Guardians Facing Big Decision On 2 Key Free Agents

The Cleveland Guardians made a handful of moves at the trade deadline in August, and two of them turned out to be among the most important of the season. Foster Griffin and Nathaniel Lowe both arrived from the National League on deadline day and went on to play major roles in Cleveland’s run to the American League Championship Series. Now both players are free agents, and their futures with the club are among the biggest questions of the winter. During the Guardians’ end of season press conference at Progressive Field, president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti was asked about the pair.

Antonetti made it clear how much both players meant to the team.

“Both Foster and Nathaniel made massive impact on our team, both on the field and in the clubhouse in the time that they were with us. Both guys are free agents, so we’ll continue to stay engaged with them over the next few weeks as we develop you know what our off season might look like, and they begin to understand their alternatives,” Antonetti said.

"Both Foster and Nathaniel made massive impact on our team…both guys are free agents, so we'll continue to stay engaged with them over the next few weeks as we develop you know what our off season might look like, and they begin to understand their alternatives."#Guardians… pic.twitter.com/ad2YmsftWt

— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) October 22, 2026

Antonetti said both players made a difference on the field and in the clubhouse during their time with Cleveland. He added that the Guardians will stay in contact with both over the next few weeks as the front office maps out its offseason plans and as the players start to get a sense of what other options are available to them.

Griffin’s impact was especially noticeable in October. Cleveland acquired the left hander from Washington at the deadline, and while his regular season numbers with the Guardians were modest, he became one of the team’s most valuable arms in the postseason. In Game 3 of the division series, with Cleveland facing elimination against the White Sox, Griffin struck out seven batters in relief to set a franchise postseason record for a reliever. He then started Game 1 of the ALCS and added another strong relief outing in Game 4, finishing the postseason with fifteen strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings. For a pitcher whose career took him through the minor leagues and Japan before landing in Cleveland, it was a breakout October.

Lowe also delivered some of the biggest hits of the postseason. The Guardians sent a nineteen year old pitching prospect to Cincinnati to acquire the veteran first baseman, and although his regular season production dipped after the trade, he came through when it mattered. Lowe lined a go ahead two run single off a left hander in the eighth inning of Game 1 of the ALCS, despite hitting just .111 against lefties during the regular season. He added an RBI double in Game 3 and went 2-3 with an RBI in Game 6. He also became a respected voice in the clubhouse, praising the organization for how quickly it made him and his family feel at home.

Bringing back either player would fill a clear need.

For now, both decisions remain open. Antonetti’s comments make it clear the Guardians would like to keep the conversation going, and the next few weeks should reveal whether Griffin and Lowe will be back in Cleveland next season.