### Cleveland Guardians Make Quick Move: Designate Justin Bruihl for Assignment After Recent Acquisition The Cleveland Guardians have designated left-handed pitcher Justin Bruihl for assignment, just days after acquiring him from the Toronto Blue Jays. This decision was made to create space on the 40-man roster for right-hander Shawn Armstrong, who was signed earlier in the week. Bruihl was brought in by the Guardians for cash considerations after the Blue Jays designated him for assignment to accommodate the signing of reliever Tyler Rogers. Despite a promising start in the minor leagues, Bruihl struggled in his brief stint with Toronto, leading to his swift removal from the roster [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/cleveland_guardians_designate_justin_bruihl_for_assignment_just_days_after_acquisition_from_blue_jays/s1_13237_43232345]. ### Breakdown of the Guardians' Roster Moves 1. **Acquisition of Justin Bruihl** - The Guardians traded for Bruihl from the Blue Jays for cash considerations on December 17, 2025. - Bruihl had previously been designated for assignment by Toronto after they signed Tyler Rogers [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/blue_jays_trade_justin_bruihl_to_guardians_for_cash_considerations/s1_13549_43221267]. 2. **Designating Jhonkensy Noel** - To make room for Bruihl, the Guardians designated outfielder Jhonkensy Noel for assignment. - Noel was notable for hitting a crucial tying home run in the 2024 postseason but struggled overall in the 2025 season [https://www.apnews.com/article/bruihl-noel-blue-jays-guardians-trade-d7bf920b8a22ea6789a5c1ea1e7e5687]. 3. **Bruihl's Performance Overview** - In the major leagues, Bruihl recorded a 5.27 ERA over 13.2 innings with a strikeout rate of 27.7% but also had a high walk rate of 10.8%. - His minor league performance was significantly better, with a 3.43 ERA in 42 innings at Triple-A [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/blue_jays_trade_young_left_hander_to_guardians_for_cash_in_offseason_swap/s1_17713_43219650]. ### Supporting Data on Justin Bruihl's Performance - **Major League Stats**: - **ERA**: 5.27 - **Innings Pitched**: 13.2 - **Strikeout Rate**: 27.7% - **Walk Rate**: 10.8% - **FIP**: 4.16 [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/guardians_acquire_justin_bruihl_designate_jhonkensy_noel_for_assignment/s1_13237_43218482]. - **Minor League Stats**: - **ERA**: 3.43 - **Innings Pitched**: 42 - **Strikeout Rate**: 27.8% - **Walk Rate**: 9.1% [https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/blue_jays_trade_justin_bruihl_to_guardians_for_cash_considerations/s1_13549_43221267]. ### Summary of Recent Roster Changes by the Guardians In summary, the Cleveland Guardians have made significant roster adjustments by designating Justin Bruihl for assignment shortly after acquiring him from the Toronto Blue Jays. This move was part of a broader strategy to reshape their bullpen, which included cutting ties with postseason hero Jhonkensy Noel. The Guardians are looking to improve their pitching staff, and while Bruihl showed potential in the minors, his major league performance raised concerns. 1. **Acquisition of Bruihl**: Aimed to bolster the bullpen. 2. **DFA of Noel**: A surprising move given his postseason contributions. 3. **Bruihl's Mixed Performance**: Highlighting the challenges faced in transitioning to the majors. The Guardians' decisions reflect a commitment to optimizing their roster as they prepare for the upcoming season [https://www.coveringthecorner.com/cleveland-indians-news/64379/guardians-acquire-justin-bruihl-dfa-noel-a-breakdown].