The Cleveland Guardians have always taken pride in their bullpen. That was also the case last season.
Notably, plenty of that had to do with Jakob Junis. That’s why it’s not much of a surprise to hear that he made the list as one of the most underrated free agent relievers this offseason.
“Just Baseball’s Under-the-Radar FA Relievers: Jakob Junis,” Just Baseball posted on X.
Just Baseball's Under-the-Radar FA Relievers pic.twitter.com/NNDpfwJZgM
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) December 22, 2025
The Guardians gave Junis a one-year, $4.5 million deal last season. He was projected to take Eli Morgan’s role after the trade to the Chicago Cubs.
Stephen Vogt turned to him to take care of business in low-leverage situations. He struggled at times, but boasted elite control and poise.
He was also one of the hottest pitchers in baseball in the final stretch of the campaign. In 32 appearances (38.1 innings), he logged a 1.64 ERA from June 7 to the end of the regular campaign. Led by his changeup, Junis was nothing short of spectacular against southpaw hitters.
Vogt’s team will now be without Nic Enright for the entire campaign, and they will also most likely be without Sam Hentges and Andrew Walters for the beginning of the season. With that in mind, bringing back Junis should be one of the main priorities for this team in the offseason.
The Guardians have already spent some cash to bolster the bullpen, though. So, as much as they could still use a player like him, especially given his familiarity with the team and the coaching staff, they may not be that interested in bringing him back for at least another campaign.
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