The Guardians are in agreement with reliever Codi Heuer on a minor league contract, according to the MLB.com transaction log. The righty will be in camp as a non-roster invitee.
Heuer resurfaced in the majors this year for the first time since 2021. The righty was on a minor league deal with Texas that got selected onto the MLB roster in June. He pitched once before being optioned back to Triple-A. That was his only appearance with the Rangers, but they managed to find a taker for him at the trade deadline. They flipped him to the Tigers for cash. Heuer made two appearances with Detroit before being released in September.
The 29-year-old pitched 4 2/3 innings of three-run ball overall. He struck out five while walking two batters. The former sixth-round pick pitched quite well in Triple-A. Heuer combined for a 3.14 earned run average while striking out more than 30% of batters faced across 48 2/3 frames. He kept the ball on the ground at a 48.3% clip with a league average 8.4% walk rate.
Heuer looked like a potential high-leverage bullpen piece early in his career with the White Sox. He posted a 1.52 ERA with a 27% strikeout rate while sitting around 98 MPH during his 2020 rookie season. His stuff backed up the following year, especially after he was dealt to the Cubs at the ’21 deadline. That was a precursor to a series of significant elbow injuries. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2022, then broke his elbow while rehabbing in June ’23. He made all of 15 minor league appearances between 2022-24.
A healthy ’25 season itself counts as a major achievement given that history. Heuer’s stuff unsurprisingly wasn’t as electric as it’d been before the injuries. His fastball was in the 94-95 MPH range and he averaged around 84 MPH on his slider, four ticks below where it had once sat. Heuer nevertheless showed he’s capable of succeeding against Triple-A competition, so he’s a sensible addition for a Cleveland team attacking the bullpen with depth signings.
Wow
Cleveland treating free agency like a trip to the flea market to look for a lucky penny.
More like diamond in the rough, they have found more than a few. Year in year out this org puts together pitching staffs on the fly for pennies where others spend dollars. Now just find some hitters.
Finding hitters is what this organization can’t do.
Guardians are going to make this guy a top 20 reliever this year.
I like this dude I think he still has potential to be a very solid bullpen arm.
He has strong enough arm., But Can he hit LHP ? Might be their 5th OF
Warm body. Cannon fodder.
Dolan turning on the cash spigot . . . drip, drip, drip.
I think Cleveland has proven they know how to work with pitchers. Have faith.
He’s finally healthy, so I can see him turning into what he looked like when he was with the White Sox and Cubs.
Okay, Chris.
This guy looked like a elite closer with Cubs before arm injury good luck Cody