Guardians make two predictable roster cuts at non-tender deadline

While the Guardians filled up their 40-man roster earlier this week when they protected four prospects from the Rule 5 Draft, that seemed like the calm before the storm ahead of today's non-tender deadline.

That storm hit earlier this evening when the Guardians announced that they had non-tendered outfielder Will Brennan along with relievers Sam Hentges and Nic Enright, All three players are now free agents.

They also tendered contracts to David Fry, Matt Festa, Nolan Jones and Steven Kwan. Per The Athletic's Zack Mesiel, Jones agreed to a $2 million deal, Fry agreed to $1.375 million deal and Festa agreed to a $1 million deal.

Steven Kwan was also tendered a contract, so he and the Guardians will have the first part of the offseason to figure out a number for his salary. MLB Trade Rumors' Matt Swartz projected that he'd earn $8.8 million.

Guardians remove two injured veterans from roster at non-tender deadline

While we thought there was a chance the Guardians would hold onto both Brennan and Hentges, them not being tendered contracts also makes a bit of sense given the lack of production Cleveland has got from both of them recently.

Hentges posted a 2.93 ERA in 138 innings with the Guardians from 2022 to '24, but hasn't pitched since July 2024 due to arm and knee injuries. The Guardians tendered him a contract last season knowing he'd be out for the entire year, so them changing their tune this offseason is a bit interesting.

Meanwhile, Brennan burst onto the scene in 2022 and earned a spot on the Guardians' postseason roster despite only playing in 11 games, but he hasn't done much to build on that momentum.

His best full season came in 2023 when he hit .266 with five home runs and 31 RBI, but he was a negative player in 2024 by bWAR and only played in six games in 2025 before undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Brennan could have been a cheap option in right field, but the Guardians front office ultimately elected to go with Jones, who signed right as his projected contract of $2 million. Jones had a disappointing 2025 (.211 batting average), but the Guardians seem to believe that he'll be able to put it together.

Fry and Festa being tendered contracts isn't much of a surprise either. While Fry wasn't great last season, he'll enter 2026 a full year removed from his arm surgery and should be able to play the field again, which will increase his value tenfold.

Festa may not be an Emmanuel Clase replacement, but he's a reliable arm who Stephen Vogt obviously trusts, and that ended up being enough to keep him on the roster as a reasonable price.

The Guardians' 40-man roster now stands at 38, so Chris Antonetti and co. will have some room to operate if a player they like is cut loose.