Guardians sign 2.31 ERA pitcher to $5.5 million contract in free agency

Billy Heyen

Guardians sign 2.31 ERA pitcher to $5.5 million contract in free agency image

The Cleveland Guardians are working to replenish their bullpen.

They made a move toward doing that on Thursday, signing relief pitcher Shawn Armstrong to a free agent contract.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the deal is a one-year agreement worth $5.5 million.

It appears to be business well done by the Guardians.

This past season, Armstrong pitched in 71 games for the Texas Rangers and had a 2.31 ERA while opponents hit just.157 against him.

In his MLB career, the 35-year old Armstrong has a 3.82 ERA.

MORE: The Mets keep taking players from the Yankees

He has pitched for the Rays, Orioles, Mariners, Rangers, Cardinals, Cubs, Marlins and... Cleveland.

He began his MLB career with a combined 39 games over three seasons with the then-Indians from 2015-17, putting up a 3.53 ERA.

Armstrong was originally a Guardians draft pick in the 18th round of the 2011 MLB Draft out of East Carolina.

Now, his career has come full circle.

Armstrong strikes out more than a batter an inning in his career and does a good job of limiting home runs. He's exactly what you want in a quality middle reliever.

It seems at least a bit of a bargain for the Guardians to get him for this cost and only need to commit one year to him, even at his age.

Armstrong seems like one of the safest bets out there, and now he's coming back to Cleveland.

More MLB news:

Staff Writer