The Cleveland Guardians, criticized for their quiet offseason and lack of major acquisitions, quietly strengthened their bullpen by bringing back relief pitcher Shawn Armstrong. More than a decade after his MLB debut with Cleveland, Armstrong decided to rejoin the franchise, valuing its strong reputation in pitching development. His decision highlights both his confidence in the Guardians’ staff and his desire to reconnect with familiar faces.
Armstrong’s Reasons for Rejoining the Guardians
Armstrong shared the factors that influenced his choice during free agency. He ranked Cleveland among his top three preferred teams, emphasizing the organization’s consistently excellent approach to nurturing pitchers. Armstrong appreciated the bullpen’s quality, the team’s preparation routines, and the presence of longtime connections including pitching coach Carl Willis and the training staff.
“Going into free agency this offseason, my agent asked me to make a list of top teams that I wanted to target. Cleveland was in my top three. It’s a testament to what they’ve done in the pitching development. The department that they have here has always been really good since I was in this organization. Their bullpen’s pretty special. Being able to see those guys, see how their preparation is, see what they’re doing day in and day out—that was a big key for me. The familiarity with the front office, the training staff, (pitching coach) Carl Willis, I’ve already been a part of those guys before. I know what they bring. That was a huge thing for me and my decision to come back to where it all began,”
Shawn Armstrong said.
Career Journey and Recent Performance
Originally selected by Cleveland in the 18th round of the 2011 MLB Draft, Armstrong made his major league debut in 2015. In three seasons with the Guardians, he appeared exclusively as a reliever in 39 games, maintaining a 3.53 ERA without recording wins or saves. After leaving Cleveland, Armstrong pitched for multiple teams including the Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays, St. Louis Cardinals, and Chicago Cubs. His best season arguably came last year with the Texas Rangers, where he posted a remarkable 2.71 ERA across 71 appearances, including two starts as an opener.
His 0.81 WHIP ranked second across the majors, and opposing hitters managed only a .157 batting average against him, placing him third among pitchers with at least 50 innings. This strong performance demonstrated his value as a reliable bullpen arm capable of high-level contributions.
Contract Details and Bullpen Additions
At age 35, Armstrong signed a one-year deal with Cleveland reportedly valued at $5.5 million, featuring a team option for 2027. The Guardians also secured relief pitchers Connor Brogdon and Colin Holderman on one-year contracts this offseason. These moves aim to support a bullpen anchored by key setup man Hunter Gaddis and closer Cade Smith, who stepped up after Emmanuel Clase’s absence due to an ongoing MLB gambling investigation that has cast uncertainty on Clase’s career.
Implications for Cleveland’s Bullpen Strength
Last season, Cleveland’s bullpen posted the second-best ERA in the majors at 3.44, trailing only the Boston Red Sox’s 3.41. The Texas Rangers, Armstrong’s former team, ranked third with a 3.62 ERA. If Armstrong can replicate his recent success, the Guardians’ relief staff may improve further and contend for the league’s top bullpen status this year. Cleveland’s focus on pitching development and familiar staff relationships will be vital as they aim to sustain and even elevate their bullpen’s performance during the upcoming season.
#Guardians reliever Shawn Armstrong breaks down what went into his decision to "come back to where it all began" in Cleveland. #GuardsBall @WEWS pic.twitter.com/Alc1JuTDLz
— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) February 20, 2026
