In a move that is shaking up the American League offseason, veteran right-hander Shawn Armstrong has officially agreed to a one‑year, $5.5 million contract with the Cleveland Guardians, a pact that also includes a mutual option for 2027, sources confirmed this weekend. This blockbuster bullpen addition lands one of the most consistent relievers on the market into a Guardians’ pitching corps that has been in flux, promising high contention and intense late‑inning fireworks in the upcoming season.
Armstrong, 35, delivered one of the most impressive relief seasons of his long career in 2025 with the Texas Rangers, posting a 4–3 record, nine saves and an eye‑popping 2.31 ERA over 71 appearances. His performance ranked among the elite relievers in baseball this past year, turning heads across MLB and proving that he still has elite late‑inning stuff.
What makes this signing even more compelling is Armstrong’s full‑circle return to Cleveland — the organization that originally drafted him in the 18th round back in 2011. He debuted with the Guardians in 2015 and pitched through 2017 before embarking on a journeyman career that included stops with Seattle, Baltimore, Tampa Bay, Miami, St. Louis, Chicago, and Texas. Now, nearly a decade later, he’s back in the city where it all began — only this time as a seasoned veteran with bona‑fide late‑game leverage value.
Cleveland’s bullpen overhaul this winter has been nothing short of aggressive. In addition to Armstrong, the Guardians have signed right‑handers Connor Brogdon and Colin Holderman, and selected Peyton Pallette in the Rule 5 draft — all moves designed to inject depth, experience, and matchup versatility into a relief corps that struggled to close games consistently last season.
But Armstrong is easily the biggest headline of the group. With a long track record of durability and a five‑pitch mix that keeps hitters off balance, he gives Cleveland a proven option for high‑leverage innings, bridging the gap to closer roles and turning tight games into a strategic bullpen chess match. His return raises immediate questions about how the Guardians will deploy their arms, who will become the go‑to late‑inning pieces, and what this means for Cleveland’s playoff aspirations.
In a corresponding roster move, the Guardians designated left‑handed reliever Justin Bruihl for assignment to clear a 40‑man roster spot — a reminder of how competitive and cutthroat offseason bullpen construction can be.
For Armstrong, this deal is both a homecoming and a statement: at an age when many pitchers see their roles diminish, he has instead reinvented himself as a high‑value bullpen arm capable of turning close games into wins. That durability and late‑inning savvy could be the key difference for a Guardians team eyeing not just division contention, but deeper postseason runs.
Cleveland fans, analysts, and rival teams will be watching closely as spring training approaches. Will Armstrong cement himself as the Guardians’ bullpen ace? How will his presence impact the roles of Brogdon, Holderman, and the rest of the relief crew? And most importantly — is this the offseason splash that finally propels Cleveland out of the pack and into serious playoff contention?
One thing is certain: with Armstrong in the fold, the Guardians’ bullpen is no longer a question mark — it’s a headline. And the baseball world is paying attention.
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