GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Cleveland Guardians have officially signed right-handed pitcher Jakob Junis to a one-year contract worth $4.5 million. This announcement was made on Sunday.
The 32-year-old Junis had previously opted out of an $8 million mutual option with the Cincinnati Reds back in November, instead opting for a $3 million buyout. Cincinnati had acquired Junis in July as part of a trade that involved sending Frankie Montas to the Milwaukee Brewers. In his time with the Reds, Junis posted an impressive 2.85 ERA over five starting games and nine relief appearances, concluding the season with a perfect 4-0 record, featuring a 2.69 ERA across six starts and 18 relief outings.
Over his eight-year career that has seen him pitch for Kansas City, San Francisco, Milwaukee, and Cincinnati, Junis has compiled a record of 42 wins and 45 losses, with a career ERA of 4.48 over 192 appearances, including 116 as a starter.
Last season, the Guardians performed better than anticipated, establishing a strong start that ultimately led them to a total of 92 victories, securing the American League Central title and progressing to the AL Championship Series.
During this offseason, the Guardians made notable additions to their roster, signing Gold Glove first baseman Carlos Santana to a one-year deal valued at $12 million following the trade of Josh Naylor to Arizona. They also reinforced their bullpen by adding reliever Paul Sewald on a one-year contract worth $7 million, creating a strong support system around their closer, Emmanuel Clase.
In terms of roster updates, left-hander Sam Hentges has been placed on the 60-day injured list after undergoing surgery on September 18 to repair his left shoulder’s capsule and labrum, a procedure conducted by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the head physician for the Los Angeles Dodgers. His recovery is projected to take around 12 to 14 months.
