Right-hander Jakob Junis and the Cleveland Guardians have agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract, sources told ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel on Thursday, providing versatility to a pitching staff ravaged by starting injuries last season.
The 32-year-old Junis, whose slider has excelled in both starting and relief positions, completed last season with a 2.69 ERA in 67 innings, walking only eight and striking out 51.
Junis was almost exclusively a starter during his first five seasons with Kansas City, but he proved to be a dependable swingman for two years with San Francisco and in 2024 with Milwaukee and Cincinnati, when he was traded at the deadline.
Cleveland spent the winter attempting to rebuild a pitching staff with starting depth to match its bullpen dominance. The Guardians had the greatest reliever ERA in the majors by more than half a point last season, but their starters had an ERA of 4.40, placing 24th.
Last season, the Guardians used 14 different starters, with ace Shane Bieber out due to Tommy John surgery, injuries and ineffectiveness limiting young starters Gavin Williams, Triston McKenzie, and Logan Allen, and Cleveland relying on late-season additions Matthew Boyd and Alex Cobb to pitch crucial playoff innings during a run to the American League Championship Series.
The Guardians re-signed Bieber, who will pitch again later this season, to join Tanner Bibee at the top of the rotation, traded for right-handers Luis Ortiz and Slade Cecconi, and returned workhorses Ben Lively, Williams, McKenzie, Allen, and Joey Cantillo.
