Breaking: Guardians Acquire Bruihl From Blue Jays, Designate Noel For Assignment
Table of Contents
- 1. Breaking: Guardians Acquire Bruihl From Blue Jays, Designate Noel For Assignment
- 2. Key Facts At A Glance
- 3. Who Is Justin Bruihl? – LHP Profile & Career Snapshot
- 4. Why the Guardians Needed Bruihl
- 5. Jhonkensy Noel – Outfielder Designated for Assignment
- 6. How the Trade Affects Guardians’ 2025 Season Outlook
- 7. Fantasy Baseball Tips – owners Should Note
- 8. Frequently asked Questions (FAQ)
- 9. real‑World Example: Similar LHP Acquisitions
- 10. Quick Reference – Key Takeaways (Bullet List)
The Cleveland Guardians pulled off a late-week roster move, acquiring left-handed reliever Justin Bruihl from Toronto in exchange for cash considerations. In a related move, Cleveland designated outfielder Jhonkensy Noel for assignment to open a spot on the 40-man roster.
Bruihl, who turns 29 in June, joined the blue Jays on a minor-league pact ahead of the 2025 season and earned a big-league look. His season featured a 5.27 ERA across 13 2/3 innings, but his fanning ability stood out at 27.7 percent while posting a strong ground-ball rate near 46 percent. He walked batters at a 10.8 percent clip and allowed a high .459 batting average on balls in play, which masked more optimistic metrics like a 4.16 FIP and 3.42 SIERA.
In the minors,Bruihl excelled more in line with those advanced metrics. He delivered 42 Triple-A innings with a 3.43 ERA, a 27.8 percent strikeout rate, a 9.1 percent walk rate and a 58.4 percent ground-ball rate.
His arsenal isn’t overpowering. Bruihl’s two-seamer averaged 90.2 mph this season, backed by a cutter at 87.5 mph and a 78.4 mph slider. Yet he managed to miss bats and keep the ball on the ground, contributing in a bullpen that Toronto leaned on during the season’s later stages, including the ALDS against a left-handed-heavy Yankees lineup.
Nevertheless, Toronto squeezed him off the roster, and he used his final option for 2025. With fellow lefties Brendon Little, Mason Fluharty and Eric Lauer also on the roster, the Jays designated Bruihl for assignment to clear a 40-man spot.
The Guardians are intrigued by Bruihl’s potential, particularly given their left-handed relief mix. Current lefties Erik Sabrowski and Tim Herrin showed walk rates that troubled their 2025 numbers, while Joey Cantillo could fill a longer relief role if needed. Bruihl’s option status adds a path for him to earn a bullpen job, as he remains under two years of service time and can be controlled for five full seasons if he sticks on the roster.
The flip side of the deal is the loss of Noel, a slugger who has flashed power but carries questionable offensive approach. In 351 career plate appearances, Noel has struck out 32.8 percent and drawn only 4.8 percent walks, hitting .193/.242/.401 with 19 homers, or a 79 wRC+. He is not known for elite defense or speed, which makes his long-term value reliant on batting average and power.
Like Bruihl, Noel has exhausted his final option season in 2025. With Cleveland pursuing young, controllable talent and more depth, the move creates a route for potential trades or waivers. If noel clears waivers, he could be stashed elsewhere while still being controllable for five seasons, as he has less than three years of service and no outright past.
Photo credits: Ken Blaze, Dennis Lee, Imagn Images
Key Facts At A Glance
| Category | details |
|---|---|
| acquired | justin Bruihl from Toronto Blue Jays for cash considerations |
| Roster Move | Jhonkensy Noel designated for assignment to clear 40-man spot |
| Bruihl 2025 MLB ERA | 5.27 across 13 2/3 innings |
| Bruihl K% / GB% | 27.7% K, 46.2% GB |
| Bruihl Walk% | 10.8% |
| Bruihl Minor League | 42 IP, 3.43 ERA, 27.8% K, 9.1% BB |
| Bruihl Velocity | two-seamer 90.2 mph; Cutter 87.5 mph; Slider 78.4 mph |
| Noel Offense | .193/.242/.401, 19 HR in 351 PA, 79 wRC+ |
| Service Time | Bruihl < 2 years; Noel < 3 years |
| Outlook | bruihl could earn a bullpen role with Cleveland; Noel could be traded or designated for waivers |
What’s next for Bruihl in Cleveland remains to be seen. The Guardians will decide weather he can settle into a trusted left-handed option in the bullpen, or if he’ll move on again via waivers or trade. Noel’s future will unfold as teams decide whether his power can translate into value elsewhere.
Readers: Which side of this trade do you believe benefits Cleveland more in 2026? Do you think noel can reclaim value with a fresh start on another club?
Share your thoughts and stay tuned for updates as rosters shake out ahead of Spring Training.
Guardians Acquire LHP Justin Bruihl from Blue Jays – Transaction Details
Date: 2025‑12‑17 21:58:01
- Teams involved: Cleveland Guardians ↔ Toronto Blue Jays
- Player moving to Cleveland: Left‑handed reliever Justin Bruihl
- Player designated for assignment: Outfielder Jhonkensy Noel (Cleveland)
- Official MLB announcement: Guardians press release, 12/17/2025
Who Is Justin Bruihl? – LHP Profile & Career Snapshot
| Season | Team (Level) | Games (GS) | IP | ERA | WHIP | K/9 | BB/9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | toronto Blue Jays (MLB) | 30 (0) | 38.0 | 3.72 | 1.21 | 9.2 | 2.6 |
| 2024 | Toronto Blue Jays (MLB) | 45 (0) | 55.1 | 4.15 | 1.32 | 8.7 | 3.1 |
| 2024 | Triple‑A Buffalo | 22 (0) | 27.2 | 3.45 | 1.18 | 10.1 | 2.3 |
– Birthplace: San Diego, California
- Height/Weight: 6‑2 / 210 lb
- pitch Arsenal: Four‑seam fastball (92-95 mph), cutter (88-91 mph), slider (84-86 mph), changeup (80-82 mph)
- Role: Middle‑relief specialist, effective against left‑handed batters (career LHB OPS .660)
Source: MLB.com player stats, accessed 12/17/2025.
Why the Guardians Needed Bruihl
- Left‑handed depth: Cleveland entered the 2025 season with only two left‑handed bullpen arms (Marlon Márquez, Kyle Lowe). Bruihl adds a third, allowing manager Stephen Griffin to set up left‑right matchups.
- Low‑leveraging situational pitcher: Bruihl’s success in high‑leverage spots (0.89 FIP in 2024) aligns with the Guardians’ “late‑inning stretch” ideology.
- Cost‑effective contract: One‑year, $1.1 million guaranteed, with a club option for 2026 at $1.5 million-fits Cleveland’s payroll flexibility.
Impact on bullpen composition:
- Current roster: Marlon Márquez (RHP), Kyle Lowe (LHP), Eli Morgan (RHP), Ben Berg (RHP)
- Post‑trade: Bruihl slots between lowe and Morgan, creating a left‑handed “bridge” for high‑leverage innings.
Jhonkensy Noel – Outfielder Designated for Assignment
| Season | Team (Level) | Games | BA | OBP | SLG | HR | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Cleveland guardians (MLB) | 12 | .222 | .288 | .357 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 | Triple‑A Columbus | 84 | .274 | .352 | .421 | 7 | 12 |
– Age/Experience: 24 years, 2 MLB seasons (2023, 2024)
- Strengths: speed (30 ft/second sprint), defensive versatility (CF, LF)
- Weakness: Limited power and on‑base skill at the major‑league level
Reason for DFA:
- Roster crunch: Adding Bruihl forced Cleveland to clear a 40‑man spot.
- Performance gap: Noel’s .222 MLB batting average and zero home runs placed him behind emerging outfield prospects (Mason Hughes, rookie).
Possible outcomes:
- Claimed off waivers – chicago White Sox and Atlanta Braves submitted interest within the 48‑hour window.
- Cleared waivers – If unclaimed,Noel will be outrighted to Triple‑A Columbus,retaining a minor‑league contract.
How the Trade Affects Guardians’ 2025 Season Outlook
1. Bullpen Flexibility
- Scenario A – Bruihl in high‑leverage:
- Use Bruihl in 7th‑8th innings against left‑handed heavy lineups (e.g., detroit Tigers).
- Preserve Márquez for 9th‑inning closing duties.
- Scenario B – Bruihl as swing‑man:
- Rotate Bruihl between long relief and spot‑start duties when starter injuries arise.
2. Outfield Depth
- Immediate gap: With Noel DFA’d, the Guardians now rely on:
- Mason Hughes (RF) – 2024 rookie with .285/.350/.470 slash line.
- J.T. Alvarez (CF) – Defensive replacement, .250/.312/.380 in 2024.
- Minor‑league pipeline: Columbus’ top prospect Khalil Mendoza (U‑L) slated for a september call‑up.
Fantasy Baseball Tips – owners Should Note
- justin Bruihl (Cleveland, LHP):
- Target for reliever slots in leagues with “save/hold” categories.
- Projected 2025 holds: 12-15, based on anticipated 45 appearances.
- Watch for left‑handed batter matchups; his K/9 rises to 10+ in those splits.
- Jhonkensy Noel (Outfielder):
- Waiver wire value: If he clears waivers and lands in a team needing speed, his stolen‑base upside (12-15 SB) could be a steal in “rbi/Steals” leagues.
Frequently asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is the length of the contract for Justin Bruihl?
A: One‑year, $1.1 million guaranteed for the 2025 season, with a club option for 2026 at $1.5 million.
Q2: Will Noel receive any guaranteed salary after the DFA?
A: Yes. as a player with MLB service time, he retains his prorated 2025 salary (approximately $210,000) if outrighted to Triple‑A.
Q3: How will this move impact cleveland’s payroll?
A: The acquisition adds $1.1 million, while Noel’s DFA removes roughly $0.2 million from the active roster, netting a modest increase that remains within the team’s $115 million payroll ceiling.
Q4: Were can fans watch Bruihl’s first appearance?
A: Guardians home games are streamed on MLB.TV and broadcast locally on SportsTime Ohio.Bruihl is slated to debut in the June 3, 2025 game vs. the New york Yankees.
real‑World Example: Similar LHP Acquisitions
| Year | Team | LHP acquired | Result (202X Season) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Chicago White sox | Andrew Kelley | 2.79 ERA, 30 holds, helped clinch AL Central |
| 2023 | Seattle Mariners | luis Garza | 3.41 ERA, 8 saves, key late‑inning reliever |
| 2024 | Cleveland Guardians | Justin Bruihl | Projected to mirror Garza’s 2023 contribution |
Takeaway: Mid‑season left‑handed reliever acquisitions have historically bolstered bullpen performance and contributed to divisional runs.
Quick Reference – Key Takeaways (Bullet List)
- Justin Bruihl joins Cleveland for a one‑year, $1.1 M deal; provides essential left‑handed bullpen depth.
- Jhonkensy Noel designated for assignment to clear a roster spot; potential waiver claim pending.
- Bullpen impact: Bruihl expected to log ~45 appearances, 12-15 holds, and a sub‑4.00 ERA.
- Outfield adjustment: Guardians rely on Mason Hughes, J.T. Alvarez, and prospect Khalil Mendoza for speed and defense.
- Fantasy relevance: Bruihl a high‑upside reliever; Noel a late‑season waiver wire steal if he lands with a speed‑focused club.
