Shawn Armstrong Reveals Why He Returned To Cleveland

The Cleveland Guardians faced a lot of criticism for failing to be active on the market this offseason. They did not make any significant acquisitions to bolster the lineup, which was thought to be needed.

However, they did add some depth to their bullpen, and one of those relief pitchers is very glad they did. Shawn Armstrong is returning to the organization more than a decade after making his MLB debut with the franchise.

Armstrong recently revealed why he returned to Cleveland, saying he has always valued their ability to develop pitching.

“Going into free agency this offseason, my agent asked me to make a list of top teams that I wanted to target. Cleveland was in my top three. It’s a testament to what they’ve done in the pitching development. The department that they have here has always been really good since I was in this organization. Their bullpen’s pretty special. Being able to see those guys, see how their preparation is, see what they’re doing day in and day out—that was a big key for me. The familiarity with the front office, the training staff, (pitching coach) Carl Willis, I’ve already been a part of those guys before. I know what they bring. That was a huge thing for me and my decision to come back to where it all began,” Armstrong said.

#Guardians reliever Shawn Armstrong breaks down what went into his decision to "come back to where it all began" in Cleveland. #GuardsBall @WEWS pic.twitter.com/Alc1JuTDLz

— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) February 20, 2026

The right-hander was an 18th-round pick in the 2011 MLB Draft by Cleveland. He made his debut in 2015, and over three seasons he appeared in 39 games, all in relief, and posted a 3.53 ERA with no wins and no saves.

Along the way, he had stops with the Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays, St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs. Last season with the Texas Rangers was arguably the best of his career, as he had a 2.71 ERA in 71 appearances, which included two starts as an opener. His 0.81 WHIP was second in the majors, and his .157 batting average against was third, among pitchers who threw at least 50 innings.

Now 35 years old, he signed a one-year contract reportedly worth $5.5 million. It includes an option for the 2027 season.

This offseason, the Guardians also signed relievers Connor Brogdon and Colin Holderman to one-year contracts. They will join a bullpen that is led by top setup man Hunter Gaddis and closer Cade Smith.

Smith established himself last season after Emmanuel Clase was lost to an MLB gambling investigation that now threatens his career. Overall, the Guardians had the second-best bullpen ERA in baseball, at 3.44, just behind the Boston Red Sox at 3.41. The Rangers were third at 3.62.

If Armstrong can approach the level of performance he showed last year, the Guardians could top that list this season.