The Cleveland Guardians made a trade as they continue shaping their team early in the 2026 season, acquiring Carter Rustad from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for outfielder Johnathan Rodríguez.
The move comes shortly after Rodríguez was designated for assignment.
“The Guardians acquired reliever Carter Rustad from the Orioles for outfielder Johnathan Rodríguez, who was DFA’d on Wednesday,” Tim Stebbins wrote.
The Guardians acquired reliever Carter Rustad from the Orioles for outfielder Johnathan Rodríguez, who was DFA’d on Wednesday.
— Tim Stebbins (@tim_stebbins) March 29, 2026
Rustad, a right-handed pitcher, brings an intriguing profile to the Guardians system. The 24-year-old has spent time developing in the minor leagues and has shown flashes of promise, including a solid 2025 campaign in which he posted a 3.23 ERA across multiple levels. While he is not expected to make an immediate impact at the major league level, he gives Cleveland another arm to work with as they continue to build out their pitching depth.
This is a move that fits Cleveland’s typical approach.
The organization has consistently prioritized pitching development, often targeting arms with upside and trusting its system to develop them. Adding Rustad gives the Guardians another projectable pitcher who could develop into a useful bullpen piece or depth starter down the road.
On the other side, Rodríguez’s tenure with Cleveland comes to an end.
The 26-year-old outfielder showed flashes at times but struggled to carve out a consistent role at the big league level. Across his major league opportunities, he posted a .176 batting average, making it difficult for him to stick on the roster.
With the Guardians leaning more into younger outfield options and positional versatility, the move ultimately clears space while bringing back a controllable pitching asset.
As the season gets underway, the Guardians continue to balance competing in the present with building for the future. Moves like this one may not grab headlines, but they often play an important role in sustaining organizational depth over the course of a long season.
NEXT: Bruce Drennan Reveals Big Question Facing Guardians This Season
