CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Guardians have bolstered their bullpen, agreeing to a one-year, $5.5 million contract with veteran reliever Shawn Armstrong, a source reported Thursday. The deal also includes a mutual option for 2027, offering potential long-term stability for the team’s late-game pitching.
The signing represents a return home for Armstrong,who the Guardians originally drafted in the 18th round of the 2011 MLB Draft. He spent his first three Major League seasons in Cleveland, from 2015 through 2017, establishing himself as a reliable arm before moving on.
Armstrong arrives in Cleveland after a standout season with the Texas Rangers, where he posted a sparkling 2.31 ERA and a 3.07 Fielding Autonomous Pitching (FIP) across 74 innings pitched in 71 appearances, including two starts. Among all pitchers who threw at least 50 innings, his 0.81 Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched (WHIP) ranked second in the Majors,and he limited opposing hitters to a mere .157 batting average, the third-best mark in baseball.
With 370 career appearances over 11 seasons, Armstrong brings a wealth of experience to the Guardians’ bullpen. He’s expected to contend for high-leverage opportunities and provide valuable versatility to manager Stephen Vogt’s pitching staff.
Last season, Armstrong demonstrated remarkable availability, pitching in every inning except the fourth, even making a couple of spot starts as an opener. He was frequently deployed in crucial late-game situations,logging 16 appearances in the sixth inning,20 in the seventh,29 in the eighth,and 19 in the ninth. In 34 high-leverage appearances, opponents managed just a .104 batting average,.186 on-base percentage, and .169 slugging percentage against him.
Armstrong figures to slot into the later innings of the Guardians’ bullpen, perhaps working alongside relievers like Hunter Gaddis and Erik Sabrowski to bridge the gap to closer cade Smith.
Armstrong utilizes a diverse five-pitch mix, highlighted by his four-seam fastball (28.9% usage), cutter (24.1%),sinker (23.5%), and sweeper (23.4%). Batters hit only .167 against his four-seamer, which averaged 93.5 mph and generated a 34.4% whiff rate.
Beyond the traditional stats, Armstrong excelled in advanced metrics as well. He held opponents to a 34.2% hard-hit rate (91st percentile) and an 88.0 mph average exit velocity (80th percentile) in 2025, contributing to a 2.98 expected ERA (90th percentile).
The Guardians’ 40-man roster is currently full, meaning a corresponding move will be necesary to make room for Armstrong once the deal is officially finalized.
