The Cleveland Guardians make roster moves with Pedro Avila and Codi Heuer.
The Cleveland Guardians’ 2026 Opening Day roster is starting to take shape, but the front office is still making moves to add more and more depth throughout the organization.
As Stephen Vogt has mentioned multiple times this spring, the team will use more than 26 players throughout the season. With that in mind, the Guardians made roster moves with two pitchers on Sunday.
Pedro Avila - Signed To Minor League Deal
After being released just a few days back, Pedro Avila is back with the Guardians on a Minor League deal.
The Guardians had originally signed Avila to a split-contract earlier in the offseason, but were informed on Tuesday that he would not be on the Opening Day roster. A day later, Cleveland granted his release, but Avila was back with the organization just four days later.
Avila has pitched 8.1 innings over six games for the Guardians this spring. In those outings, he’s given up 10 hits and three earned runs, to a 3.24 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP.
Of course, Avila played a key role in Cleveland’s elite 2024 bullpen. Even though he won’t be with the team as they head to Seattle to begin the regular season, Avila could certainly be an option later on in the season.
Codi Heuer - Added To 40-Man Roster, Optioned To Triple-A
The Guardians selected the contract of Codi Heuer on Sunday, adding him to the 40-man roster, and then optioned him to Triple-A Columbus.
Cleveland signed Heuer to a Minor League contract in December, which included an invite to big league camp. So far during Spring Training, the reliever has had one of the more underrated camps in the organization.
Heuer has pitched in nine games for the Guardians during Cactus League play and has pitched a 9.00 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP. The number that has really jumped out is that Heuer has a 26.8 percent strike rate this spring.
Like Avila, Heuer could be a key depth piece for Cleveland’s bullpen later this season.
Perhaps the biggest implications of this move are that Cleveland’s 40-man roster is full once again. There was an open spot after Cleveland outrighted Nolan Jones on Friday. If the Guardians plan to add either Rhys Hoskins or Stuart Fairchild to the Opening Day roster, they must open up another spot on the 40-man.
The Guardians still have decisions and moves to make, even after Sunday’s transactions.
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