Right-handed reliever Shawn Armstrong has agreed to a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Guardians, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on Thursday. The deal, which has not been confirmed by the club, includes a mutual option for 2027.
Armstrong is coming off a banner season with the Rangers, highlighted by a 2.31 ERA over 74 innings. Among pitchers who threw at least 50 innings, Armstrong’s 0.81 WHIP and .157 opponents’ batting average ranked second and third, respectively, in the Majors. The only names in front of him in either category? Elite closers Aroldis Chapman and Mason Miller.
Armstrong has spent almost all of his career in middle relief, but he did record a career-best nine saves in 12 opportunities with Texas. He kept hitters guessing with his four-pitch mix as he threw his four-seamer, cutter, sweeper and sinker each between 20-30% of the time last season. Opponents batted no better than .188 and didn’t have a slugging percentage better than .343 against any of those pitches.
The 35-year-old has suited up for eight teams during his 11-season career, including two separate stints with the Rays. If 2025 wasn’t his best year in the bigs, that honor must go to his 2023 season with Tampa Bay. That’s when Armstrong pitched to a minuscule 1.38 ERA across 52 frames.
The Rays traded Armstrong to the Cardinals ahead of the 2024 Trade Deadline. After about a month with St. Louis, he was designated for assignment and then picked up off waivers by the Cubs. He pitched in eight games for Chicago before being released shortly before the end of the 2024 regular season.
