In an interesting move, the Cleveland Guardians have released right-hander Cody Bolton, according to the MLB.com transaction log. This decision came after Bolton was designated for assignment last week, a roster shuffle required to free up space for David Fry’s return from the injured list.
Bolton had been spending time on the injured list with Cleveland’s Triple-A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers. The Guardians faced a decision: they could have shifted him to the MLB 60-day injured list, but that would have meant footing the bill for the prorated $760,000 minimum salary until his return to health. Instead, they chose the option of designating him for assignment, which paved the way for his eventual release, as MLB rules prohibit placing injured players on outright waivers.
The road that brought Bolton to Cleveland began with a cash trade from the Seattle Mariners back in April. During his brief stint with the Guardians, Bolton took the mound just once, pitching two innings and conceding three runs from four hits. Over in Triple-A action, he managed to record four innings, allowing two runs while striking out five batters. His MLB journey has also included stops with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Seattle Mariners, where he accumulated a 5.79 ERA across 42 innings.
Details surrounding Bolton’s injury remain under wraps. In scenarios like his, it’s not uncommon for teams to express interest in re-signing a released player under a minor league contract. This approach secures the player within the organization without occupying a valuable 40-man roster spot or incurring an MLB-level salary. While the Guardians might consider this strategy for Bolton, the pitcher is now free to test the waters of free agency and explore other opportunities if he chooses.
The coming weeks will be telling as Bolton weighs his options, whether it involves rejoining the Guardians’ fold or carving out a new path in his professional journey. For Cleveland, it’s another small piece in the dynamic puzzle of managing a competitive roster.
