Cade Smith
#36 RP · Guardians
Height
6'5"
Weight
230 lbs
Age
27
College
N/A
Experience
2 yrs
Bats/Throws
R/R
A+
A+
N/A
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The Verdict on Cade, in One Read
On the field, Cade Smith grades out as an excellent RP for Guardians (A+ Performance). That places him 18th of 389 graded relief pitchers. The public read is very positive (A+ Sentiment), drawn from current news and social signal rather than the box score.
Career StatsA+
| Year | Team | GP | ERA | W-L | K | WHIP | IP | SV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career |  | 177 | 2.445283 | 16-6 | 249 | 0.9735849 | 0.0 | 37 |
| 2026 | | 28 | 2.83 | 2-0 | 43 | 1.08 | 28.2 | 21 |
| 2025 |
Current Contract
Length
1 year
AAV
$780K/yr
Performance Analysis
A+
FCA+
Cade Smith grades a A+ performance mark, with his All-Star caliber stretches anchoring the read. The 27-year-old right-hander has established himself as one of baseball's most dominant relief arms, operating at the elite end of the closer spectrum after a career-defining 2025 season that vaulted him into league-wide conversation. His 43 strikeouts across 28 games in the 2026 season showcases the kind of high-velocity, high-leverage production that has made him the Guardians' most trusted arm in tight situations. While his 2-win ledger reflects the thankless nature of relief pitching—where wins accrue slowly regardless of dominance—his strikeout rate and consistent appearances underscore both the volume and quality of his work this year. On a rookie-scale deal worth $780K annually, Smith represents one of baseball's best value propositions: an elite performer locked into minimal financial commitment during his prime developmental window. At the third-year stage, he's already transcended typical relief-prospect trajectory and is now operating as a franchise cornerstone in the bullpen, with the intensity and high-leverage mettle to anchor a contender's postseason run.
Fan & Media Sentiment
A+
Very Positive
NegativeNeutralPositive
Cade Smith, a relief pitcher for the Guardians, carries mixed-to-positive public sentiment based on their elite production. His A+ performance grade positions him among the elite at the relief pitcher position. While he has yet to earn major individual awards, his contributions to the Guardians keep him in the conversation. On a contract worth $780K/year, minimal financial investment means any production is viewed favorably. Fan sentiment leans positive overall, though some segments remain watchful for more sustained production before fully buying in. At 26, he has significant runway for development, and the baseball community will be watching closely for continued growth.
How Cade Compares at the Position
Cade Smith ranks 18th of 389 graded relief pitchers by performance. That slots Cade between Austin Warren (A+) just ahead and Adrian Morejon (A) just behind.
Graded higher
Austin WarrenMetsA+Ron MarinaccioPadresA+Orion KerkeringPhilliesA+Cade SmithA+
Graded lower
Adrian MorejonPadresRecent Games
| Date | OPP | Result | AB | H | R | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, 6/8 | vs NYY | L 5-7 | - | - | - | 0 | - | - | - |
| Wed, 6/3 | @ NYY | W 5-4 | - | - | - | 0 | - | - | - |
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About this player
Cade Smith is a player in his 2nd MLB season listed at RP for the Guardians. FanVerdicts covers every MLB player, team, GM, and transaction — and puts your verdict on all of it. Sign in to cast your Fan Verdict on Cade Smith, see where the crowd lands, and argue the call. FanVerdicts also brings its own read — performance, sentiment, and Contract Value Index — as one honest input alongside the crowd's. Where FanVerdicts has weighed in so far: Performance A+, Sentiment A+.
The crowd's Fan Verdict moves in real time as fans vote on this profile. FanVerdicts' own read updates as new data lands — performance recalculates when MLB game stats post, sentiment shifts with media coverage and fan discussion, and the Contract Value Index recomputes when contract terms change. Contract details below show the structure (years, total value, average annual value, guarantees) behind the Contract Value Index read.
For league-wide context, the MLB hub has team rankings, GM report cards, the transactions feed, and live scoreboards. The MLB player rankings page sorts every active player by performance and contract value within their position.