Locked On Indians

Cleveland Guardians face a seismic bullpen shakeup as Emmanuel Clase’s future with the team ends abruptly—should Cade Smith remain the closer, or will the front office secure a proven arm to shore up late-game situations? Justin Lada and Jeff Ellis dissect the state of the Guardians bullpen heading into 2026, weighing internal options like wild card Daniel Espino against intriguing free agent targets such as Devin Williams, Phil Maton, and Ryan Helsley. The show dives into sharp takes on contract extensions, arbitration strategies, Rule 5 concerns, and which young arms might break through next season. Will the Guardians double down on development or make a splash in the reliever market? Find out how these roster moves could redefine Cleveland’s bullpen and playoff aspirations. 00:00 Guardians Bullpen & Free Agents06:27 Extend Cade Smith This Offseason13:08 Guardians Bullpen Struggles Persist14:13 Daniel Espino - Reliever or Starter?18:17 Roster Speculations and Relief Prospects24:43 Hunter Harvey Underval