Cleveland Sports Forum

Guardians Sign Stuart Fairchild To Minor League Deal

By Nick Deeds | December 20, 2025 at 1:49pm CDT

The Guardians announced this afternoon that they’ve signed outfielder Stuart Fairchild to a minor league deal. The deal includes a non-roster invite to MLB Spring Training.

Fairchild, 30 in March, was a second-round pick by the Reds back in 2017. He was traded to Arizona as part of the Archie Bradley deal back at the 2020 trade deadline and made his MLB debut with the Diamondbacks in 2021, but made his way back to Cincinnati (after brief pit stops in Seattle and San Francisco) by the end of the 2022. He’d spend the next few years in the Reds’ outfield mix and ultimately appeared in 223 games across parts of three seasons.

The outfielder hit fairly well during his time in Cincinnati, with a .232/.316/.403 slash line that was good for a 94 wRC+ overall. He split time between all three outfield spots with the Reds and managed to go a respectable 23-for-29 on the base paths during his time in the organization. While his overall production was slightly below league average, his ability to handle center field and swipe bases was valuable enough to keep him on the roster in a part-time role. Fairchild’s main draw was his ability to hit left-handed pitching as his .256/.354/.424 (114 wRC+) slash line against southpaws made him a solid complement to the team’s lefty outfield bats like Jake Fraley and Will Benson.

Headed into the 2025 season, however, the Reds lacked a clear path to a roster spot for Fairchild following the club’s acquisition of Austin Hays as well as the decision to move Spencer Steer into the outfield. With those righty bats in the club’s outfield plans, Fairchild became expendable and was designated for assignment. With a need for additional outfield depth while Ronald Acuna Jr. was on the injured list, the Braves traded for him not long afterwards. Between Acuna’s injury rehab and the early-season suspension of Jurickson Profar, there was plenty of playing time to be had in the Atlanta outfield mix. Fairchild took on some of that load, ultimately appearing in 28 games for the club where he hit a paltry .216/.273/.333 with a 27.3% strikeout rate across 55 plate appearances.

A dislocated pinkie finger cost Fairchild around a month of the 2025 season, and between that injury and poor performance when healthy he found himself DFA’d by Atlanta back in July. He was scooped up by the Rays in a minor trade but did not make an appearance for the MLB club before being designated for assignment once again at the outset of the offseason. He cleared waivers successfully and elected free agency, leading to the Guardians being able to add him on this non-roster pact.

For Cleveland, Fairchild’s addition means they’ve found a decent right-handed depth option for an outfield that lost Lane Thomas to the Royals in free agency this year. The Guardians have a heavily left-handed outfield mix as things stand, with Steven Kwan in left field, Chase DeLauter in center, and George Valera in right. Johnathon Rodriguez and Angel Martinez should serve as decent right-handed complements, but Fairchild offers some additional depth behind that group and protection against the possibility that the Guardians, whose 87 wRC+ in the outfield ranked 26th in the majors last year, don’t make a more significant addition on the grass.

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Guardians make Shawn Armstrong’s deal official; left-hander loses spot on roster

Published: Dec. 20, 2025, 7:44 p.m.

By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians swapped one reliever for another on Saturday when they officially announced that they had signed veteran right-hander Shawn Armstrong on Saturday night.

The deal was contingent on Armstrong, 35, passing his physical.

The one-year deal is worth $5.5 million. It includes $4 million this year and a $1.5 million buyout in 2027.

The mutual option is worth $8 million, but it must be exercised by the team and player.

Left-hander Justin Bruihl was designated for assignment to make room for Armstrong on the 40-man roster. On Wednesday, the Guardians acquired Bruihl for cash from Toronto and DFA’s Jhonkensy Noel to make room for him.

Armstrong spent his first three years in the big leagues with Cleveland.

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Short Guardian career for Briehl

They are hoping he clears waivers and assign him to the minors.

Cleveland Guardians division rival snags sought-after international star

One of the most sought-after international sluggers is heading to an American League Central rival.

Cade Cracas
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2 hours ago

Cleveland fans woke up to a bit of disappointment on Sunday. [ Yes Indeed - SHOCKED ]

As announced by Jeff Passan, highly sought-after slugger Munetaka Murakami has officially decided where he wants to play baseball in MLB. The 25-year-old signed with the Chicago White Sox on a two-year, $34 million contract. For the White Sox, they're looking to put people in seats and potentially start a rebuild, with Murakami setting the stage for such events to occur.

Throughout the 2025-26 offseason, many analysts and baseball professionals have been intrigued by where Murakami would end up. He was expected to get a major contract from a big market organization, but fielding concerns limited his chances to find a fit somewhere.

However, he's got elite power, something the White Sox took note of.

The 6-foot-2, 230-pound left-handed hitter comes to MLB with elite exit velocity. In the 2023 World Baseball Classic, he knocked an eye-popping 115.1 mph home run that took the spotlight. He's also known for hitting balls well over that 115 mph mark, with a maximum velocity of 116.5 mph in the 2025 season. That places him in the 90th percentile.

In eight seasons of play in Nippon Professional Baseball, he slashed a line of .273/.394/.550 for an OPS of .945. Not only has he been able to showcase his power at the plate, but also been able to get on base.

The past three seasons, he's unfortunately had a jump in strikeout rate, over 25% in each season, which is something he'll have to work on.

He'll have to adjust to the MLB game, especially with his tendencies to swing and miss, but if he can, he's got a chance to become a legitimate contender for one of the best power hitters in the league.

He's a good hitter, but his fielding is where many MLB teams were feeling most hesitant. He'll reportedly play first base for the White Sox.

Going to a division rival will have the Guardians take on Murakami multiple times each season, making it a bit uncomfortable for Cleveland's fanbase to swallow, especially considering his relatively inexpensive deal.

The MLB offseason continues as multiple free agents still remain on the market. The Guardians and many other teams across the league will monitor situations involving trades as well, as Diamondbacks infielder Ketel Marte and Cardinals utility man Brendan Donovan have had their names in conversations.

Cleveland's front office will more than likely remain put, especially due to such talented prospects that are itching for major league time in 2026 and 2027.

While many fans are calling for owner Paul Dolan to start spending, the best-case scenario for the Guardians may be to stay put and utilize the internal talent they have to not overshadow or stunt development.

The first chance to see some of these youngsters in action, including the likes of Chase DeLauter, George Valera and potentially Travis Bazzana, comes in February with Spring Training. The Guardians open up action on Saturday, Feb. 21, with first pitch set for 3:05 p.m. EST against the Cincinnati Reds.






Who are the top three players in the Cleveland Guardians' MLB Pipeline?

Get to know the Top 3 ranked Cleveland Guardians players ahead of the 2026 MLB season.

Cade Cracas

Dec 17, 2025

Entering the 2026 MLB season, the Cleveland Guardians have several intriguing prospects that could make their way up to the major league roster.

And on the team's pipeline are some eye-catching ball players.

Each player in the Guardians' MLB Pipeline has a chance to make their impact known in spring ball, which is just weeks away from starting.

The Guardians will begin MLB Spring Training in February, with the start of the major league season coming just a month later as the team opens up play against the Seattle Mariners on the road on Thursday, March 26.

But on a deeper level, who are the Top 3 prospects on the pipeline and what do they have to offer?

1. Travis Bazzana (2B) - ETA to the big leagues: 2026

Bazzana, a former No. 1 selection in 2024, is more than likely a few months away from making his major league debut. Outside of DeLauter, he's probably the closest on this list to having a real role in the majors.

In 2025, the left-handed hitter played for both the Triple-A and Double-A rosters for the Guardians, slashing a line of .245/.389/.424 for an OPS of .813. He hit 17 doubles, five triples and nine home runs for a total of 39 RBIs. He's got a knack for getting on base, flying around the base paths and hitting with power.

The 23-year-old will just have to show consistency with the Columbus Clippers before getting the call to make a trip to Cleveland. Eventually, he'll slot in nicely alongside infielder Brayan Rocchio.

2. Chase DeLauter (OF) - ETA to the big leagues: 2026

DeLauter's also a former high draft pick for the Guardians. He was taken with the No. 16 selection back in 2022, but due to injury, his development has taken quite a bit of time.

From the 2023 season through this past one, he's missed time for multiple left foot fractures, sports hernias, hamstring strains and even a sprained right big toe. But when healthy, he's electric.

This past season, he hit .278 in Triple-A with an impressive OPS of .859. He hit eight doubles and five home runs for 21 RBI, while also avoiding mistakes at the plate with 22 walks to 23 strikeouts. He's got a keen eye at the plate and he's patient, characteristics that are hard to teach. As the Guardians prepared to take on the Detroit Tigers in the postseason, the Guardians called him up, where he made his debut. He had some fielding blunders, but looked comfortable at the plate.

He will more than likely end up making his MLB regular-season debut on Opening Day in the coming months, but if not then, it shouldn't be much longer after that. He's the future of Cleveland's outfield and they are itching to get him out there.

3. Angel Genao (SS) - ETA to the big leagues: 2026

Genao's one of the youngest top prospects, not only in Cleveland, but in the entire league.

Born in 2004, the Guardians picked him out Dominican Republic back in 2021, before he made his debut in the United States in 2022. Since 2021, he's slashed .289/.366/.419 for an OPS of .785. Like the others on the pipeline, he just has that poise at the plate that sees him make very few mistakes.

Being a switch-hitter, Genao is proficient from both sides of the plate and has a good pop as a righty. He's quick, athletic and can field the ball nicely as well. In 2024, he grew as a base runner with 25 steals.

In all likelihood, the 21-year-old is probably two years away from being in the league. The current infielders are still trying to develop, and the room for Genao to make his debut is slim.






Recent Ketel Marte news leaves door open for trade to Cleveland Guardians

The Cleveland Guardians could still trade for one of the best available hitters on the market. Here's how.

Cade Cracas

Dec 15, 2025

Heading into the 2025 MLB Winter Meetings, it was rumored that the Arizona Diamondbacks were going to stick with veteran infielder Katel Marte.

But, following the front office's moves, or lack thereof, the rumors surrounding Marte have once again made their way into headlines.

On Monday, Dec. 15, it was released that Marte has already created a no-trade list. He will achieve 10 and five rights after just 10 days of the 2026 season, allowing him to refuse a trade to any team after that point in time. The list, which he's obviously created well in advance, has five teams: the New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals and Athletics.

Having these five teams on his no-trade list opens the door back up for the Cleveland Guardians, a team that he opted to leave off it. At the very least, he, or his agent, sees the value in going to Cleveland.

And fortunately for the Guardians, they have all the tools to make it happen.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Diamondbacks "want young major-league ready players for Marte, but also would consider prospects they could spin to a third club for the right talent."

The Guardians are the perfect team to trade for Marte

They have the young talent and the cap to bring in a guy like Marte. He's currently on a six-year, $116,500,000 deal that runs through the 2030 season with a player option in 2031. He will be 38 years old when he eventually ends up as an unrestricted free agent.

That would give Cleveland a reliable, veteran presence at second base until prospect Travis Bazzana would be ready to take over the reins of the infield. Marte would also pair really well with the quick, athletic fielding abilities of youngster Brayan Rocchio.

In return, the Diamondbacks could bring in a variety of young talent. They currently have holes in their pitching staff and the outfield. In both areas, the Guardians' front office could move pieces that aren't MLB-ready yet, but have a high ceiling. A few players that the Guardians could consider moving on from are outfielder Jaison Chourio, outfielder Chase DeLauter, right-handed pitcher Khal Stephen or right-handed pitcher Braylon Doughty. Each is Top 8 in the Guardians' pipeline.

And if that isn't enough, the front office could consider moving the polarizing, former No. 1 overall selection, Travis Bazzana. He'd be a near-perfect swap for Marte.

While the Guardians remained quiet during the MLB Winter Meetings, a move to bring in Marte would instantly make up for it. His fielding play, along with his always consistent batting, would pair perfectly with what the Guardians are looking to do in 2026: win.

"We expect to go out and win every night," Vogt said. "We are trying to win as many games as we can so we can have a chance to win a World Series. I think when that's our expectation, whatever expectations or pressure is coming in from the outside, it's not as much as the pressure we put on ourselves."

Marte may have just another year or two of his prime left, but if there's ever a time for the Guardians to make a splash, it's now.

They are set to begin Spring Training in the coming months towards the back half of February, before the MLB season starts on Thursday, March 26, against the Seattle Mariners.

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Before betting probe, MLB caught Emmanuel Clase breaking cell phone rules built for sign-stealing era

At every Major League Baseball game, league employees police how players use cell phones, a system put in place following the sport’s electronic sign-stealing scandals — including the famous scheme by the Houston Astros that tainted the 2017 World Series.

Baseball’s rules on electronics are now a key element in a different scandal: the illegal sports betting case involving two Cleveland Guardians pitchers, Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, who were indicted by federal prosecutors last month on charges they conspired with bettors to rig their pitches.

The duo allegedly predetermined how they would try to throw the ball and, via cell phone, clued in gamblers who turned the information into at least $450,000. Prosecutors say Clase not only sent texts during games, but made at least one phone call during play to an alleged coconspirator.

The Athletic has learned that MLB reprimanded Clase for impermissible cell phone use at least once before knowledge of the gambling issues came to light, according to two people briefed on his situation who were not authorized to speak publicly on the subject.

The indictment does not cite an instance of Ortiz using his cell phone, but alleges that Clase was paid to coordinate with a bettor on Ortiz’s behalf. MLB declined comment, and an attorney for Clase did not respond to a request for comment. Attorneys for Clase and Ortiz have previously said the players are innocent.

The two pitchers face lifetime bans from the sport if MLB finds they broke the sport’s most famous rule, prohibiting players from betting on baseball. But at least one of the pitchers also allegedly violated the game’s electronic-device regulations.

“With limited exceptions for personal use … MLB rules also prohibited MLB players from utilizing cellular telephones during MLB games,” prosecutors wrote.

Yet before this past season, feeling that the risk of sign stealing had been reduced, MLB and the players’ union loosened that policy, people briefed on the regulations said.

Clase started participating in the betting scheme in 2023, prosecutors say. During that year and the next, player cell phone use was outright banned during games. Before the 2025 MLB campaign — during which prosecutors say Ortiz began to participate in the scheme — the league gave players the freedom to use their phones in the clubhouse in the middle of games, a response to player complaints that the restrictions were unnecessarily tight.

The Players Association declined comment.

Over time, “the risk of a sign-stealing issue has been reduced significantly,” said one person briefed on the league’s gameday monitoring program, which stations three employees at every game to enforce the devices policy.

For four seasons now, MLB has allowed a wearable digital communication system for pitchers and catchers called PitchCom that helps reduce the chance a team could intercept signs. With PitchCom, catchers don’t have to wave their fingers in a coded sequence to tell their pitcher what to throw.

“I don’t think (sign stealing) has been much of an issue since the regulations have changed, and the enforcement,” said Chris Young, the president of baseball operations for the Texas Rangers and once a high-ranking executive inside the league office, last month. “Last few years, to my knowledge, we haven’t had any issues.”

That led to MLB and the players’ union discussing ways to “potentially relax some of those (device) restrictions in those areas without increasing any risk of sign stealing,” the person briefed on MLB’s monitoring efforts said.

The sides agreed to newly permit phone usage during games this past season as long as it was for “personal use only,” according to the regulations. Players could not be near the dugout, bullpen or field while they were on their phones, but were in the clear if they were in the clubhouse. A “time sensitive text message to a spouse” and “playing music” were cited by the league in the regulations as examples of what players were free to do.

Clase, however, was allegedly up to much more.

On May 17 this year, during a game between the Guardians and Cincinnati Reds that began at 6:40 p.m., prosecutors say Clase sent a text at 8:24 p.m. to an unnamed gambler asking if they were “ready.” The bettor allegedly replied “of course,” and ten minutes later, multiple gamblers won about $10,000 by placing bets that Clase would throw a pitch out of the strike zone below 98 mph. Clase threw the pitch in the dirt.

A month earlier, on April 26, Clase allegedly sent a text in the middle of a day game against the Boston Red Sox to that same bettor, at 3:16 p.m. Then, “a few seconds later,” he had a roughly two-minute phone call with the same person. Four minutes later, several bettors won $11,000, prosecutors alleged.

Ideally, MLB’s gameday monitor group would catch players wrongly using their phones. One league employee is assigned to each team’s clubhouse and video room, and the third is a rover who monitors bullpens and also helps ensure that the baseballs used on the field are not doctored or otherwise mishandled.

“There are monitors throughout the clubhouse that are constantly checking,” Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said last month.

The monitors are supposed to mix up the patterns of when they visit certain areas. But no matter where an interaction takes place, players aren’t always cooperative with the league employees.

“They’re kind of, in a certain way, like hallway monitors trying to get grown men to adhere to policies, which is not always easy and causes some friction,” said the person briefed on the monitoring program.

MLB tracks whether teams are written up more at home or away to try to ensure regulations are enforced evenly. Specific incident rates are not public, but the Guardians did not stand out either way, according to that source.

If a player violates the policy, generally, MLB starts by notifying the club and the player of the infraction and asks the club to discuss that violation with the player. A front-office member or the field manager can have that conversation. After that, if issues continue, more formal discipline could follow.

The violations the league has seen are generally “small infractions that go against the policy, like using a cell phone in an area you’re not allowed to be using a cell phone,” the source said.

MLB does not appear intent on significantly altering or toughening its in-game monitoring protocols for 2026, at least as of now. For one, changes would have to go through the union, which will almost always oppose restrictions on players. But there’s also a sense among executives in the sport that no matter MLB’s policy — or how many compliance monitors it assigns to a given area of the stadium — someone will find a way to break the rules if they are intent on doing so.

“If you want to cheat at something, you’ll find ways to cheat,” said one president of baseball operations this week, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly.

Said the person briefed on the gameday monitor program: “If a guy is willing to break a federal law, I’m not sure our cell phone restrictions policy is going to prevent him from doing anything.”

MLB believes it has curtailed the incentive for players to undertake a scheme similar to the Clase-Ortiz affair in a different way. One day after the indictment was unsealed in November, the league announced it had agreed with partner sports books to restrict the type of wagers involved — bets on the outcomes of specific pitches. Called prop bets, those wagers can now only be made up to $200, and cannot be included in parlays, which string together multiple wagers for a potentially higher-dollar payout.

But at least one alternative possibility is already mainstream. At some music and comedy shows, the audience is told to place their phones (and sometimes smart watches as well) in a pouch which can only be unsealed after the show, or in an emergency if they leave their seat and find an usher.

Players would likely never agree to do that every day at their workplace, however. Plus, what would stop a player from having a second or third phone they stash in a bullpen bathroom?

Asked last month whether MLB would need eyes on every player at all times to fully prevent such problems, Antonetti of the Guardians said, “I think you answered your question.”

When asked in November about the league’s cell-phone policy, Young, the Rangers’ president, said he wasn’t aware that phone usage was central to the Clase-Ortiz situation.

“Was it in-game?” he asked. “That’s something obviously the league will be on top of, and probably take a more stringent approach.”