The Cleveland Guardians are aiming for a better season in 2026, and to achieve that, they are reportedly close to finalizing the signing of reliever Colin Holderman, who until recently played alongside Andrew McCutchen in Pittsburgh for nearly four years with the Pirates.
The report comes from Robert Murray: “Free-agent reliever Colin Holderman and the Cleveland Guardians are in agreement on a one-year contract, according to sources familiar with the deal,” he wrote, though he did not disclose how much the 30-year-old pitcher, who has appeared in 161 career games, mostly with the Pirates, might be paid.
Last season, Holderman appeared in only 24 games with the Pirates, posting a 7.01 ERA. It was known since May 2025 that he was dealing with a thumb injury, and upon his return in June, he was pitching for Single-A Brandenton.
How much will the Guardians pay Holderman?
According to Spotrac, Holderman will have a salary of $1.5 million with the Guardians, the same amount of money he earned in his final season with the Pirates. This will be his second contract over the million-dollar mark, as his salary was $755,000 per season until 2024.
Holderman has known Andrew McCutchen since 2023, when the veteran returned to Pittsburgh. However, the reliever arrived in 2022 and contributed to the team with a total of 146 major league appearances. His career ERA, including 15 games with the Mets, stands at 4.13.
The Guardians are clearly undertaking a form of bullpen reconstruction, and an experienced arm like Holderman’s could be very beneficial to the team. He will join fellow relievers such as Matt Festa and Connor Brogdon, who are also on one-year contracts.