The Cleveland Guardians had one of the best bullpens in the league last season. Despite losing a superstar closer like Emmanuel Clase, they still managed to get by just fine.
That should continue to be the case next season. However, there’s always some volatility between seasons, and given how much the Guardians turned to their bullpen, some are worried that this team might struggle with consistency in 2026.
With that in mind, Guardians Prospective took to X to share the most likely outlook for the bullpen. It should go as follows:
As things stand right now, Stephen Vogt will most likely turn to LHPs Logan Allen or Doug Nikhazy for long relief. RHPs Andrew Walters, Matt Festa, Zak Kent, and LHP Tim Herrin will be in charge of middle relief.
Once again, RHP Hunter Gaddis and LHP Erik Sabrowski will be the setups, all while RHP Cade Smith is the closer. Last but not least, prospects RHP Daniel Espino and Franco Aleman should also be a factor.
Cleveland #Guardians current bullpen depth on 40-man roster.
Closer – RHP Cade Smith
Setup – RHP Hunter Gaddis
Setup – LHP Erik Sabrowski
Mid relief – LHP Tim Herrin
Mid relief – RHP Andrew Walters
Mid relief – RHP Matt Festa
Mid relief – RHP Zak Kent
Long relief – LHP Logan…— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) November 22, 2025
The Guardians have always hung their hat on their bullpen. They know they can have an edge after the fifth inning, and they won countless games down the stretch last season thanks to their timely hitting and reliable relievers.
That being said, you can never have too much depth and consistent players in the bullpen. So, even though they seem to be more than set right now, they will most definitely look to add another arm or two to the mix before the start of the season.
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