The Guardians announced that they have selected the contract of left-hander Kolby Allard from Triple-A Columbus. Left-hander Erik Sabrowski was moved to the 60-day injured list and right-hander Zak Kent was optioned to Triple-A in the corresponding moves. As reported yesterday, Cleveland also called up Doug Nikhazy as the 27th man for today’s doubleheader with the Red Sox.
Allard signed a minor league deal with the Guards back in February, after the Phillies outrighted the southpaw off their roster following the 2024 season and Allard elected free agency. It was essentially an early non-tender move for Philadelphia, as Allard was arbitration-eligible and projected to earn $1.1MM in 2025, though the Phils still opted against paying this modest sum.
The veteran didn’t make a sterling case for himself in posting a 5.00 ERA in 27 innings for the Phillies last year, with only a 19.7% strikeout rate but a solid 6.8% walk rate. Allard’s 4.18 SIERA was notably better than his ERA, and it was the second-best SIERA Allard has posted during a seven-year MLB career that has seen the lefty post a 5.99 ERA across 272 innings with three different teams. Allard hasn’t posted particularly good numbers as either a starter or as a reliever, but his ability to work in both capacities as a swingman has kept getting him opportunities at the big league level.
Yesterday’s rainout gave the Guardians an unexpected off-day, and it lines up a busy upcoming stretch of the schedule. Cleveland will now play 13 games over the next 12 days, so having a versatile innings-eater like Allard on hand is a useful way to help the pitching staff cope with this increased workload. It remains to be seen exactly how long Allard might stick on the Guardians’ roster, however, and since he is out of minor league options, the Guards would have to first designate him for assignment and expose him to waivers before outrighting him back to the minors. Allard would again have the ability to opt for free agency over an outright assignment, should this situation play out.
Sabrowski began the season the 15-day IL after elbow inflammation kept him from pitching during Spring Training. A move to the 60-day injured list counts as no surprise since Sabrowski will still need a lengthy ramp-up period to make up for the lack of his regular prep time, though it means his 2025 debut will be held off until late May at the earliest. (As a reminder, the clock for a 60-day IL placement starts at the time of an initial IL placement, not from the time a player is officially moved to the 60-day.)
Guards fan here, I think this is basically a throwaway move. Allard has mostly been a depth starter for them in Columbus, and they likely just want an emergency long man today in case Nikhazy has a rough debut. They probably would prefer a regular relief pitcher in this spot, but unfortunately their next 3 up in Columbus are all hurt (Franco Aleman, Nic Enright, Andrew Walters). The only other pitcher they have on the 40 is waiver claim Cody Bolton.
Allard is probably going to be DFA’d if not after today’s game, then within a week.
Why not give Vince Velasquez a flyer if it’s a throwaway move?
Probably could have been him, but he had a 4 inning start on the 24th, so he wasn’t rested.
He did well against Boston without having to strike anyone out.