Codi Heuer Signs Minor League Deal with Guardians

The Guardians are in agreement with reliever Codi Heuer on a minor league contract, according to the MLB.com transaction log. Heuer will be in camp as a non-roster invitee. This year, Heuer resurfaced in the majors for the first time since 2021.

He was on a minor league deal with Texas that led to his selection onto the MLB roster in June. He pitched once for the Rangers before being optioned back to Triple-A. That was his only appearance with Texas, but they traded him to the Tigers for cash at the trade deadline.

Heuer made two appearances with Detroit before being released in September. The 29-year-old pitched a total of 4 2/3 innings, allowing three runs, striking out five, and walking two batters. Heuer performed well in Triple-A, combining for a 3.14 earned run average while striking out over 30% of batters faced across 48 2/3 innings.

He maintained a ground ball rate of 48.3% and a league average walk rate of 8.4%. Early in his career with the White Sox, Heuer showed promise as a high-leverage bullpen piece, posting a 1.52 ERA and a 27% strikeout rate during his rookie season in 2020.

However, his performance declined the following year, especially after being traded to the Cubs, coinciding with significant elbow injuries. Heuer underwent Tommy John surgery in 2022 and broke his elbow while rehabbing in June 2023.

He has made only 15 minor league appearances between 2022 and 2024. Despite the setbacks, a healthy 2025 season itself would be a significant achievement. His fastball velocity is now in the 94 to 95 MPH range, and his slider averages around 84 MPH, four ticks below its previous velocity.

Nevertheless, his success in Triple-A makes him a sensible addition for a Cleveland team looking to add depth to their bullpen.