Guardians Have Upcoming Shawn Armstrong Contract Decision

The Cleveland Guardians anticipated that Gavin Williams and Cade Smith would perform at a high level in October. Parker Messick, despite being a rookie, had high expectations for the postseason, too.

Something the Guardians might not have seen coming, but certainly capitalized on during the playoffs, was Shawn Armstrong's incredible postseason run.

Now, Cleveland’s front office is faced with a decision regarding the veteran pitcher’s contract.

Last offseason, the Guardians signed Armstrong to a one-year, $4 million deal. However, that contract also included a mutual option for the 2027 season worth $8 million.

Given where Armstrong is in his career and the season he had, he would be wise to take that deal. That would leave it up to the Guardians on the pitcher’s future in Cleveland.

Deciding on whether to pick up the mutual option isn’t an easy one for the team, though.

The first reason this is a tough decision for Cleveland is that it needs to decide quickly. The Guardians have five days from the end of the World Series to say yes or no to the contract. Since the Milwaukee Brewers won the championship on Wednesday, that deadline is on Sunday.

Armstrong’s up-and-down season also makes deciding on his contract for 2027 a task that’s easier said than done.

The veteran pitcher finished the regular season with a 4.58 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP, including a strikeout rate below the league average of 22.1 percent and a concerning walk rate of 12.3 percent. The Guardians signed Armstrong with the intention that he could be a high-leverage option out of the bullpen, but that reality quickly started to fade as the season progressed.

Armstrong also landed on the injured list twice during the regular season. The first absence was for a right groin strain, and the second was for a left calf strain that forced the 36-year-old onto the 60-day injured list.

What looked like a lost season quickly became a key piece in Cleveland’s postseason success. Armstrong made seven appearances in October, two of them as an opener, and allowed only one earned run in 8.2 innings pitched (1.04 ERA), on top of allowing just three baserunners (0.35 WHIP).

Cleveland’s bullpen is thin right now, and Armstrong’s veteran presence could be exactly what the team needs at the start of 2027. His playoff run also proved that the 36-year-old still has something left in the tank.

That said, is all of that worth $8 million, or do the Guardians think they can find a cheaper alternative?