McKenzie, Cantillo head to Triple-A as Guardians look for bullpen help

CLEVELAND -- Triston McKenzie is sticking around. McKenzie, whom the Guardians designated for assignment on April 21, has cleared waivers and accepted his outright assignment to Triple-A Columbus.

With his DFA last week, McKenzie was removed from the Guardians’ 40-man roster, and Cleveland had seven days to trade him or place him on outright or unconditional release waivers. After he went unclaimed, McKenzie had the option to not accept the outright to Columbus, which would have made him a free agent.

Instead, his tenure with the Guardians organization -- which began in 2015 when Cleveland selected him 42nd overall in the MLB Draft -- will continue.

McKenzie was out of Minor League options this season, and he made the Guardians’ Opening Day roster as a long reliever after almost exclusively starting from 2020-24. He struggled in limited duty while almost exclusively pitching in mop-up duty (11.12 ERA in 5 2/3 innings over four appearances). Each of McKenzie’s appearances came with at least four days between them.

When the Guardians needed a fresh arm in their bullpen last week, they made what manager Stephen Vogt called a "difficult decision” to DFA McKenzie -- a well-liked player in the clubhouse and community.

“As you saw, it was really difficult to find innings for Triston,” Vogt said last Monday. “And that’s really what led to the decision. With the way our bullpen’s throwing the ball, it was tough. When someone's out of options, it isn't easy. It's not perfect, but this is why sometimes you have to make these really difficult decisions.”

McKenzie was one of the most promising young starters in the Majors as recently as 2022, when he recorded a 2.96 ERA in 31 games (30 starts) on a surprise Guardians team that reached the postseason. He made just four starts in 2023 after suffering a right elbow sprain, which he opted to rest and rehab instead of undergoing surgery.

McKenzie made 16 starts last season and recorded a 5.11 ERA, leading to his option to Columbus on June 30. He spent the rest of the season with the Clippers, and competed for the Guardian’s fifth-starter job this spring with Logan Allen, who eventually won the spot.

Cantillo down, Bolton up
The Guardians optioned lefty Joey Cantillo to Columbus on Monday and recalled right-hander Cody Bolton -- whom they acquired from the Mariners for cash on April 8. Cleveland needed a fresh arm out of its bullpen amid a grueling stretch on the schedule.

The Guardians played nine straight days before Thursday’s off-day last week as well as a doubleheader on Saturday. They’re scheduled to play each of the next eight days, following Monday’s series opener against the Twins. Cantillo (who has a 2.35 ERA in 15 1/3 innings over 11 appearances this season) has Minor League options and threw 55 pitches in Sunday’s loss to the Red Sox, hence the move.

“It's never fun to send someone like Joey out,” Vogt said. “He’s been throwing the ball really well, but it's just where we're at. Joey understood. [He] didn't like it, but understood, and said, ‘I'll stay ready.’ No doubt about that. We know Joey will be back with us soon.”

Cantillo had been almost exclusively a starter before this season but made Cleveland’s Opening Day roster as a reliever. Vogt noted the plan right now is for his role to remain the same.

“Obviously, we haven't closed the book on Joey being a starter again at any point,” Vogt said. “But for where we are right now in the season, Joey is really valuable in the role that he's been playing for us.”

Bolton has allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits in six innings over six relief appearances with Columbus. He’s made 33 career big league appearances (all in relief), including 17 with Seattle last season, when he recorded a 4.34 ERA over 18 2/3 innings.

“He's got really good stuff,” Vogt said of Bolton. “For him, it's all about strike-throwing. He's a guy that can give us up to two innings, some length, which is what we needed coming out of the weekend.”

Sewald exits
Paul Sewald exited Monday’s game against the Twins in the fifth inning with right shoulder inflammation.

Sewald fired a 90.7 mph four-seam fastball to Ryan Jeffers in the fifth inning Monday and immediately appeared in discomfort. He signaled to the Guardians’ dugout and exited with a trainer shortly after.

“He's going to get some more testing tomorrow,” Vogt said Monday night, after the Guardians’ 11-1 loss to the Twins. “We should know more tomorrow.”

Sewald is in his first season with Cleveland, and he has a 6.17 ERA in 11 2/3 innings over 14 appearances, which is tied with Cade Smith for the team lead. The 34-year-old has added a veteran presence to the Guardians’ bullpen for the middle-to-late innings, and Sewald has pitched in a variety of situations. His appearances have spanned the fifth through 10th innings.