For the second time this year, the Guardians are parting ways with Pedro Avila. The right-hander signed a minor league contract with Cleveland in December, and the team granted him his release when he failed to make the Opening Day roster. Less than a week later, the two sides came together on a new minor league deal. Today, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports that Avila has exercised an opt-out clause in his contract, once again prompting his release. He is now a free agent.

Avila, 29, played for the Padres from 2019 until 2024, when he was traded to the Guardians. He established himself as a full-time major leaguer in mid-2023, and over the next year and a half, he pitched to a 3.59 ERA and 3.97 xFIP in 133 innings (68 games) for San Diego and Cleveland. Despite his success, the Guardians designated Avila for assignment during the 2024-25 offseason, and he went on to spend 2025 with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of NPB. 

In 15 games (14 starts) for the Swallows, Avila pitched to a 4.04 ERA, significantly higher than the 2.97 league average. However, his underlying numbers were closer to average (including a 3.09 FIP), and the Guardians must have liked what they saw. Unfortunately for Avila, his return to affiliated ball hasn’t gone as planned. He threw 60 innings over 15 games (13 starts) for Triple-A Columbus, posting a 7.50 ERA and a 6.72 FIP. His opponents hit .303 with 14 home runs, while his strikeout rate sat at a disappointing 17.2%.

Avila is now free to search for a new team that’s willing to look past his poor 2026 and remember how effective he was from 2023-24. With that said, it wouldn’t be altogether surprising to see him wind back up with the Guardians on a renegotiated minor league deal.