The Cleveland Guardians are adding experienced arms to their relief corps — re-signing veteran right-hander Connor Brogdon on a major-league contract, according to sources. Brogdon, a 30-year-old reliever with six years of MLB experience, joins the Guardians as they look to reload their bullpen in the wake of recent roster changes.
Brogdon’s 2025 campaign — spent largely with the Los Angeles Angels — saw him post a 5.55 ERA over 43 appearances. Though the raw numbers were rough, his underlying metrics make him an intriguing bounce-back candidate. Over his career, Brogdon carries a 4.36 ERA across 186 games, but more importantly, he boasts a strikeout rate near 9.1 K/9 and features “elite Stuff+” grades on key pitches — including a four-seamer, change-up, and cutter — assets the Guardians historically value.
Financially, the deal reportedly comes in at around US$900,000 for the 2026 season — modest by MLB standards, but sensible for a club aiming to maximize bullpen depth without breaking the bank.Given Cleveland’s bullpen overhaul — triggered in part by the departure and legal troubles of some previous relievers — Brogdon’s addition provides welcome reinforcement. His arsenal offers flexibility: he can serve as middle relief, eat innings when needed, or even step into higher-leverage situations if he can rediscover his pre-2025 form. Analysts view this as a smart, low-risk addition, consistent with the Guardians’ recent strategy of targeting undervalued relievers who still show potential.
For fans and front-office alike, the signing is a signal: Cleveland isn’t standing pat this offseason. They’re focused on building a bullpen capable of weathering the long grind of a full season — and deep playoff push — in a division and league where pitching depth often separates contenders from pretenders.
With Brogdon aboard, the Guardians’ 2026 bullpen picture already looks deeper. It remains to be seen whether he can rebound statistically, but his profile — strikeout capability, pitch quality, and upside — gives Cleveland a worthwhile under-the-radar addition to complement their existing arms.
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