CLEVELAND -- The Guardians are bringing back a familiar face as they continue their offseason quest of bolstering their bullpen depth. Cleveland announced on Monday that it has signed reliever Pedro Avila to a Minor League deal. The agreement includes a non-roster invite to big league Spring Training.
Avila, who turns 29 on Jan. 14, is returning to the organization after he spent 2025 pitching in Japan for the Yakult Swallows. That followed the right-hander’s stint with the Guardians in ’24, during which he was a reliable member of manager Stephen Vogt’s bullpen.
The Guardians acquired Avila from the Padres for cash on April 17, 2024. He went on to make 50 appearances with Cleveland that season while recording a 3.25 ERA, a 3.76 FIP and a 1.31 WHIP over 74 2/3 innings -- which tied him with Hunter Gaddis for second most among Cleveland relievers.
Avila went on to toss four scoreless innings over three postseason appearances in 2024, all of which came in the AL Championship Series against the Yankees.
The Guardians designated Avila for assignment on Jan. 22 of last year in a corresponding move to signing right-hander Paul Sewald to a one-year deal. Avila elected free agency and joined Yakult, for which he logged a 4.04 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP, 61 strikeouts and 30 walks in 82 1/3 innings over 15 appearances.
The Guardians have made no secret that they are on the hunt for bullpen depth this winter, and they’ve added a half-dozen relievers over the past month-plus. Cleveland previously signed right-handers Shawn Armstrong, Colin Holderman and Connor Brogdon to one-year deals; signed Codi Heuer to a Minor League deal with an invite to big league Spring Training; and selected Peyton Pallette from the White Sox in the Rule 5 Draft.
Noel claimed off waivers
The Guardians also announced on Monday that the Orioles claimed outfielder Jhonkensy Noel off waivers. The move reunites the big slugger with former Cleveland associate manager Craig Albernaz, whom Baltimore hired as its new skipper in October.
The Guardians designated Noel for assignment on Dec. 17, but he did not officially go on waivers until Thursday. In 136 games with Cleveland over parts of two seasons, he recorded a .193/.242/.401 slash line with 19 homers and 41 RBIs.
Cleveland’s 40-man roster remains full.