Guardians sign lefty reliever who made MLB debut with Cubs in 2026

Guardians sign lefty reliever who made MLB debut with Cubs in 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Cleveland Guardians have signed a left-handed reliever who made his Major League debut with the Chicago Cubs this past season.  On Monday, the AL Central club announced that it has agreed to a minor-league deal with Antoine Kelly .  Kelly made one appearance with the Cubs in 2026, throwing 1.1 scoreless innings against the New York Yankees .  Otherwise, he spent the rest of the year at Triple-A with Chicago and the Los Angeles Dodgers , posting a 4.62 ERA with a 23.7% strikeout rate in 50 2/3 innings.  Kelly finished with a 16.7% walk rate in Triple-A, an alarming percentage for someone looking for a full-time job in the Majors.  "It’s not the most alluring track record, but Kelly is a former second-round pick (No. 65 overall to the Brewers in 2019) who has previously drawn praise for a dominant fastball/slider pairing that could make him an elite reliever if he could even get his command up from its currently dismal levels to merely below-average," Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors wrote.  MORE :  Phillies predicted to sign Cubs' $85M former Silver Slugger finalist For the Guardians, there's no real harm in signing Kelly to the minor league pact.  They can invite him to spring training and see if he can improve his command enough to be considered for a bullpen role in Cleveland.  Kelly has one minor league option remaining, allowing the Guardians to move him to and from Triple-A Columbus and Cleveland.  More MLB news: Yankees predicted to sign 39-HR Triple Crown winner to replace disappointing Ryan McMahon MLB trade rumors: 12 players most likely to be traded in 2026 offseason, from Ketel Marte to Jeremy Pena Braves predicted to trade Ronald Acuna Jr. for Phillies' $330M two-time MVP in monster deal Dodgers get major Tarik Skubal free agency update as the offseason is officially underway Mets add infielder who had a .981 OPS at Triple-A for Angels