nic Enright lands on his feet with Toronto Blue Jays

Enright being claimed by the Blue Jays is just another chapter in his incredibly inspiring MLB journey, as he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2022 and rose through the minor league ranks while also undergoing immunotherapy.

Enright made his eventual MLB debut in May with a scoreless outing against the Tigers, and ended up becoming an important piece in Cleveland’s bullpen before the season was over.

He picked up his first career win in relief at the end of June (ironically against the Blue Jays) and even recorded his first career save in August in a win over the Mets.

The Guardians bullpen became an “all hands on deck” situation after Emmanuel Clase was placed on paid leave, and Enright was one of the relievers who stepped up to answer the call.

But he was placed on the injured list at the start of September due to forearm inflammation and eventually underwent Tommy John surgery after the season.

Enright’s deal with the Blue Jays is the best-case scenario (given the situation) since it gives him the peace of mind of being able to rehab with a team while the Blue Jays get to stash him off their 40-man roster in the hopes that he can get back to being a productive MLB pitcher in 2027.

Although the Blue Jays came within two outs of winning the World Series last season, they’ve been aggressive this offseason, and adding Enright falls into that category, even if it’s a minor move. It’s not a surprise that the Blue Jays coveted Enright considering they have a front office led by two Cleveland alums and a roster chalk full of former Guardians.

While we’re always going to be cheering for Enright from afar, it’s still a bit disappointing that the next chapter of his MLB career won’t be penned in Cleveland.

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If Fry can play some OF, he and Martinez will be the RH OF"s to platoon with Kayfus, Valera, DeLauter.

I think a healthy spring from Valera will perhap;s convinces them to let go of Nolan Jones. But thy're stuck paying him $2,000,000 which would be avoided only if some other team for some reason signed him.

BA: Article
Draft
Redrafting The 2021 MLB Draft: Jackson Merrill, James Wood Top The Class
2021 MLB Draft Winners & Losers

No. 2 on their Winners list:
Guardians
Cleveland went pitcher-heavy in the 2021 draft. That’s paid off, as both Gavin Williams and Tanner Bibee are now core parts of the big league rotation. Both players went in the top 10 of our 2021 redraft and look like great values, and they also show that the Guardians are able to successfully develop a variety of different pitcher profiles. Second-rounder Doug Nikhazy gives the team a third big leaguer [not quite], and there are others in this class that should join the group in the near future, like fourth-rounder Ryan Webb and 10th-rounder Franco Aleman.

Sorry to lose Enright

BA: 2026 Resolutions for Each Clube, f or the Guardians: Resolution: Stay healthy

Four of the Guardians’ Top 10 prospects were sidelined by injuries this season, including the organization’s two most prized talents in Travis Bazzana and Chase DeLauter. Losing that much high-end talent to health issues not only stalled individual development but also slowed the overall momentum of the farm system. When cornerstone prospects miss extended time, it creates ripple effects throughout the organization, putting added pressure on the remaining players to carry the load and raising questions about depth, durability and long-term planning.

[and Brito, Genao, Chourio, and of course Espino]

Guardians free agent rumors link Cleveland to 3 right-handed hitter improvements

Billy Heyen

3 hours ago

The Cleveland Guardians aren't known for making big splashes in free agency.

But they also have quite the lopsided lineup, heavy on left-handed bats and weak in the outfield.

They might be able to fix both those problems with one signing, if they approach the remaining time this winter in the right way.

MLB.com's Jared Greenspan and Theo DeRosa have listed out three options the Guardians could consider signing:

Austin Hays
Harrison Bader
Miguel Andujar

Hays and Andujar both finished the season with the Cincinnati Reds, while Bader closed strong for the Philadelphia Phillies.

"Last season, the Guardians posted a .647 OPS against southpaws, the fourth-worst figure in the Majors," the MLB.com duo writes. "A free-agent signing or two could be beneficial here, and there are quite a few players who fit the bill. Someone like Harrison Bader, Miguel Andujar, or Austin Hays would provide an above-average bat in an area of need, raising the floor of the lineup."

MORE: Team USA's projected WBC lineup is incredible

Cleveland is coming off a season in which it went on a wild run in the second half to chase down the Detroit Tigers and win the AL Central Division.

Now is not the time to be complacent. None of those three players would be too costly, and all three would make the Guardians better.

It's worth it for Cleveland to try and get at least one of them on board going forward.

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It's a good day to remember Bob Feller's brilliance and his time in the U.S. Navy

Billy Heyen

December 9, 2025

(While surfing, I came across this article - thought it would be interesting reading)

A nickname can tell us plenty about a person.

Bob Feller had three: The Heater from Van Meter, Bullet Bob and Rapid Robert.

Feller was known as a superstar pitcher for the Cleveland Indians with an unmatched fastball. But he was so much more than that.

And on this day, Dec. 9, his is a cool story to remember.

This is the date, in 1941, that Feller enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He had an exemption from service, but two days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Feller signed up voluntarily.

He was a Chief Petty Officer on the USS Alabama during World War II.

While away, Feller missed four MLB seasons.

How good was he? Feller still led the league in strikeouts from 1939-46 despite missing four whole seasons:

Post

Ryan M. Spaeder
@theaceofspaeder

Bob Feller enlisted in the United States Navy 84 years ago today, on Dec 9, 1941. He served voluntarily, despite an exemption from service, enlisting just two days after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

And even with missing nearly all of four seasons, he led all of MLB with 1,174 strikeouts from 1939-46.

1938 - led MLB in K
1939 - led MLB in K
1940 - led MLB in K
1941 - led MLB in K

1942 - served in WWII
1943 - served in WWII
1944 - served in WWII
1945 - served in WWII

1946 - led MLB in K
1947 - led MLB in K
1948 - led MLB in K

8:02 AM · Dec 9, 2025

Feller made his MLB debut at 17 years old.

In his first MLB start, a month after his debut, Feller struck out the side in the first inning and finished the game with 15 strikeouts. Three weeks later, he had a game with 17 strikeouts, which tied the single-game record at that time.

That was all before his senior year of high school back in Van Meter, Indiana.

Feller returned from the Navy and remained a superstar. He threw three no-hitters, won the 1948 World Series and was an eight-time All Star.

He finished his career 266-162 with a 3.25 ERA and 2,581 strikeouts.

When Feller was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1962, it was on the first ballot with 93.8% of the vote.

An all-time great on and off the field.

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Could the Guardians be part of a small-market uprising in 2026?

By Henry Palattella

4 hours ago

Baseball in the modern age is a clear hierarchy of financial ‘haves’ and ‘have nots.’ For every big spender like the Dodgers, Mets and Yankees (all of whom had payrolls of $290+ million in 2025), there're multiple low-budget teams like the Pirates, Rockies and the Guardians with payrolls that are less than half of the teams at the top of the list.

But the beauty of baseball is the fact that a lack of spending doesn’t mean that a team can’t win — despite what anyone says. While the Dodgers have won back-to-back World Series, the Guardians made the postseason in both of those seasons despite finishing near the bottom of the league in payroll.

The same can be said for the frugal Tampa Bay Rays (who are among baseball’s best at getting the most out of a slim payroll) and Milwaukee Brewers, who in many ways are the central time zone’s version of the Guardians.

And while those payroll discrepancies may result in a CBA-related lockout after the end of the 2026 season, at least one national MLB writer thinks that the 2026 season could be defined by success from some of lower-spending teams in baseball.

On Friday, ESPN’s panel of baseball writers published a story about their bold predictions for the 2026 season, where Bradford Doolittle wrote that 2026 will be a “breakthrough year for small-market clubs” while predicting that half of the 12-team playoff field will be made up of teams from the bottom half of payroll rankings.

“The leading bottom-10 low-payroll contenders: Pittsburgh Pirates, Miami Marlins, Cleveland Guardians, Cincinnati Reds and Athletics, though the actual payroll hierarchy remains to be seen. But there are a lot of smaller-market teams that seem to be trying, and it would be great to see a surge of such teams next October. And it would be really interesting to see what kind of effect a large-scale crashing of the postseason by revenue-sharing recipients were to have on the gloomy labor negotiations,” Doolittle wrote.

The Guardians could be a small-market team who could make some noise this season

As of now, the Guardians would fall into both of those categories, as they’re projected to have a payroll of just $79 million in 2026, which is ahead of just the Rays ($78 million) and Marlins ($73 million).

As of now, the Guardians have spent just $7.9 million in free agency on four relievers. After José Ramírez’s contract (which will pay him $21 million next season), the next highest-paid Guardians are Steven Kwan (who is projected to make $8.5 million in arbitration), Tanner Bibee (who signed a five-year, $48 million contract last spring) and Austin Hedges, who is on a one-year, $4 million contract.

And, as Doolittle mentioned, the Guardians aren’t the only small-market team looking to make some noise in 2026.

The Pirates are spending for seemingly the first time in forever as they look to build a contender around Paul Skenes, Terry Francona and the Reds are looking to go back to the postseason for a second-straight season despite having a shoestring budget and The Athletics are building for the future despite the fact they’re playing their games in a minor league ballpark.

While the big spenders like the Dodgers, Yankees and Mets are likely locks to make the postseason, the amount of action being made by teams near the bottom of the payroll standings is great for the sport.

While spending obviously helps since it allows teams to be able to get the best (and thus most expensive) players, lower payroll teams are able to compete so long as they’ve able to think outside the box and put smart people in positions to succeed.

Even though that doesn’t mean that every small market team makes the postseason (the Pirates haven’t made the postseason since 2015, as an example), the uniqueness of baseball allows for smart teams to win without spending money.

That sentiment has been on full display with the Guardians across the past two seasons, and it looks like there’s a good chance it could be on display again in 2026.

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The Guardians could be a small-market team who could make some noise this season

They almost always are

Guardians located in predictable spot in FanSided’s first power rankings of 2026

By Henry Palattella

16 hours ago

Last year, the Cleveland Guardians spent most of the season hanging around the middle of the pack. Sure, they went on a couple runs and had one huge swoon in July, but they spent most of the season hovering around .500 — which led to them hanging around the middle of most publication’s power rankings.

But then that changed at the end of the season when the Guardians finished the season with a 20-7 September that pushed them to their second-straight American League Central title.

But all of the momentum they gained as a part of that wild run has disappeared over the past three months thanks to a quiet offseason that’s been limited to signing some relievers to cheap deals.

On Friday, we got another example of exactly how some in the baseball world view the Guardians’ underwhelming offseason thanks to Chris Landers’ newest MLB power rankings for FanSided, where he had the Guardians listed at No. 15 — smack dab in the middle.

“Can someone please get Jose Ramirez some help? Barring a surprise sell-off of someone like Steven Kwan, the Guardians should return most of last year's division winners, and they always seem to churn out pitching and find a way to punch above their weight. But it took a miracle to capture the AL Central, and while the farm system is exciting (and growth from guys like Kyle Manzardo, Brayan Rocchio and Chase DeLauter should help), there's still just not enough offense here,” Landers wrote.

While we’re a bit more bullish on the Guardians’ young bats than Landers, he’s right in that Cleveland’s lack of offensive additions has been inexcusable, especially given how many clear holes they have.

The Guardians are going to be a middle-of-the-pack team until they add to their offense

Along with having two black holes in center field and right field, the Guardians are also going to enter 2026 with a bit of an underwhelming middle infield picture that consists of Gabriel Arias and Brayan Rocchio, neither of whom set the world on fire last season.

But even with that, it’s hard to imagine a world where the Guardians aren’t in the hunt for a postseason spot thanks to the presence of Ramírez and the team’s strong pitching staff.

Gavin Williams and Tanner Bibee headline a deep, dominant rotation, while the addition to those aforementioned bullpen arms adds even more depth to a unit that handled the loss of Emmanuel Clase with aplomb.

Last year the Guardians were able to make the postseason by going on a historic run while taking advantage of a historic collapse by the Tigers.

It’s an unsustainable model of winning, and the front office clearly thinks that the best way to build a winner in 2026 is to build a team based around strong pitching and young outfielders.

Their middle-of-the-pack inclusion on Landers’ list shows just how much work they’ll need to put in to show that’s the right formula.

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The first MLB Power Rankings of 2026: Who's on top entering the new year?

Which teams have made the most of the offseason so far, and which have work to do to get ready for Opening Day?

By Chris Landers

Jan 1, 2026

15. Cleveland Guardians

Biggest offseason move so far: N/A

José Ramírez

Speaking of which: Can someone please get Jose Ramirez some help? Barring a surprise sell-off of someone like Steven Kwan, the Guardians should return most of last year's division winners, and they always seem to churn out pitching and find a way to punch above their weight. But it took a miracle to capture the AL Central, and while the farm system is exciting (and growth from guys like Kyle Manzardo, Brayan Rocchio and Chase DeLauter should help), there's still just not enough offense here.

14. San Diego Padres

Biggest offseason move so far: Re-signing RHP Michael King

Managing to retain King was a pleasant surprise, giving San Diego a solid top three to go with that lights-out bullpen. I still just don't see the vision here, though: This remains a terribly top-heavy offense, without much beyond Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill. Neither the lineup nor the rotation likely has the depth to make a serious run, and even AJ Preller might struggle to add more talent with the resources he's been given.

13. Houston Astros

Yordan Alvarez

Biggest offseason move so far: Acquiring RHP Mike Burrows from the Pirates in a three-team deal
Speaking of a lack of depth: How exactly is this Astros rotation cobbling together enough innings to survive as currently constituted? Unknowns and injury risks abound behind Hunter Brown, and it doesn't seem like there's a ton of money in the budget to change that in a meaningful way. Which wouldn't hurt so badly if this lineup hadn't started showing its age; unless Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Christian Walker all turn back the clock in a major way — and Yordan Alvarez can finally stay on the field — a Wild Card spot might be the ceiling.

12. Detroit Tigers

Biggest offseason move so far: Signing RHP Kenley Jansen

This is assuming that Detroit decides to hold on to Tarik Skubal for at least the 2026 season, which I still think is the most likely outcome given how hard it is to construct a realistic trade. The Tigers have done some shrewd bullpen work so far this winter, but they still don't have enough behind Skubal in the rotation to win multiple playoff series, and they still haven't found a way to meaningfully upgrade a frustratingly inconsistent offense. There's some room for internal growth here, especially with guys like Parker Meadows (please stay healthy), Colt Keith, Jace Jung and Kevin McGonigle. But that's an awfully tough ask, and there's no reason why this team can't afford an Alex Bregman-type bat.

11. New York Mets

Juan Soto

Biggest offseason move so far: Signing RHPs Devin Williams and Luke Weaver
It's no doubt been a frustrating start to the offseason for the Mets and their fans, but I do think the consensus has swung too low on this team both in 2026 and beyond. Williams and Weaver were strong pivots from Edwin Diaz in the bullpen, and Nolan McLean looks ready for Cy Young contention right away. There are too many holes here to consider them a serious World Series contender as currently constituted — they need to keep adding relievers, plus at least one outfielder and another starter as well — but I'd be surprised if they're not at least in the hunt for a Wild Card spot. And there's still plenty of time left for David Stearns to make a splash.

10. Baltimore Orioles

Biggest offseason move so far: Signing 1B Pete Alonso

Baltimore's offense felt ticketed for a bounce-back season even before adding Taylor Ward and Pete Alonso. There's a ton of talent here, assuming that Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Jordan Westburg and Jackson Holliday all stay healthy and play up to their potentials. But despite several additions, this pitching staff still makes me a bit nervous: How much do you trust Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Shane Baz and Zach Eflin to all be healthy and effective at the same time? And was Ryan Helsley really the cure to what ailed this bullpen?

9. Atlanta Braves

Biggest offseason move so far: Signing RHP Robert Suarez

Lord help me, I'm willing to get hurt by the Braves again. This lineup is just too good on paper, especially with Drake Baldwin now on board and a full season of Ha-Seong Kim at shortstop. There are question marks in the rotation (health for Spencer Strider, Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez and Spencer Schwellenbach, effectiveness for Hurston Waldrep) and depth concerns in the bullpen despite the addition of Robert Suarez. But if this team can finally avoid the injury bug, why can't they rise to the top of non-Dodgers contenders in the NL?

8. Boston Red Sox

Biggest offseason move so far: Acquiring RHP Sonny Gray and 1B/DH Willson Contreras from the Cardinals

Gray and Contreras are both good players who fill positions of need for Boston, and both were acquired at a price that the organization was comfortably able to pay. But neither are true needle-movers at this point in their careers, and it's hard to avoid the feeling that Craig Breslow still has more to do. The infield is perilously thin, and the offense still feels light on power even if Alex Bregman returns. Add one more starter and one more bat, and we'll really be cooking with gas.

7. Seattle Mariners

Cal Raleigh

Biggest offseason move so far: Re-signing 1B Josh Naylor

Seattle has yet to really dive into this offseason, but another big move or two could (and should) be coming sooner or later. The Mariners have among the deepest farm systems in the sport and are reportedly sniffing around infielders like Ketel Marte and Brendan Donovan. Add one more bat to this lineup, and Seattle should finally have the requisite firepower to pair with that star-studded, homegrown rotation. Pitching has never been the problem, and the offense is coming around.

6. Chicago Cubs

Biggest offseason move so far: Signing RHP Phil Maton

Bringing Shota Imanaga back on the qualifying offer is a big help, and Phil Maton and Hunter Harvey are shrewd additions to a bullpen in need of them. But the apparent loss of Kyle Tucker can't be overstated, no matter how badly his year in Chicago ended. This lineup still looks rock solid, but it's missing a true anchor to build everything around, especially if Pete Crow-Armstrong looks more like he did in the second half than the first. It would be shocking if the Cubs didn't swing a trade for or throw some money at a big-name starting pitcher; get that done, and we can start talking pennant.

5. New York Yankees

Aaron Judge

Biggest offseason move so far: Re-signing OF Trent Grisham

Would someone like to inform Brian Cashman that the offseason has begun? New York has every reason to get aggressive as the Aaron Judge/Gerrit Cole era winds down, and yet they've done almost nothing but sit on their hands so far. Judge covers for a multitude of sins, and the base of talent here remains considerable. But the outfield around No. 99 is a huge question mark, as is the rotation given that all of Cole, Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt will start the year on the IL. (And it's not like Max Fried is Mr. Reliable in that department, either.) Whether the Yankees will ever start spending like the Yankees is one of the most pressing questions for the rest of the winter.

4. Philadelphia Phillies

Biggest offseason move so far: Re-signing DH Kyle Schwarber

It feels like the window is slowly closing on this era of the Phillies, but don't write the obituary just yet. There's still lots of talent here, starting in a rotation that features Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo and (eventually) Andrew Painter. The likely departure of Ranger Suarez hurts, and the depth isn't what it once was, but that could still be lethal come playoff time. And if Bryce Harper looks a little more like his old self, the heart of this order can still bang — even if it feels one bat short of truly threatening the Dodgers.

3. Milwaukee Brewers

Jackson Chourio

Biggest offseason move so far: Acquiring LHP Angel Zerpa from the Royals

All Milwaukee does is win a bunch of games each regular season, and that should continue in 2025. It remains to be seen what the team is thinking regarding Freddy Peralta, but even if it deals the right-hander, there should be enough pitching in-house among Brandon Woodruff, Jacob Misiorowski, Quinn Priester, Logan Henderson, Chad Patrick and fast risers. The lineup should once again be chock full of athletes who want to make contact and wreak havoc on the bases, just like they did last year. Whether that will be enough come October is a different question. But it's hard to imagine the Brewers taking much of a step back in 2026.

2. Toronto Blue Jays

Biggest offseason move so far: Signing RHP Dylan Cease

The Blue Jays have attacked this offseason the way a team that came two outs away from a World Series title should. The rotation was the biggest question mark, and that's been just about answered after Shane Bieber surprisingly opted in for 2026 and Toronto went out and signed Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce. Of course, this team knows full well how tough it is to actually chase down the Dodgers, and one more big bat feels essential — whether that's a reunion with Bo Bichette or a run at Kyle Tucker. Get that done, and this team sure feels as well-rounded as any outside of L.A.

[ This article came out just before the Okamoto deal. Don't know how this effects the #1 and #2 rankings. Personally, I move the Jays to #1.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

Edwin Diaz

Biggest offseason move so far: Signing RHP Edwin Diaz

Could it be anyone else? The two-time defending champs boast an embarrassment of riches in the starting rotation, plus the best player on the planet in Shohei Ohtani at the top of a star-studded lineup. And they began this offseason by aggressively attacking their Achilles heel from 2025, throwing big money at star closer Edwin Diaz. L.A. might not be seriously in on more big fish like Tucker, but they have the cash and the farm system to do just about anything they want. Even if they prioritize another versatile bench piece and call it a day, though, they're the kings until someone takes the throne from them.

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Cade Smith Draws Major Praise For Impressive 2025 Season

January 3, 2026

By Mike Battaglino

Last season, the Cleveland Guardians faced a devastating setback that most teams would not have been able to overcome. In July, pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were placed on leave by MLB as part of a gambling investigation.

Not only were the accusations significant off the field, but they also had a major effect on the Guardians’ pitching staff. Fortunately, Cade Smith was there to help them overcome it.

Now, Smith is drawing major praise for his impressive 2025 season, being named by analyst Tony Blengino as his Reliever of the Year.

“Typically, I write this piece around this time of year to honor my MLB Closer of the Year. My methodology is the same as ever, but it might be more accurate to call the Guardians’ Cade Smith the High Leverage Reliever of the Year rather than the top closer. After a brilliant 2024 rookie campaign serving as setup man for Emmanuel Clase, who had one of the best seasons a closer has ever had, he was there to pick up the pieces when Clase was indefinitely suspended for suspected violation of MLB’s anti-gambling rules. He was absolute nails for a second consecutive season, and this time around closed out his share of Guardian victories,”

Blengino wrote.

Clase was considered one of the best closers in baseball, a three-time All-Star who won his second AL Relief Pitcher of the Year Award in 2024. Smith played a major role in that as his primary setup man.

As a rookie, Smith made 74 appearances and had a 1.91 ERA, but he finished only two games and had one save. So it wasn’t obvious he would be able to take over for Clase if the need arose.

Then, essentially out of nowhere, it did, and Smith was able to thrive. Over the final two months of the season, he posted 13 saves in 16 opportunities and had a 6-1 record.

To make that even more impressive, all of those games were pressure-packed. Without Smith, it’s unlikely the Guardians would have been able to rally from 11 games behind in September to overtake the Detroit Tigers and win the AL Central.

With Clase facing charges and unlikely to play in the majors again, Smith will enter the 2026 season knowing he is the Guardians’ closer, and he and the team should have the utmost confidence that he can continue to get the job done.

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civ ollilavad wrote: Sun Jan 04, 2026 11:09 am

The Guardians could be a small-market team who could make some noise this season

They almost always are

I was really hoping someone would post this !

This should be the title of this entire board. Of course Joe Z would not have anything to whine about !

What's disappointing to me is that with not too much more investment they could be even better.