The Cleveland Guardians are entering the final month of what has been a disappointing and frustrating 2025 season. Heading into September, rosters expand, allowing for more options on the active roster, both in the pitching staff and among position players.
For Cleveland, which is looking for a spark to close out a frustrating season, the roster moves are a time to instill any excitement into the club for the final month of the year.
And according to Zack Meisel of The Athletic, the Guardians are making such exciting moves. They’re making four roster moves, with two of which being very exciting for Guardians fans heading into the final month of a lost season.
Cleveland Provides a Spark in September
The Guardians are calling up three players to the active roster ahead of their series against the Boston Red Sox. Those players are: Jhonkensy Noel, George Valera, and Zak Kent. To make room for the extra player, Will Wilson was reassigned to the minor leagues.
Up: George Valera, Jhonkensy Noel, Zak Kent
Down: Will Wilson
— Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) September 1, 2025
Of these moves, the most exciting is Valera’s promotion to the big leagues. After being one of the top Guardians prospects for years, injuries derailed his big league debut for a while, and he’s finally getting his chance after a long and tumultuous recovery.
Noel is another interesting and exciting addition. The postseason hero from a year ago has struggled in the Majors earlier in the year, hitting just .140 on 107 at-bats. But, with little left to lose to finish out the season, if he can put together a solid final month in the Majors, the Guardians and Noel could build on it heading into the 2026 season.
Kent, meanwhile, isn’t the headliner like Valera or Noel are, as he has a 6.14 ERA in four games with the Guardians this season. But in the minors, he has a 2.84 ERA in 34 games at Triple-A Columbus, and is a solid option for the team in the bullpen.
MORE: Guardians’ 2021 decision coming back to haunt them amid losing skid
Wilson was sent back down to Triple-A after posting a .192 batting average and a .511 OPS in 78 at-bats for the Guardians this season. The 27-year-old heading back to the minors opens the door for Noel and also Valera to get the call to the big leagues.
The Valera call-up is very exciting. He was a former top prospect for the Guardians, but was designated for assignment in the offseason, before returning to the Guardians to make a push to the Majors.
In the minor leagues this season, Valera hit .318 with a .938 OPS across 151 at-bats. He also hit for the cycle and notched seven home runs and 24 RBIs.
It’s an incredible story for the 24-year-old outfielder, as he’s making the Major Leagues after a shaky path to the Majors. But he’s up and will help provide a spark to the Guardians’ offense to finish out a forgettable 2025 season.
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