Pedro

Avila

Avila was a nice middle reliever for the Guardians in 2024, posting a 3.25 ERA in 74 2/3 innings, but he found himself out of a job afterwards anyway. He spent 2025 in Japan, returned to the Guardians on a minor league deal last winter and then, after struggling in Triple-A, he made his way to Korea in July and wound up going 9-2 with a 1.44 ERA in 14 starts for the Landers. Maybe we’ll see him again once this deal is up.

Avila was playing in Japan last season and has not pitched for the Guardians in the big leagues this year. He posted a 7.50 ERA in 60 innings as a starting pitcher in Triple-A this season.

The 29-year-old hurler was released earlier in the week as he asked to explore other opportunities, but he ultimately decided that returning to the Guardians made the most sense for him. He’ll begin the season as extra bullpen depth at Triple-A Columbus.

Avila was granted his release to pursue opportunities elsewhere after being informed that he wasn’t going to make Cleveland’s season-opening bullpen. The 29-year-old reliever was in Guardians camp as a non-roster invitee. He spent all of last year pitching for the Yakult Swallows in Japan. He’ll likely have to settle for a minor league deal if he’s going to remain stateside.

It’s a split contract for the 28-year-old hurler, who will earn a larger salary if he cracks the Guardians’ roster at any point during the 2026 campaign. Avila spent the 2025 season pitching for the Yakult Swallows of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. There, he registered a 3.33 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a 74/42 K/BB ratio across 102 2/3 innings in 21 appearances.

Avila heads overseas in an effort to bolster his long-term value after being removed from Cleveland’s 40-man roster last month. The 28-year-old righty was a durable workhorse in 50 appearances last year for the Guardians, compiling a respectable 3.25 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 73/30 K/BB ratio across 74 2/3 innings. It’s possible he’ll convert back to a starting role overseas in Japan.

The 28-year-old hurler had been sent outright to Triple-A Columbus by the Guardians, but Avila rejected the outright assignment and will hit the free agent market instead. He did a nice job for the Guardians in 2024 — posting a 3.25 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and a 73/30 K/BB ratio across 74 2/3 innings in his 50 appearances. He shouldn’t have trouble landing on his feet elsewhere.

It’s perplexing that Avila went unclaimed on waivers after posting a solid 3.25 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 73/30 K/BB ratio across 74 2/3 innings (50 appearances) last year in his Guardians debut. The 28-year-old righty will head to Triple-A Columbus as extra relief depth, but should factor into Cleveland’s relief mix in short order.

Avila gets the boot from Cleveland’s 40-man roster to free up a spot for veteran high-leverage relief arm Paul Sewald. The 28-year-old righty was a revelation last year for the Guardians, posting a strong 3.25 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 73/30 K/BB ratio across 74 2/3 innings (50 appearances). He’s a virtual lock to be claimed off waivers in the coming days.

The Guardians will not carry Angel Martinez, which means they will now go with 13 pitchers and 13 position players. It makes some sense considering how much they had to rely on the bullpen in the ALDS against the Tigers. Avila struggled in eight innings to start the season with the Padres, but he has been solid in 74 2/3 innings for the Guardians (50 appearances), posting a 3.25 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 73:30 K:BB ratio. He will give the Guardians another solid option out of the bullpen this series.