Kent is a lot cheaper than their $7M investment last year in Sewald; and similar year before for Barlow. Neither of whom was worth the money.

Unfortunately the worst OFs are also the only RH hitters they have out there. But they've never appeared much interested in JRod-- they let him go through Rule 5 a couple times in the past and no one was interested.

Jones, besides being awful, has enough time in to now qualify for arbitration. The two sites I've looked at project he gets $2M. For this team that salary should be too much to bear.
Lively projected at $2.75M and unavailable due to TJ surgery and Allard projected at $1.9M and a useful pitcher were released.

Article at the athletic lists the guaranteed salaries for 2026 including $3.5M for Trevor Stephen and $2.75 for Myles Straw after subtracting the $1M Blue Jays agreed to pick up.

Deadline to add players to avoid
Rule 5 is in 3:30. At present 3 openings on the roster. Plenty of candidates to be removed therefrom. Guardians usually make their announcment at about 5:59 p.m.

Guardians Prospective
@CleGuardPro
·
6m
Cleveland #Guardians have selected the contract 22-year-old CF prospect Kahlil Watson to be added to the 40-man roster and protected from the MLB Rule 5 Draft.

·
6m
Cleveland #Guardians have selected the contract 26-year-old RHP prospect Austin Peterson to be added to the 40-man roster and protected from the MLB Rule 5 Draft.
Guardians Prospective
@CleGuardPro
·
7m
Cleveland #Guardians have selected the contract 21-year-old shortstop prospect Angel Genao to be added to the 40-man roster and protected from the MLB Rule 5 Draft.
Guardians Prospective
@CleGuardPro
·
14m
Cleveland #Guardians have selected the contract 23-year-old RHP prospect Yorman Gomez to be added to the 40-man roster and protected from the MLB Rule 5 Draft.

Nic Enright DFA off roster.

AND jONES STAYS WITH US.
I'd rather have Antunez. Or lots of others.
Non tender deadline is ahead of us. But I think it's too late to add other guys to the protected roster?

I think it means that a spot or two will be opened up by non tender or trade ! Can not add anyone for protection of Rule 5 but can free up a spot or two to make a selection.

Recently read where Jones projections for the 2026 season is very encouraging. He showed signs of improvement before the injury.

38 on the 40 man now so they have room to sign a couple topnotch free agents.
However, our OF is good hands with Jones inked to a $2 million deal to avoid arbitration; and fellow RH hitting standouts JRod andJNoel returning.

In case you're looking for available old friend, among the 68 non-tendered is RHP Eli Morgan injured much of 2025

Last week, the Guardians elected to not tender a contract to left-handed reliever Sam Hentges after he spent all of the 2025 season rehabbing from arm and knee injuries. It didn’t take long for him to find a new home. Earlier today, Hentges agreed to a one-year, $1.4 million contract with the San Francisco Giants today, per Fansided’s Robert Murray. Hentges was projected to earn $1.3 million through arbitration, so he earned a bit of a pay bump.