Guardians Pitchers Brogdon and Hernández Elect Free Agency

Connor Brogdon and Carlos Hernández have entered free agency after being outrighted off the Cleveland roster.

Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Baseball

Guardians Pitchers Brogdon and Hernández Elect Free Agency

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Should professional athletes prioritize health recovery over pushing to return to the active roster?

Pitchers Connor Brogdon and Carlos Hernández elected free agency after being removed from the Cleveland Guardians' major league roster. Both players spent time with the organization during the 2026 season before their recent departure.

Why it matters

The move allows both players to pursue new opportunities with other organizations rather than remaining in the minor leagues. It clears spots on the Guardians' 40-man roster as the team looks toward the next season.

Connor Brogdon posted a 5.06 ERA across 16 appearances for the Guardians, while Carlos Hernández made two appearances for the team. Hernández, whose career-best ERA was 3.68 in 2021, reached fastball speeds of 98 mph.

The players

Connor Brogdon

He is a professional baseball pitcher who previously signed a $900,000 contract with the Cleveland organization.

Carlos Hernández

He is a professional baseball pitcher from Venezuela who returned to the roster late in the season after a serious injury.

Cleveland Guardians

This is a professional Major League Baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio.

The details

Brogdon had previously signed a $900,000 contract with the team last winter following a stretch where he held a 3.36 ERA from 2021-22. Hernández returned to action in September after recovering from a car crash in January 2026 that resulted in a fractured right leg and left arm.

Carlos Hernández was involved in a car crash in January 2026.
The Guardians selected the contract of Carlos Hernández on September 1, 2026.
The Guardians outrighted Connor Brogdon in late September 2026.
Brogdon and Hernández elected free agency during the week of October 20, 2026.

Season Trajectory

This transaction reflects the standard offseason roster churn following Major League Baseball's Rule 55-A regarding roster outrights. By declining minor league assignments, these players are shifting their careers away from the current organization to seek new opportunities elsewhere.

The departure of these two pitchers opens two spots on the Guardians' 40-man roster. This move gives the front office greater flexibility to add new talent through trades or free agency during the upcoming winter months.

The takeaway

The transition of these players into free agency marks the beginning of organizational restructuring for the team. Fans and analysts should monitor the team's upcoming roster additions to see how these vacated spots are utilized.