Ex-Guardians coach Craig Albernaz adds another Cleveland castoff to Orioles roster

Some people collect Pokémon cards or vintage cars. Former Guardians coach Craig Albernaz seems to collect disgraced ex-Guardians outfielder. 

Over the weekend the Guardians announced that they’d traded DFA’d outfielder Johnathan Rodríguez to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for minor league pitcher Carter Rustad. 

This is the second time that the Orioles (who are managed by Albernaz) have claimed a DFA’d Guardians outfielder on waivers in the past three months. The first instance came in January when they claimed (and subsequently DFA’d) Jhonkensy Noel. 

Former Guardian Johnathan Rodríguez finds soft landing spot with Orioles 

While Rodríguez ending up with the Orioles isn’t a huge surprise given his connection to Albernaz, it’s a bit surprising the Guardians were able to get anything for him considering how much he’s struggled in the big leagues. 

Rodríguez played in 44 big league games with the Guardians across the 2024 and ‘25 seasons but had a slashline of just .176/.282/.304 with two home runs and 15 RBI. He’s punished Triple-A pitching throughout his career but has struggled immensely against big league pitching. 

His biggest problem has been an inability to hit spin at the big league level, as he finished last season with a whiff rate of 51.5% against offspeed pitches and a 37.8% whiff rate against breaking balls. 

He stayed on Cleveland's 40-man roster all offseason thanks in large part to him being one of the team's only right-handed hitters, but the Guardians designated him for assignment at the end of the spring to make room for Rhys Hoskins.

The Orioles have already assigned him to Triple-A Norfolk. He could be facing an uphill battle to the roster since the Orioles already have five outfielders on their big league roster (Colton Cowser, Taylor Ward, Tyler O’Neill, Dylan Beavers and Leody Taveras) along with having Heston Kjerstad on the injured list. 

That said, the Orioles had 34 position players step up to the plate for them last season because of injury, and they already have three players on the injured list. If the Orioles’ roster ends up looking like a triage unit again then Rodríguez could be one of the first players called upon. 

He’d likely get called upon before Noel, who is also with Norfolk. He cleared waivers after the Orioles DFA’d him, and he’s started the season 0-for-8 with four strikeouts. 

While Rustad doesn’t have a ton of minor league action under his belt, it’s always noteworthy when the Guardians decide to add a pitcher in a trade.

A 15th round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, Rustad posted a 3.23 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 53 innings last year across three minor league levels. He finished the season at Double-A, where he had a 3.32 ERA in 19 innings.

He’s going to turn 25 at the end of April so he’s a bit older compared to most of his minor league compatriots, but he’s a solid enough depth option who the Guardians can stash in the minors.