Guardians designate 2 players for assignment
The Guardians designated first baseman Bobby Bradley and left-handed pitcher Logan Allen for assignment ahead of the deadline for teams to trim their active rosters to 26 players.
Teams around baseball had been operating with 28 players after the shortened spring.
Reliever Anthony Castro was also activated off the injured list and optioned to the Clippers.
Bradley had lost any real path to atbats with Owen Miller emerging as a must-start on a daily basis and Josh Naylor being available at first base or right field every day. Bradley, a lefty like Naylor, was behind both on the depth chart.
Bradley was handed the first base job in 2021 following Jake Bauer's failed extended tryout to begin the season. He hit 16 home runs in 245 at-bats last season, but it was accompanied with 99 strikeouts.
Bradley entered 2022 out of minor league options and never did much to show the Guardians any glimpses of improvement. He struggled this spring and then went 2-for-17 in the regular season with nine strikeouts.
Allen this season gave up three runs and nine hits and struck out six in six innings out of the bullpen.
Allen had some high points in 2021 but ended the season with a 6.26 ERA in 50 1/3 innings.
The Guardians opened the season with a few key players no longer holding minor league options, a list that included Bradley, Allen, Bradley Zimmer, Oscar Mercado and Yu Chang. The first three on that list are already gone or, now, designated for assignment. The Guardians now have a short time to either trade Bradley and Allen or expose them to waivers.
Bradley Zimmer was traded on Opening Day for Castro due to Steven Kwan stepping into an every-day role. Bradley was shut out by Miller and Naylor's hot starts. Allen was bypassed by a few options, including Enyel De Los Santos. Mercado remains on the roster but hasn't done much to make his case, hitting just .197 in 61 at-bats. Chang remains on the injured list after missing time with COVID.