Guardians DFA struggling infielder after not trading him before deadline

The MLB Trade Deadline was busy for multiple teams, including the Cleveland Guardians. The Guardians had a great deadline, adding players such as Foster Griffin, Jo Adell, Craig Yoho, and Nathaniel Lowe.

Now, the Guardians are making another move, designating for assignment one of their struggling veterans, according to Joey Mistretta of ClutchPoints.

The Guardians have DFA’d Gabriel Arias and recalled Angel Genao.  This opens a seven-day window in which Arias can be claimed on waivers. If no team claims Soler, he can be optioned to the minor leagues. Still, with Arias having over five years of service time, he can reject the minor league assignment, becoming a free agent. If he is claimed, he will jump to the major league roster, and the new team will have control over the three years left on his contract.

The infielder had played just 42 games with the Guardians this year and was hitting just .244 with five home runs and 11 RBIs. Further, Arias struggled heavily against left-handed pitching. He was hitting just .143 against lefties, with 23 strikeouts in just 42 at-bats.

Meanwhile, Angel Genao is the number two prospect in the Guardians system. He signed as an international free agent in 2021 and has steadily worked his way up the ranks. In 2025, he was added to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, but was sent to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers ahead of the 2026 season. In Columbus, he has played 72 games, batting .309 with a .395 on-base percentage. Further, he has ten home runs and 42 RBIs while stealing nine bases.

The Guardians are 57-57 on the season, placing them three games behind the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central. They do control the final wild card spot in the American League, a game ahead of the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers. Genao will make his MLB debut on Wednesday night against the New York Mets.

The post Guardians DFA struggling infielder after not trading him before deadline appeared first on ClutchPoints.