As we head into the long offseason for the Guardians, we will soon see the team begin to make moves related to their 40-man roster. Let’s take a look at the decisiosn
Clear Roster Locks for 2026 (Unless
traded for other roster pieces):
Jose Ramirez, SH 3B – Give him another extension
Gavin Williams, RHP – Boras client, Shmoras client, try for an extension
Tanner Bibee, RHP – So encouraged by his September
Chase DeLauter, LHH OF – Looking like he will be the starting centerfielder at the moment.
Parker Messick, LHP – What a bulldog. I think he’s got front of the rotation potential.
Joey Cantillo, LHP – I’d like him in that 3rd or 4th rotation spot.
George Valera, LHH OF – What a great September and playoffs for George. Primary right-fielder for 2026.
Slade Cecconi, RHP – Only going to get better with another offseason in this system
Kyle Manzardo, LHH DH/1B – Has some resting and working to do, but should be a key lineup piece for years.
Cade Smith, RHrP – Best set-up man in baseball transitioned to becoming one of the best closers.
Steven Kwan, LHH OF – A trade is possible, but maybe he’s willing to consider a reasonable extension.
C.J. Kayfus, LHH 1B/RF – I’d like to upgrade at first base, but Kayfus looks to have solid average hitter/good fielder floor there. He can also be in the corner outfield mix or dangled as a good trade piece as needed. He had good splits vs. LHP in the minors, so, if he’s here, he should start at first every day.
Erik Sabrowski, LHrP – Dominant high leverage arm.
Hunter Gaddis, RHrP – See above.
Juan Brito, SH 2B/RF/1B – After an injury-plagued 2025, will look to be healthy to take the second base job.
Brayan Rocchio, SH MIF – I give Rocchio the edge at the battle for shortstop given his strong 2nd half.
David Fry, RHH C/1B/RF – Rough year for Fry but he should be a strong right-handed bench bat and a way to help the team give Hedges (who should be back) too many at-bats.
Matt Festa, RHrP – Solid middle reliever.
Tim Herrin, LHrP – Great to see Herrin find himself when the games mattered most.
Kolby Allard, LHrP – Not sure how he does it, but Allard has shown himself a reliable longman.
Logan Allen, LHP – Allen is a solid fifth starter. I think the team should explore a trade here, but he is a solid piece to have around through Spring Training – at least – to insure in case of pitcher injuries.
Petey Halpin, LHH CF – Halpin showed some brilliance in limited opportunities. This is a useful bench player.
Franco Aleman, RHrP – A bad year for Aleman, but the stuff is still there and he should get another opportunity to try to command his stuff.
Daniel Espino, RHP – If Espino can emerge from the Arizona Fall League healthy… that will be very exciting. I suspect he is probably moved to a relief role, but we will see.
Andrew Walters, RHrP – Walters should theoretically be available toward the beginning of the year. If healthy and returned to form, he would be a huge piece for the backend of the Guardians’ pen.
Angel Martinez, SH OF/2B – I would like the team to have Angel drop the switch-hitting and just bat right-handed. He has value as a roving outfielder who can hit lefties, as it is, but needs to work on defense and hitting RHP.
Expendable Players (Should be traded or cut if better options are available but fine to hold if not):
John Means, LHP – I am certainly not opposed to picking up Means’ $6 million option for 2026, but I am also not opposed to letting him walk. Whatever the team decides has my support.
Ben Lively, RHP – I’d like to see Lively in the Guardians’ bullpen, but I suspect he is brought along slowly and may be traded, depending on other pitchers’ health.
Doug Nikhazy, LHP – Nikhazy may be looking at a relief role to help in the big leagues after a bad year as a starter.
Gabriel Arias, RHH IF – I don’t think there is any doubt that Arias is a good fielding shortstop who will put up 85-90 wRC+ every year. I don’t think that’s good enough to be a starter.
Daniel Schneemann, LHH IF – Schneemann is similar to Arias in hitter production, but he can play almost any infield or outfield position at an above-average defensive level and that’s why I’d lean toward retaining him if possible.
Jhonkensy Noel, RHH RF/1B – Jhonk had a 4 wRC+ through June and an 84 wRC+ July-September. The latter is something you can dream on… the former is not. With how young Noel still is, I can see an argument for him getting one last run at being a right-handed bench bat, but it just doesn’t seem like he’s going to his power often enough to make that work.
Johnathan Rodriguez, RHH DH – I’d prefer to move on from Rodriguez. He can hit but he is the most deplorable fielder I have ever seen and should probably only play DH vs. LHP. A tough role to find in the majors.
Sam Hentges, LHrP – After Tommy John AND a knee surgery, sadly, it may be time for the team to see if they can get Hentges through waivers or traded. I’d love for him to make it back to the Guardians, though.
Players Who Should Be Cut or Traded:
Matt Krook, LHrP – I am unsure why he is here.
Zak Kent, RHrP – Props to Kent for throwing well a few times late in the year. He is not a longterm piece.
Will Wilson, RHH IF – No more Will Wilson at-bats, please.
Will Brennan, LHH OF – With the rise of players like DeLauter, Valera and Halpin, I don’t see a role for Brennan, but he does have an option remaining and is reliably average vs. RHP, so he may stick around for a bit.
Nolan Jones, LHH OF – They’ve gotta move on from Jones. He may even be available for them on a minor-league deal if they are still enamored with his potential.
Players Who Should Be Added Ahead of the Rule Five Draft (Or Traded):
Angel Genao, SH SS – Genao still has major league shortstop potential and should be protected.
Yorman Gomez, RHP – Gomez showed enough to make his floor of a solid major league reliever pretty clear.
Austin Peterson, RHP – Peterson is a solid fifth starter on a big league club now and can still grow into a little more.
Kahlil Watson, LHH CF – After his first 10 games at Triple-A, Watson put up a 153 wRC+ to end the year. There is a path where Watson seizes the centerfield job in spring training and moves DeLauter to right and Valera to DH. Hard not to wonder about Watson’s 25.5% strikeout tate over that last month of baseball, still, but this is a player you have to either protect or trade.
Depending on what they show in Arizona Fall League: Wuilfredo Antunez, RHH OF and/or Steven Perez, LHP (both signed minor-league deals but can still be chosen in the Rule 5).
Free Agents:
Austin Hedges, RHH C – Mark him down for a return on another $4 million deal.
Jakob Junis, RHrP – I’d love for Junis to return, but I suspect he’s priced himself out of Cleveland on their usual one-year deal preference.
Lane Thomas, RHH OF – Could definitely see Cleveland giving Thomas the 1-year, $5-7 million pillow deal to prove himself as a lefty-masher who can play anywhere in the outfield, again. And I am fine with that.
Players Whom I Want to Keep At All Costs But I Just Don’t Know If They Will:
Nic Enright, RHrP – Likely getting Tommy John, I am not sure if the Guardians will carry Enright the whole offseason just in hopes he can help in 2027. But, I really hope they find a way to do that. Enright is such an amazing story and was incredible as a relief pitcher in 2025.
So, counting the locks, the Rule 5 adds (definites), three returning free agents (just because) and Nic Enright, that’s 34, leaving six spaces on the roster for either some of the players still listed above or outside additions.
Over the next month, our writing team will be evaluating each Guardians’ player’s 2025 season and looking ahead to 2026. Ahead of those pieces, this article is a primary on the decisions the Cleveland front office will have to make with those plaers. Let’s see how Paul Dolan, Chris Antonetti and co. handle the months ahead.
