Despite limited fanfare, Cleveland Guardians reliever Cade Smith has emerged as one of the most dominant pitchers in Major League Baseball over the last two seasons. From 2024 through 2025, Smith’s exceptional contributions have not only strengthened his team but positioned him as a leading figure among MLB bullpen arms.
Statistical Proof of Smith’s Elite Status
Smith’s impact is best observed through the Wins Above Replacement (WAR) metric, widely regarded as the most comprehensive measure of a player’s total value to their team. Accumulating 5.4 fWAR over two seasons, Smith leads all MLB relievers by a significant margin, surpassing the runner-up, Mason Miller, who tallied 4.4. This dominant performance confirms Smith as arguably the top MLB reliever currently active.
Guardians Prospective highlighted this dominance on social media, noting Smith
“leads all MLB relievers in fWAR at (5.4) by a pretty good margin over the last two seasons as well,”
and added he is the only bullpen pitcher with a Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) below 2.00 during this period. Such numbers underline his precision and effectiveness against opposing hitters.
Consistent Strikeout Power and Reliability
Smith’s excellence is not limited to run prevention; he consistently racks up strikeouts at an impressive rate. With 103 strikeouts in 2024 and 104 in 2025, his ability to dominate batters stands out, especially for a relief pitcher—a role known for year-to-year variability. Many relievers falter after strong performances, but Smith’s back-to-back seasons of high fWAR demonstrate his reliability and resilience.
Emerging as Cleveland’s Closer Post Clase
Following a difficult period surrounding former closer Emmanuel Clase, Cade Smith has taken over the ninth-inning duties for the Guardians and seized the role confidently. His success as the team’s closer has been seamless, marking him as a bullpen anchor for Cleveland’s pitching staff. Smith’s performance shows he is as efficient as some of the game’s fastest throwers, despite not relying on elite velocity like Mason Miller, nor matching the career save totals of legendary closers like Aroldis Chapman.
Broader Impact and Future Expectations
Smith’s quiet dominance may soon draw wider recognition beyond Cleveland. His ability to combine run prevention with durable strikeout ability makes him a rare bullpen asset in today’s MLB landscape. For fans and hitters alike, Smith has established himself as an exceptionally difficult pitcher to face. As his career progresses, it is likely his reputation will grow alongside his impressive statistical legacy.
Leads all MLB relievers in fWAR at (5.4) by a pretty good margin over the last two seasons as well… https://t.co/ttLFrcrVkk
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) March 2, 2026
