The Cleveland Guardians signed Dom Nunez to a minor league contract for the 2026 season.
The Cleveland Guardians have not made a major blockbuster move this offseason, but they’ve certainly done their part in fortifying depth throughout the organization.
The front office made another one of those depth-minded moves on Wednesday, re-signing catcher Dom Nunez to a minor league deal for the 2026 season with a non-roster invitation to Major League camp.
Cleveland’s backstops for next season are in place: Bo Naylor will be the starter, Austin Hedges will be the backup, and David Fry should see some time behind the plate, especially with a left-handed pitcher on the mound.
Still, catcher is one of the positions where wear and tear can lead to injuries throughout a season, and having an extra backstop who is familiar with the organization's pitching staff is always a nice premium to have.
Nunez does fit that role. He’s been in the Cleveland organization since 2024, logging 144 games at the Triple-A level. Offensively, the backstop hasn’t had much to offer at the plate. In 2025, Nunez had a .176/.330/.349 slash line with an OPS of .679.
That said, Cleveland does feel confident in his ability to call a game, even at the big-league level. That was made apparent last June when the Guardians recalled Nunez for depth on the roster when Hedges went on the injured list with a concussion.
Jun 11, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians catcher Dom Nunez (46) hits a bunt single during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn ImagesNunez started behind the plate with Logan Allen being Cleveland’s starting pitcher on June 6 of last season. In that game, Cleveland’s starter gave up four earned runs on seven hits in 6.0 innings of work. Nunez then made another start with Allen on the mound on June 11, when the pitcher lasted 6.0 innings again and struck out six batters.
In Nunez’s seven at-bats during the short MLB stint, he did have two hits in four at-bats.
It’s not a guarantee that Nunez will reach the big-league roster during the 2026 season. Still, knowing that the Guardians have a backup option they can turn to in the minor leagues is nice insurance, and giving Nunez some time with the pitchers during spring training, just in case, is a good plan.