13 former Guardians who are lingering as free agents as 2026 spring training looms

RHP Nick Sandlin
Appeared in 19 games for the Blue Jays in 2025

After four years in Cleveland’s bullpen, the Guardians included Sandlin in their trade with the Blue Jays that sent Andrés Giménez to the Blue Jays. 

And while Sandlin got off to a great start in 2025, he went on the injured list in April with a lat strain and returned for nine games across June and July before suffering a season-ending elbow injury. The Blue Jays then non-tendered him at the start of the offseason to clear up space ahead of their offseason restructuring. 

Sandlin was set to make around $2 million in 2026 via arbitration, and it’s hard to believe there’s a team out there that would sign him to a major league contract worth that much. 

1B Carlos Santana
Appeared in 124 games with the Guardians and Cubs 

The Guardians reunited with Santana last offseason less than a day after trading Josh Naylor to the Diamondbacks last season in a move that didn’t age well. 

Although Santana held his own on defense once again (8 Outs Above Average), he slugged just .333 and was 18% below league average per measure of OPS. 

Cleveland placed Santana on waivers at the end of August and he quickly latched on with the Cubs, but he only played in eight games in Chicago and was left off their postseason roster. 

While there hasn’t been any reporting about Santana’s future, he turns 40 next April so it doesn’t seem like retirement is out of the question. 

RHP Paul Sewald
Appeared in 22 games with the Guardians and Tigers 

Sewald was the Guardians’ big free agent signing last offseason (one-year $7 million deal) — and it ended up being an abject disaster. 

Sewald picked up the save on Opening Day after the Guardians after Emmanuel Clase blew the save, but he allowed six runs in 10 innings in April before being placed on the injured list. 

The Guardians ended up trading Sewald to the Tigers at the trade deadline despite losing Clase to paid leave, and he only appeared in four games with the Tigers but was left off their playoff roster. 

The Tigers declined his mutual option in lieu of a $1 million buyout after the season. 

3B Gio Urshela
Appeared in 59 games for The Athletics 

While Urshela didn’t have an incredibly inspiring career with the Guardians, he’s appeared in the bigs in every season since 2017 thanks to skillset as a steady, glove-first infielder. 

The Athletics brought him in as a (cheap) infield mentor for a team in transition, but his just .238 in 59 games before being designated for assignment and subsequently released. 

He didn’t sign with another team after that release, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him latch on somewhere on a minor league deal this offseason.