Guardians Re-Sign Workhorse Reliever

He was the man manager Terry Francona turned to more often than anyone else in the Cleveland bullpen last season, and now the Guardians have re-signed reliever Bryan Shaw. In fact, his 81 appearances led the entire major leagues. 

An 11-year veteran, Shaw put together a nice year in his return to Cleveland, posting a 3.49 ERA along with a couple of saves. Shaw had spent five seasons with the team from 2013 through 2017, and overall, has a 3.18 ERA with the organization. 

Unfortunately for him, he decided to sign with the Colorado Rockies as a free agent in 2018, and things took a decided turn for the worse for Shaw in the thin air of Denver. He was hammered in his two years there, to the tune of a 5.61 ERA. 

The 34-year-old brings the veteran experience needed in the Guardians bullpen, who have some young flame-throwing arms, but were in need of a calming veteran presence like Shaw. 

While the signing wasn't announced yet by the team as of Tuesday, Francona wryly noted that "someone saw him out in the tent (where the players eat) and he’s not here for his personality... Read into that what you want.”

Photo Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports