Guardians Trade 26-Year-Old Outfielder to Orioles for Minor League Pitcher

Cleveland sends Jonathan Rodriguez to Baltimore in a small deal ahead of the season.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 9:10pm

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The Cleveland Guardians have traded 26-year-old outfielder Jonathan Rodriguez to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for minor league pitcher Carter Rustad. Rodriguez had struggled to make an impact at the major league level, batting just .176 with two home runs in 102 at-bats over the past two seasons. The Orioles are hoping to unlock Rodriguez's potential as a right-handed bat who can hit lefty pitchers. In return, the Guardians receive the 24-year-old Rustad, who reached Double-A last season and had a 3.23 ERA across three minor league levels.

Why it matters

This is a minor trade, but it shows the Guardians are willing to make small moves to improve their roster and farm system ahead of the new season. Rodriguez was designated for assignment earlier in the week, indicating he was no longer in their plans. The Orioles are taking a flier on him, while the Guardians get a young pitching prospect in return.

The details

The Guardians traded outfielder Jonathan Rodriguez, a 2017 third-round draft pick, to the Orioles in exchange for minor league pitcher Carter Rustad. Rodriguez had struggled to produce at the major league level, batting just .176 with two home runs in 102 at-bats over the past two seasons. The Orioles are hoping a change of scenery can help Rodriguez tap into his potential as a right-handed bat who can hit lefty pitching. In return, the Guardians receive the 24-year-old Rustad, who was a 15th-round pick out of Mizzou in 2024. Rustad reached Double-A last season and had a 3.23 ERA across three minor league levels in 2025.

  • The trade was completed on Sunday, March 29, 2026.
  • Rodriguez was designated for assignment by the Guardians earlier in the week, paving the way for this trade.

The players

Jonathan Rodriguez

A 26-year-old outfielder who was a third-round draft pick by the Guardians in 2017. He struggled to produce at the major league level, batting .176 with two home runs in 102 at-bats over the past two seasons.

Carter Rustad

A 24-year-old minor league pitcher who was a 15th-round pick by the Orioles in 2024. He reached Double-A last season and had a 3.23 ERA across three minor league levels in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“Guardians are trading outfielder Johnathan Rodriguez to the Orioles for minor-league reliever Carter Rustad”

— Zack Meisel, Reporter

What’s next

The Guardians are expected to assign Rustad to their Double-A affiliate to start the 2026 season.

The takeaway

This is a minor trade, but it shows the Guardians are willing to make small moves to improve their roster and farm system ahead of the new season. Rodriguez was no longer in their plans, so they were able to get a young pitching prospect in return from the Orioles, who are taking a flier on Rodriguez's potential as a right-handed bat.