Cleveland Guardians

The Pirates have acquired Peter Strzelecki from the Guardians. (Source: Pirates on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Strzelecki was designated for assignment by Cleveland earlier in the week. The 30-year-old reliever posted a 2.31 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP in 10 games last season.

The Guardians and Ben Lively have agreed to a one-year, $2.25M deal to avoid arbitration. (Source: Paul Hoynes on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Lively pitched well in 2024, posting a 3.82 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP in 29 starts. The 32-year-old will likely begin the season in the rotation for Cleveland.

The Guardians and Sam Hentges have agreed to a one-year, $1.337M deal to avoid arbitration. (Source: Robert Murray on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Hentges will not pitch in 2025 after undergoing shoulder surgery in September. He will continue to rehab and focus on returning in 2026.

The Guardians and Triston McKenzie have agreed to a one-year, $1.95 million contract. (Source: Robert Murray on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: The deal with have McKenzie and the Guardians avoid arbitration. The 27-year-old struggled before being sent to Triple-A during the season, posting a 5.11 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP in 16 starts.

The Cubs have acquired Eli Morgan from the Guardians. (Source: Jesse Rogers on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Morgan will likely fill a middle-relief role in the Cubs' bullpen after posting a 1.93 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP in 32 games last season. Patrick Wisdom was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

The Guardians have desginated Connor Gillispie for assignment. (Source: Guardians Insider on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Gillispie saw limited action with the Guardians in 2024, appearing in just three games. He will hit the waiver wire and could draw interest from teams in need of bullpen help.

The Guardians have designated George Valera for assignment. (Source: Guardians Insider on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Valera is recovering from right knee surgery that is expected to cost him a portion of the 2025 season. He could pass through waivers and remain in the organization.

David Fry underwent a hybrid internal brace and tendon graft reconstruction surgery to repair a tendon in his elbow. (Source: Cleveland Guardians on X)

Fantasy Impact: The timeline for a return is 6-8 months to return as a DH, and 12 months to return as a full-time position player. This is a tough break for the 2024 All-Star, who will be out for most of the 2025 season.

Gavin Williams will start Game 4 of the ALCS on Friday against the Yankees. (Source: Mandy Bell on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: It will be the postseason debut for Williams after he did not pitch in the ALDS. He is looking to help the Guardians even the series at 2-2.

The Guardians removed Alex Cobb from their ALCS roster.

Fantasy Impact: Cobb suffered a back injury during his start in Game 1 against the Yankees. Ben Lively was added as the corresponding move.

The Guardians removed Tyler Freeman from their ALDS roster due to a strained left oblique. (Source: Cleveland Guardians on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Cleveland added Angel Martínez to the ALDS roster as the corresponding move.

Tanner Bibee will start in Game 1 of the ALDS for the Guardians against the Tigers. (Source: Mandy Bell on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: This comes as no surprise as Bibee was the top starter for Cleveland all season. He posted a 3.47 ERA this year with 187 strikeouts.

Steven Kwan returns to the lineup for the Cleveland Guardians against the Houston Astros Sunday. (Source: Cleveland Guardians on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Kwan is back after receiving Saturday’s contest off for regular rest, patrolling left field and batting leadoff against the Astros for manager Steven Vogt Sunday.

Will Brennan went 3-for-4 in the Guardians' 4-3 loss to the Astros, tallying two doubles and scoring twice.

Fantasy Impact: This performance underscores a solid season for Brennan, who has maintained a .264 batting average through 114 games. His ability to hit for extra bases was on display, though his overall power numbers remain modest with just eight homers on the year. Brennan's low strikeout rate and reasonable BABIP (.287) suggest a level of consistency that could be valuable in deeper fantasy leagues, especially in formats that reward doubles and runs scored. However, his limited RBI production and stolen bases might cap his upside in shallower or standard formats.

Andres Gimenez went 1-for-4 in the Guardians' 4-3 loss to the Astros.

Fantasy Impact: His performance was underwhelming, contributing no extra-base hits, runs, or RBIs. This game reflects a broader trend for Gimenez this season, who has struggled to maintain a robust batting average, sitting at .252 over 152 games. Despite his speed, evidenced by 30 stolen bases, his low wOBA of .277 suggests limited overall offensive impact. Fantasy managers should view Gimenez as a situational player.

Josh Naylor went 2-for-4 in the Guardians' 4-3 loss to the Astros.

Fantasy Impact: Despite managing a couple of hits, Naylor couldn't contribute to the run column or drive in any runs, reflecting a game that was more about missed opportunities than clutch performances. His season-long stats, including a .243 batting average and 31 homers, suggest he has the power to impact games, but his inconsistency, highlighted by a .246 BABIP, can be frustrating for fantasy managers. Naylor's ability to connect with the ball hasn't translated into as many productive outcomes as one might hope, making him a risky play in fantasy matchups.

Jose Ramirez went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, and three RBI in the Guardians' 4-3 loss to the Astros.

Fantasy Impact: Ramirez's performance was a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing game for Cleveland, as his power display contributed significantly to the team's offensive output. With this game, Ramirez continues to solidify his status as a top-tier fantasy option. His consistent power numbers, coupled with a solid batting average and impressive speed on the bases, make him a valuable asset in all fantasy formats. As the season winds down, Ramirez's ability to contribute across multiple categories should keep him high on fantasy players' radars.

Joey Cantillo took the loss Friday, yielding three earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out seven over 3 2/3 innings against the Astros.

Fantasy Impact: This performance was a bit of a setback for Cantillo, who has shown some promise this season with a solid 10.2 K/9 and a decent 2.93 strikeout-to-walk ratio. However, his ERA ballooned to 4.89, reflecting ongoing struggles with run prevention. The high strikeout numbers are appealing for fantasy managers, but his inability to pitch deep into games and tendency to give up runs are concerning. Owners should consider Cantillo a risky play, best suited for matchups against weaker lineups or as a streaming option.

Emmanuel Clase secured his 47th save of the season in a 5-2 victory over the Reds, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out one.

Fantasy Impact: Despite a slightly shaky outing with more baserunners than usual, Clase managed to keep his ERA impressively low at 0.61, reinforcing his elite status among closers. His WHIP remains stellar at 0.65, and while his K/9 rate of 8.1 might not dazzle, his ability to limit damage and maintain a high save count makes him a top-tier option in all fantasy formats. His performance in high-leverage situations continues to provide significant value, making him a must-start in leagues that value saves and ERA contributions.

The Guardians have optioned Myles Straw to Triple-A Columbus. (Source: Guardians Insider on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Straw saw limited action with the Guardians, posting one hit in four at-bats. Steven Kwan was activated from the IL in a corresponding move.