The bullpen was, by far, the Cleveland Guardians’ biggest strength last season.
The unit had the best ERA among MLB bullpens at 2.57.
The next-best squad, the Milwaukee Brewers, checked in at 3.11.
With most of last year’s contributors returning to the 2025 team, it’s not hard to see this group dominating again.
Bullpens can be very volatile, but there is enough certainty in these pitchers to assume that if they don’t finish with the lowest ERA again, they will be very close.
Insider Mandy Bell took a stab at projecting the relievers who will make the Opening Day roster and analyzed the unit.
“Projected ‘pen: Emmanuel Clase, Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis, Tim Herrin, Paul Sewald, Andrew Walters, Erik Sabrowski, Slade Cecconi,” Bell wrote on MLB.com.
Clase is arguably the best and most consistent reliever in baseball, fresh off an 0.61 ERA in 2024.
He is now the owner of almost every saves-related record in franchise history.
Smith had the highest fWAR among MLB relievers last year, while Herrin and Gaddis broke out and posted incredible numbers.
There might not be a foursome like that in baseball aside from Blake Treinen, Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates and Michael Kopech of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Sewald was one of the main signings made by Cleveland this offseason and is another lock to make the bullpen.
Walters and Sabrowski proved that their minor league success was no fluke, and Cecconi could be the long man.
Other candidates to make the Opening Day bullpen, according to Bell, are Franco Aleman, Nic Enright, Joey Cantillo and Kolby Allard.
There are more exciting names in Triple-A and Double-A.
Trevor Stephan will eventually return from injury, and Sam Hentges will be a factor in 2026.
Despite losing Nick Sandlin and Eli Morgan, plus others, the Guardians likely have the best and deepest bullpen in baseball.
NEXT: Guardians Predicted To Sign Veteran Starting Pitcher
