3 former Guardians from the 2025 squad that are struggling with their new team

Last year the Cleveland Guardians won the American League Central last year thanks to an incredible late-season comeback, they did so with an extremely flawed roster. 

Although some of the black holes from last season have managed to turn things around (looking at you, Brayan Rocchio), the Guardians also decided to cut ties with some of them in the offseason. 

Here are three of those players whose struggles have carried over to their new team. 

These former Guardians aren't making good first impressions with their new teams

OF Lane Thomas, Kansas City Royals 

While Thomas swung his way into Guardians lore with his magical home run against Tarik Skubal in the 2024 American League Division Series, he failed to do much of anything else during his time with Cleveland due to a variety of injuries. 

He was limited to just 39 games last year due to a wrist injury and plantar fasciitis, which is perhaps the biggest reason why he lingered as long as he did in free agency before signing a one-year, $5.25 million contract with the Royals. 

Those struggles have followed him to Kansas City, as he entered play today with a slashline of .200/.333./222 with two RBI and just one extra-base hit in 20 games. 

Although he’s in the 77th percentile in whiff rate and strikeout rate, he has yet to barrel a ball this year and has posted an average exit velocity of 85.3 miles per hour (eighth percentile). 

Thomas still has his above-average speed and eye, but his power has gone by the wayside. 

1B Carlos Santana, Arizona Diamondbacks 

There’s no denying that Santana is a Guardians legend. But the 116 games he spent with the Guardians last season was an abject disaster, which is why the Guardians decided to cut ties with him at the end of August to free up space for George Valera. 

But he was still even able to find a home for 2026 via a one-year, $2 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks with the expectation that he’d serve as a veteran mentor for a clubhouse filled with players who still seem to be finding their way.   

And even if he’s been able to satisfy that role in the clubhouse, his production on the field has clearly been lacking. Santana opened the season going just 2-for-24 before hitting the injured list with a strained right adductor that could keep him out for a significant period of time. 

Even if the Guardians’ initial decision to sign Santana was a mistake, his subpar performance this season shows the Guardians were smart to release him before the final month of the season.

OF Johnathan Rodríguez, Baltimore Orioles 

Although the Guardians kept Rodríguez on their 40-man roster all season, they removed him from the roster at the end of the spring training to free up space for Rhys Hoskins.

He ended up landing with a familiar face in Craig Albernaz and the Baltimore Orioles, and was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk two weeks ago after Tyler O’Neill was placed on the concussion injured list. 

He’s appeared in seven games with the Orioles since being called up and has gone 0-for-7 with three walks, four strikeouts and an RBI. 

Rodríguez has legitimate pop and a strong track record of Triple-A success, but he never proved that he could handle big league pitching during his two-year stint with the Guardians. 

His struggles with the Orioles all but confirm that’s going to be a storyline during 2026 as well.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow