CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians have made their organizational strategy crystal clear this offseason, and it has nothing to do with addressing offensive needs. With their fifth bullpen addition of December alone, the signing of veteran right-hander Sean Armstrong to a one-year, $5.5 million deal, Cleveland continues to stockpile relief pitchers at a staggering rate.

“When is this going to end? When are they going to stop stockpiling right handed veteran relievers?,” asked Joe Noga, cleveland.com Guardians beat reporter, in the latest Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast.

It’s a valid question, especially when you consider just how crowded the bullpen competition will be in spring training. The Guardians have accumulated what feels like an army of relievers for only a handful of roster spots.

Paul Hoynes, veteran cleveland.com Guardians beat reporter, put it into perspective: “They’ve got about 10 or 12 guys, you know, headed to spring training, competing for what, eight spots in the bullpen.”

The Armstrong signing continues a pattern established over the past few seasons. Last year, they signed Paul Seawald as a veteran stabilizer for leverage situations, and the previous season, they brought in Scott Barlow in a similar role. Both veterans ended up being traded or released before the season concluded.

What makes the Armstrong signing particularly interesting is the financial commitment. At $5.5 million, it represents Cleveland’s largest free agent expenditure this offseason, surpassing the $4 million they gave to returning catcher Austin Hedges. This allocation of resources raises questions about the team’s priorities, especially with needs on the offensive side.

“That’s 5.5 million you’re not offering to Stephen Kwan in an extension or you’re not going out and using a sign of bat. So that’s where that money’s going right now,” Noga pointed out during the podcast, highlighting the opportunity cost of such investments.

Armstrong, 35, is coming off an impressive season with the Texas Rangers where he made 71 appearances with 74 strikeouts, 20 walks, and 9 saves. His signing also represents a homecoming of sorts – he was originally drafted by Cleveland and spent parts of three seasons with the franchise.

While his addition adds veteran depth and a potential backup closer to Cade Smith, it also creates a roster crunch. The 40-man roster is full, meaning someone will need to be removed to make room for Armstrong once he passes his physical.

“The more I think about it, the more it’s got to be a trade. They’ve got to be looking to deal somebody in order to free up a spot,” Noga speculated.

Hoynes remains optimistic that the Guardians will eventually address their offensive needs: “I still believe that they’re going to add some kind of bat here. As we get closer to spring training, closer to January, I think they almost have to.”

Whether that prediction comes true remains to be seen. For now, the Guardians’ strategy is clear – build the bullpen first, and perhaps address the offense later. It’s a calculated gamble that will either be vindicated or questioned come October.

Read the automated transcript of today’s podcast below. Because it’s an AI-generated transcript, it may contain errors and misspellings.

Podcast transcript

Joe Noga: Welcome back to the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast. I’m Joe Noga, joined by Paul Hoynes. Hoynsie, the Guardians continued, I guess the, the theme of the winter, the theme of this offseason, continuing to bolster that bullpen with another right handed veteran. They signed Sean Armstrong to a one year deal. Armstrong had an outstanding season with Texas last year and he comes back to Cleveland the, the franchise that, that drafted him and he played parts of three seasons for Cleveland. This is another move, not a real big. When is this going to end? When are they going to stop stockpiling right handed veteran relievers?

Paul Hoynes: Yeah, Joe, I mean it’s just, it goes on and on and on. I mean, I think, you know, if you count up the relievers and you know, potential relievers, I guess, you know, guys like Trevor Stefan and you know, you don’t know if Joey Cantillo, where he’s going to end up. He’s a swing guy. They’ve got about 10 or 12 guys, you know, headed to spring training, competing for what, eight spots in the bullpen. So I guess, you know, when, when Stephen Vogt said at the winter meetings that we need a lot of help there, we’ve got about four or five guys, we need a lot more. So they weren’t kidding. I mean, and they’ve all come within in December, Joe. They’ve all, they’ve made all these moves in December starting with, you know, Connor Bragdon.

Joe Noga: Yeah, Connor Brogdon. Colin Holderman. Peyton Pette was a Rule 5 draft selection. They make the trade for Justin Brule, the lefty, and, and now they go and they sign a veteran. Sort of along the same lines of the last couple of seasons. Maybe a pattern that they’ve fallen into here with, you know, in, in before 2024, they went out and signed Scott Barlow, a veteran right hander to sort of stabilize maybe some leverage situations and he did that job early on in 2024 before he was released. They did that last season with Paul Sewall. They signed him as a veteran guy coming in and you know, he was able to pitch in some leverage situations before a couple of injuries and, and he was traded at the trade deadline to, to the Tigers. You know, it follows that they would, that they would hook up with with Sean Armstrong here, a guy who they’re going to be able to put into some leverage situations and, and maybe give Cade Smith a break if he needs one. And in closing some games out, he.

Paul Hoynes: Just as you said, Joe, he had a great season this past year with Texas. You Know, four.

Joe Noga: You know, he was.

Paul Hoynes: He’S that kind of heavy duty reliever that the Guardians like, He’s, he made 71 appearances, 74 punch outs, 20 walks, and he, and he, you know, added nine saves, Joe. So, you know, that, that’s, that’s encouraging for the Guardians because they really don’t have a, you know, kind of a backup closer to Cade Smith. Thank you. Hopefully, if, if Cade needs a day off or two, you know, Armstrong can, can step in and do the job. But he, you know, he only has in his, you know, he’s, he’s pitched 11 years in the big league, so he’s only had 17 saves, so it’s not a position he’s really familiar with.

Joe Noga: Right. But you know, being that veteran presence and you know, a guy who’s sort of been there, done that before, I think is going to help. And if he’s asked to assume that, that sort of role, I think that it probably be natural for him now at this point in his career, you know, and it was sort of the unwritten, the unspoken sort of thing when they signed Scott Barlow, when they signed Paul Seawald. It’s, hey, you know, these guys have been leaned on pretty heavy the last couple of years at the back end, so you’re going to have to pitch and pitch a lot and pitch maybe in some of these safe situations. He was what, for nine, for 12 in save situations last year. I think he only had three blown saves, so. And 12 holds. He’s sort of the, he has sort of the makeup that they want. His stuff is actually his breaking stuff has gotten exponentially better since maybe his first go round with the club. He doesn’t throw all that hard. He throws in the, the low 90s. He’s got a two seamer and all that. But it’s the sweeper that really is, is, is the pitch that was sort of dominant for him last year.

Paul Hoynes: Oh, that’s interesting. Oh, definitely. I mean, he’s, you know, he’s, he’s 34. He’s 35 right now. So he’s going to pitch at 35. You know, he’s, he’s been around. He’s been through the ringer too, man. He’s what, eight, almost eight different ball clubs. A couple tours with the Rays. So he’s been around the league and I’m sure the, you know, he’s picked up an extra pitch or two along the way and it sounds sweeper has been very effective for him.

Joe Noga: Yeah, for, you know, a front office that went out pretty much this whole month and has been adding pieces, parts here and there, and guys who are. Are maybe a little bit of a project, guys like Holderman or Brogdon who have had experience, but maybe they haven’t seen their best yet. And maybe they’re hoping that Carl Willis can, you know, get in the lab with these guys and work on all. Carl Willis is going to have a lot on his plate during spring training, meeting all these guys, getting to know them and getting to see what works with them. But in the past, it’s. It’s proven he’s been able to help them put together a bullpen and. And what? Caleb Longshore, the, The. The bullpen coach, obviously, there’s a lot that they’ve got in front of them ahead of spring training.

Paul Hoynes: Yeah, they’ve got, you know what, they’ve got about 10 pitching coaches. So, you know, Brad Goldberg was the, the bullpen coach two years ago. And, you know, you got Joe Torres, you got, you know, the, You’ve got Carl Willis. So, yeah, they’ve got four pitching coaches. So the. But they’re still going to have their hands full, Joe, because, you know, you bring in new guys and you, you got to get to know them if you’re a coach. You got to get to know other personality, what they like to throw at certain situations, how. How open they are to coaching and, and analytics. And most of the time with these veteran guys. And all of them are veterans except, you know, Palette Collette, the rule five guy. You know, you kind of stand back and just, you know, you let them pitch for a while, and then you might watch what they do and then you might, you know, make a suggestion. You know, I don’t think they’re going to jump right in with both feet on a lot of these veteran guys. They’re going to let them kind of show them, show the coaching staff what they can do and what they can do.

Joe Noga: Yeah, and I think what I was trying to get at was the idea that maybe Carl Willis can get the best out of them, whatever that is. And that’s sort of the. Maybe the hope of this, this franchise. This just really feels like the most guardians move of the offseason. This is what they do. It’s go out and identify a veteran like Sean Armstrong. The contract is interesting to me. One year, what, 5.4, 5.5 million with a mutual option for 20, 27. So, you know, if things work out, maybe he’s. He’s around for more than one season. But, yeah, there’s that. That’s $5.4 million there, there was, there’s still conversation or debate about if they’re going to owe Emmanuel class A the 6 million that they, they would. There’s, you know, trying to make dollar figures fit and work here for this Club, but that’s 5.4 million. You’re not, you’re not offering to Stephen Kwan or you’re not going out and using a sign of bat. So that’s where that money’s going right now.

Paul Hoynes: Yeah, that’s their biggest expenditure the, on a free agent this winter. You know, they signed Saint Austin. Austin Hedges. Yeah, they signed Austin Hedges for what I think 4.5. 4 million. 4 million. So, you know, that’s where the money is right now. And I still believe, Joe, that they’re going to add a and some kind of bat here. You know, as we get closer to spring training, closer to January, I think they have to almost. I know they don’t want to get anybody, you know, put a roadblock in front of anybody, but you know, there’s got to be a hitter out there that interests them and that they would make a move on. I just don’t know who it is, but you know, it just seems logical to me now.

Joe Noga: Well, we’re not going to go wagering any jumps in the lake on that at this point. I don’t think Coinsey. So the other side of this, once Armstrong does pass a physical, once the move is made official, they’re going to have to clear a spot for him on the 40 man roster and really those are at a premium right now. You know, who would be the most likely candidates right now as we’re looking, unless they make some sort of trade or open up a spot that way, that could be a possibility. But right now if you’re looking a guy like, you know, Andrew Walters is, is not going to be ready to pitch because he’s coming off a surgery. But I don’t know what if they would be able to put him on the 60 day DL, not until the start of the season, I don’t think. Does this mean a guy like maybe Jonathan Rodriguez is, is in danger of being exposed?

Paul Hoynes: Yeah, that’s a good, that’s a good point. They’re going to have to make a move and you know, that roster is kind of, you know, locked down for sure. You know, especially with the moves they’ve made in this month. There’s some guys that, that probably aren’t going to pitch a whole lot, at least not for the big league club. You know, Franco Ali, man, I Think they, you know, obviously they still like him, Daniel Espino, you know, that. I think they’ve invested so much in him that they’ve really got to give him a chance. Jormund Gomez, they just added him to the 40, man, this, you know, last month or so. So, yeah, it’s, it’s going to be a tough call. Austin Peterson, the same thing was just added. Walters, you know, obviously isn’t going to be ready for spring training with the torn lat muscle, so we’ll have to see how that goes.

Joe Noga: Joe, the more I think about it, the more it’s got to be a trade. They’ve got to be looking to deal somebody in order to free up a spot. Right. It has to be the case. I, I would think unless you’re just outright cutting a guy like Jonathan Rodriguez or, you know, and he would be the only one. I’m, I’m looking at this list of position players because you just added Khalil Watson to the, to the roster you just added on. Yeah, I think I can’t, I don’t see a lot of wiggle room. Here you go. The Gabriel Arias trade is, is afoot. Right? That’s, that’s what, that’s what we’re going to see. So keep an eye out over the next 24 to 48 hours on, on what that roster move could be depending on a physical for Sean Armstrong. In other news, in other former Guardians roster manipulation moves and all that, Cleveland pitcher, ex Cleveland draft pick and ex Cleveland rotation piece, Tristan McKenzie lands on a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres. Why does this move make sense for Tristan McKenzie in his effort to try and get back to the major leagues and solve the problems that, that forced him out of Cleveland last season?

Paul Hoynes: Yeah, I think it’s, it’s a fresh start for Tristan. I think that needs that really badly and you know, kind of re. Re reunites him with Ruben Nable, San Diego’s pitching coach, a long time minor league coordinator with the Guardians that had worked with Tristan when, after he was drafted and was also the big league pitching coach for, for a few years with Cleveland. You know, that’s a good connection point with Tristan Reuben, you know, Reuben was really responsible for, you know, run as a minor league pitching coordinator in Cleveland of really kind of, you know, starting the pitching factory. He was one of the key guys that, you know, kind of turned a straw into gold there for a long time and perhaps he can work some magic with Tristan and you know, Joe, you and I, you know, you know, really Like Tristan, good guy. Hopefully, you know, he can turn the corner here with the Padres.

Joe Noga: Yeah, there’s not much, there’s nowhere else for Mackenzie to go but up. Compared to last season. He only played. He only appeared in four games for the Guardians last season. Five and two thirds innings, four strikeouts, but posted an 11.12 ERA after allowing a home run and seven hits in those five innings and seven walks. He was, he was not good coming out of the bullpen in, in, in those few appearances and really he went to the minors after passing through waivers and all that and you know, the minor league season wasn’t any better for him. Owen 3 with a 7.17 ERA with, with two teams including the Guardians, uh, ACL team out in, uh, Arizona Complex league team walks and home runs. The two things that, that were really a problem for him. He just wasn’t fooling anybody with his stuff. Do his problems, you know, date back to the, the injuries that he suffered throughout that, that 2023 season?

Paul Hoynes: Yeah, I think they probably do, Joe. I think the, he elected to rehab the elbow instead of having Tommy John surgery on it. I don’t know how big a part that has played in this because his velo, but you know, obviously his command is not even, you know, when he got sent down this past season, 31 strikeouts, 31 walks, that’s just not going to do it. You know, he’s, he has to have the advantage there with his big league time and he was still struggling. Sometimes I think it’s, it’s always a question of confidence and I think that that’s has played into this and you know, Tristan’s mental approach, I think has to, has to have a part in this as well. He, he wishes he had the, the Tommy John. I, you know, don’t know what goes on in, in an athlete’s mind, but certainly, you know, hopefully he can, you know, he deserves to kind of turn the corner here and get back to where, you know, he’s, he, he’s a competent big league pitcher again.

Joe Noga: Yeah, I mean you will never meet a more engaging, kind, understanding, generous player in terms of his time and you know, what he does in the community. This was a guy who the Guardians, you know, thought they could build as a franchise, you know, cornerstone around him being a high draft pick. And then the injuries that he suffered in 2023 really sort of, you know, they spiraled and he wasn’t able to pull himself out of it. It’s just unfortunate because he had all those qualities besides what you saw on the mound. That would have made him just a great piece to have around in, in the organization. And it’s tough when, when your performance doesn’t match up with that. So tough to, to, to see that. But a new opportunity for him and like you said, maybe Rudin Diebla can, can get the best out of Tristan McKenzie, you know, in, in 2025 and beyond. We’ll, we’ll pull for him there. Except for when he’s pitching against Cleveland. Another, another, I guess former Guardians pitcher who never really pitched for the Guardians, John Means, within the last 24 hours that he had surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles that he suffered while he was training. He said in the post he was getting ready to, to sign with a team and be available on opening day for the first time in a long time. Unfortunately, he suffered another setback with an injury. This is a guy who spent the entire 2025 season rehabbing his what, second Tommy John surgery and pitched in some minor league games. And had the Guardians not caught fire down the stretch, John Means would have been probably pitching in September. But those games became too important to run a rehabbing veteran out there and he never got that opportunity.

Paul Hoynes: Yeah, just, you know, if, if what’s, what’s the old, you know, I don’t know if it’s B.B. king or Arthur King. What’s the old song? If I didn’t have bad luck, I wouldn’t have any bad luck at all. And you know, that’s, that’s John Means right now. And you feel bad for the guy. Joey, he worked so hard this past season, you know, rehabbing with Cleveland, you know, going to the minors, making a bunch of rehab starts and you know, for a veteran guy to sit out the whole year, you know, and just, oh man, it’s just, it’s just tough. And then, then they don’t pick up the, the guardians had a $6 million option on him for, you know, 2026. They didn’t pick it up. So he’s a free agent and then he blows out again with, with the Achilles and oh man, you know, sometimes your body is just telling you something, Joe, and hopefully he gets over this, he gets healed up. But an Achilles is a year long, a year long injury, isn’t it? I mean, that, that probably takes him out of 2026 as well.

Joe Noga: Yeah, that probably sidelines him for the entire, you know, season. I can’t see him getting back within seven, seven, eight months before with an opportunity to pitch at the end of the year. Maybe, maybe the rehab goes well, but yeah, that’s usually a full year to come back from. The good news is it was successful surgery. According to the Post, that means put up on Instagram and if he, if he keeps at it and it comes back, there’s, there’s a market for him. We, we’ve seen that. You know, there’s a, there are teams that will, will step forward and pay a guy to come out there and try and start games. So we’ll see if he gets that chance at some point beyond 2026. But, you know, best of luck to a good guy and you know, a guy that we enjoyed being around. And Tim Stebbins certainly enjoyed writing, writing updates about his every minor league rehab start during the, the 2025 season. So we’ll see how that goes. Hoinsey, you were able to pick up on something on the transaction wire, a couple of number changes for some Guardians players. What were you able to find out about the, the new looks for some of these guys coming into 2025?

Paul Hoynes: Yeah, Joe, you know, three players right now are changing, changing their numbers. I didn’t know they put that on the transactions, but it was, it was, it was strange to look at that yesterday.

Joe Noga: And it’s big news. It’s, it’s, it’s jersey numbers. I mean the, the Guardian, you got to make their, you got to make their bobbleheads and their replica jerseys accurate if you’re, if you’re a fan. So who’s, who’s changing numbers?

Paul Hoynes: Yeah, Chase, chase the lotter. CJ Kaifus and George Valera are changing their numbers. CJ’s going to number two. The Lauder is going to number 24 and Valera is going to number seven.

Joe Noga: Well, I mean that’s, that’s pretty significant. You’re talking two, at least two of those numbers in, in Dilaudor changing to 24 and, and Valera changing to number seven. Those are some, some well thought of and fond memories for some of these fans in terms of the franchise. 24, you got Manny Ramirez and, and Valera changing to, to seven. That’s Kenny Lofton. I mean those are some, some pretty high standards for these guys to live up to.

Paul Hoynes: Yeah, no doubt about it. Number seven. You know, you see number seven on anybody’s uniform. That’s I think aloft and right away that’s the, the first name I think of good players with the Guardians. Slash, Indians have warned 24, starting with Manny Ramirez, who what hit 555 home runs and Grady Sizemore, maybe the best, you know, all around player we’ve seen in a long, long time here. Maybe a Hall of Famer if he didn’t break down towards the end of his career. And then a couple of other guys. Andrew Miller, you know, helped pitch the guardians to the 2016 World Series. And our old buddy Glenn Allen hill was number 24.

Joe Noga: There you go. Allan Hill, 1991, he wore the 24. That was the number, I believe that was. Was that after he had the nightmare about the Spiders and crashed through a glass table and wound up on the 15 day injured list for Glen Allen Hill. But you mentioned Andrew Miller, you mentioned Grady Sizemore. You didn’t mention the Franconas. Tito and Terry Both wore number 24 for the Guardians. Terry wore it in 1988. Tito, his dad, wore it from 1963 to 1964. So, yeah, number 24, a big number, big shoes to fill, sort of for Chase delaude wearing number 24, we’ll have to ask him if there’s any sort of, you know, special meaning behind that particular number. But Tristan McKenzie, who we were talking about here, right, just a little bit ago, he wore it for the guardians from, from 2021 through 2025. Big, uh, big change there. Uh, number seven, we mentioned Kenny Lofton, uh, some great guys, uh, you know, have, have worn it in the past as well. Just looking through this, this list of guys. Al Rosen WORE Number number seven from 1948 to 1956. Mike Garcia wore number seven in 1948. Hel Trotsky wore it from 1934 to 1941. So, yeah, there’s a. Just a long list of guys, you know, who wore number seven, who have a great history in the, in the franchise. But Since Kenny Lofton, war number seven from 1992 through 2007, the list is Jamie Carroll, Mark DeRosa at LaPorta at Carson, John McDonald, David Murphy, Ellen Cowgill on Gomes, Ryan Flaherty, Eric Stamets, Azar Hernandez, Al Straw, and most recently last season, Will Wilson worn number seven for the, for Cleveland. Just, you know, so I say some of those names. What jumps out at you? What memories jump out at you there?

Paul Hoynes: Oh, my God. Go over that list again. Go over that list again.

Joe Noga: Jamie Carroll, Mark DeRosa, Matt LaPorta, Matt Carson, John McDonald, Johnny Mack wore it in, in 2013. I used to love watching him play. David, David Murphy on Cowgill, Jan Gomes. I mean, Gomes, a catcher wearing number seven seems kind of weird. Ryan Flaherty, Eric Stamets, Cesar Hernandez, Al Straw. So Miles Straw wore it for you know, three seasons while he was here in Cleveland as well.

Paul Hoynes: Yeah, La Porta. That was interesting because I saw La Porta at. At the winter meetings in Orlando, so that kind of jarred me. He’s got white hair now. He looks like a business tycoon. He looks like he’s like walking on. You know, he’s got. He’s got a Wall street cornered. So, yeah, it was good to see him. And Eric Stamets, do you remember he was the opening day shortstop?

Joe Noga: Right. When Lindor had a sore calf.

Paul Hoynes: Yeah, right. And then didn’t he go like, all for 30 or something? I mean, I felt so bad for that guy who’s in a deep slump. He finally got a couple hits. Yeah, that’s. That’s a great list, Joe. That’s a great list.

Joe Noga: He got put in a real tough position, but interesting. You. You bumped into laporta and you said his hair’s white. It’s like everybody else is aging but you. Right. Hunting. That’s sort of what’s going on.

Paul Hoynes: All I do is get older, Joe.

Joe Noga: Well, there you go. Real quick. Just running through the guys that wore number two. Alex Cole, back in 1990, he wore war number two. The guy they moved the. The fences for. Brett Butler. Brett Butler wore number two from 1984 to 1987. So Earl Averill wore it in 1958.

Paul Hoynes: Hall of Famer.

Joe Noga: Yeah, there you go. There’s. There’s a whole bunch on this list as Joe Sewell, hall of famer, 1930, he wore number two.

Paul Hoynes: I’m looking. I’m looking at Joe Sewell’s numbers right now. In over 7,000 at bats in the big leagues, 14 years, he struck out 114 times.

Joe Noga: That’s insane. He would have fit right in with the. The current Guardians roster. Nobody strikes out wearing number two in Cleveland since 1996, when Jeff Kent wore it for what, 30 games. Enar Diaz wore it through 2002. Sandy Martinez, whose son is now playing center field for the Guardians, and Angel Martinez. Johnny Peralta Wore it for five seasons. Luis Valbuena, Hoinsey. Luis Valbuena wore it in 2011. He’s. God rest his soul. Luis Valbuena, Leones, Martin, Yu Chang, and like you said, Tyler Freeman most recently wore number two.

Paul Hoynes: That’s a great list. Yeah, there’s great list.

Joe Noga: There’s. There’s some important guys who have worn those, those three numbers there for this, this franchise. Best of luck to Chase Dilaudor, George Valera and CJ Kaifas with their new numbers. Hopefully they’ll play well enough that in future years we’ll get Jersey giveaways with those new numbers on the back. So we’ll see. All right, Hoynes, that’s going to wrap up today’s edition of the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast. We’ll check back in with you again next week to to close out the year.

Paul Hoynes: Thanks, Joe. Thanks. That’s great.