Guardians fans won't believe where Mike Clevinger just signed in free agency

The last time Guardians fans saw Mike Clevinger on an MLB diamond, he gave all of them one lat thing to cheer about. 

Last April, Clevinger took the ball for the White Sox in the eighth inning of Cleveland’s home opener and got José Ramírez to fly out. But then he came out in the ninth inning and allowed a leadoff single followed by three straight walks; the last of which gave the Guardians a 1-0 walk-off win. 

While Clevinger appeared in two more games for the White Sox, it looked like the final images of his MLB career would be him walking into the visitor’s dugout at Progressive Field while the Guardians celebrated on the field behind him. 

But it looks like he’ll get a chance to earn an MLB opportunity in 2026, as the 35-year-old signed a minor league deal with the Pirates on Wednesday that includes an invite to big league spring training. 

Former Guardians pitcher Mike Clevinger resurfaces with Pirates 

While the Pirates have made some big moves this offseason and are seemingly set to go for it for the first time in more than a decade, they’re still coming off a 71-91 season. 

It’s not a surprise that Clevinger had to settle for a minor league contract given that he has a 7.06 ERA across 21 2/3 innings in the last two seasons while working as a reliever for the White Sox. His deal with the Pirates also serves as the first time since 2022 that Clevinger didn’t sign a deal with the White Sox. 

Clevinger started his career with Cleveland and looked like a budding star when he posted a 2.96 ERA in 447 2/3 innings from 2017 to ‘19. While he never got the same kind of attention as fellow rotation-mates Corey Kluber and Shane Bieber, Clevinger was a sneaky good pitcher who took the ball every fifth day. 

But his time in Cleveland came to a quick end in 2020. After Clevinger and starter Zach Plesac were punished for violating coronavirus safety protocols, Cleveland’s front office traded him to the Padres in exchange for a haul of players who are still helping the Guardians win today. 

Clevinger posted a 2.84 ERA in 19 innings for the White Sox in 2020 before undergoing Tommy John surgery that kept him out until 2022. He threw 114 1/3 innings for the Padres when he returned in 2022 but the Padres let him walk in free agency after that, which led to his residency with the White Sox. 

The Pirates could use some help in their rotation behind Paul Skenes, so there could be a route for Clevinger to earn a chance to eat some innings behind him, should the Pirates choose to use him in that role. 

But even if he ends up having some success for the Pirates in 2026, every time he takes the mound will serve as a reminder of how much the Guardians fleeced the Padres in their trade of Clevinger.