2026 Transactions: Rays, Guardians Made Moves Ahead of ALCS

Both the Guardians and Rays had to finalize their ALCS rosters on October 12. The two clubs each made one substitution. Cleveland added a pitcher with both starting and relieving experience, while the Rays added Brody Hopkins, who has one of the hardest baseballs in the game right now.

Rays add hard-throwing reliever

The Rays added reliever Brody Hopkins to the active roster before the start of the ALCS on October 12.

Hopkins worked 5.1 IP during the regular season after the Rays promoted him to the big-league roster in mid-September. The right-hander only allowed two hits but walks, which were a problem in Triple-A, did prove to be an issue for the max-effort pitcher. He conceded six walks.

It’s a shakeup from Tampa Bay, as the club is taking left-hander Garrett Cleavinger off the postseason roster.

Cecconi available for ALCS

As for the Guardians, the club added an additional pitcher to their active roster for the ALCS. That would be Slade Cecconi.

Cecconi worked much of 2026 as a starter for Cleveland but did pitch in shorter stints down the stretch. The right-hander struck out two over two innings on September 19, and didn’t allow a run against the Athletics in that outing. A week later, he went one scoreless frame against the Kansas City Royals.

The right-hander did not face the Rays at all in the regular season.

Utilityman Daniel Schneemann was deactivated in a corresponding move.