Cleveland Guardians Bullpen: More Settled Than Competitive

Let's be honest about the Guardians' bullpen situation in 2025: this isn't exactly a wide-open competition. According to Roster Resource, the full bullpen projection includes Emmanuel Clase, Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis, Paul Sewald, and Tim Herrin as the core five relievers. The remaining spots are expected to be filled by Andrew Walters, Eric Sabrowski, and Jakob Junis, with Nic Enright and Luis Frias also in the mix as potential depth options.

Walters, who made his MLB debut on September 12th, 2024, quickly made an impact in his rookie season. In 8.2 innings, he posted an impressive 0.00 ERA with 6 strikeouts and a 0.69 WHIP. He appeared in 4 postseason games as well, gaining valuable big-league experience and showing why he was considered such a promising prospect. He's now looking to build on that initial success and establish himself as a consistent major league reliever.

Franco Aleman, another promising young arm, entered spring training as an intriguing prospect to watch. Now on the 40-man roster, Aleman had been viewed as a potential impact arm for Cleveland in 2025. However, he underwent a left hip inguinal hernia repair and will be sidelined for at least 4-to-6 weeks, effectively removing him from any meaningful competition this spring.

The Guardians' bullpen, which led MLB with a 2.57 ERA in 2024, isn't looking to shake things up much. This is more about maintaining last year's success than discovering new talent.

For arms like Tanner Burns and other prospects, spring training becomes less about making the major league roster and more about showing they're worth keeping in the organization's long-term plans. The real battle is about making an impression, even if an immediate promotion isn't likely.

If there's any excitement to be found, it's in the continued development of young pitchers like Walters. In his 2024 minor league season, he posted an impressive 4-0 record with a 2.32 ERA and 79 strikeouts across 50.1 innings, showcasing his talent and potential. While the 2025 bullpen might be set, the future looks promising.

What do you think about the Guardians' bullpen outlook? Drop a comment below and let me know your take on these young arms and the team's pitching depth.

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