CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians have bolstered their bullpen depth by signing free agent righty Connor Brogdon to a major league contract for 2026.
Brogdon was 3-2 with a 5.55 ERA in 43 relief appearances during an up-and-down season for the Angels in 2025. Over his six-year MLB career, Brogdon is 13-10 in 186 appearances with a 4.36 ERA and 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings.
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With two spots open on their 40-man roster, Cleveland did not need to make a corresponding move in order to bring Brogdon aboard. His deal is for $900,000. The Guardians would have control over him through the 2027 season before he achieves enough service time to become a free agent in 2028.
A 10th-round draft pick of the Phillies in 2017, Brogdon spent parts of four seasons in Philadelphia before joining the Dodgers in 2024.
The California native pitched in 130 games for Philadelphia from 2021-23 with an 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings and a 3.51 ERA over that stretch.
His best season came in 2021 when he recorded career-highs in holds (11), strikeouts (50), appearances (56) and innings (57 2/3).
Brogdon, 30, was designated for assignment and traded to the Dodgers in April 2024, but made just one appearance for Los Angeles before heading to the 60-day injured list with plantar fasciitis. He was released in November 2024 and signed a minor league deal with the Angels ahead of the 2025 campaign.
Brogdon joined the Halos in May and allowed 22 earned runs over 37 1/3 innings in 37 games. He was released in August, but re-signed with the Angels in September, making six more appearances in the season’s final month.
Listed at 6-foot-6, 205 pounds, Brogdon fits the profile of Cleveland’s hard-throwing bullpen alongside 6-foot-6 righty Hunter Gaddis, 6-foot-6 lefty Tim Herrin and 6-foot-5 righty Cade Smith. A power arm who averaged 96 mph on his fastball early in his career, Brogdon also primarily throws a changeup and cutter.
With veteran right-hander Jakob Junis now a free agent, one of Cleveland’s primary objectives this offseason has been to fortify the bullpen with a veteran arm that can eat innings and get the ball to Gaddis and Smith late in games.
Brogdon has pitched mainly in relief in the big leagues, but has some experience as a starter if needed to open games.
