It doesn’t APPEAR the Guardians are making any significant additions to the current roster, so who is here that might be an unexpected help for their pursuit of another division and a World Series title in 2026?
The Guardians can feel free to surprise me with a big trade or notable free agent move, but I’m kinda done hoping for it. So, which players on hand might we be overlooking as players who could offer significant help to their roster in the season ahead (which cannot get here soon enough)?
Stuart
Fairchild, RHH OF – Fairchild has two injury-bug-bitten seasons. If we allow him the cautious optimism of being healthy for this season, let’s look at the last two seasons he was healthy (2022-2023): 112 wRC+ vs LHP and for his career in centerfield has a -1 Defensive Runs Saved and 3 Outs Above Average. Even after some disappointing years at the plate, his overall wRC+ against LHP for his career is 106. If he’s healthy in spring training, he should be worth a look as the 4th outfielder who plays against lefties and can offer legitimate help there.
Will Dion, LHSP, 25 years old – The Guardians could use some starting pitching depth and may add some on minor league deals or Matt Boyd/John Means-type injury recovery deals. But, Guardians fans would do well to not overlook the potential of Will Dion helping in a back of the rotation role. Dion put up a 3.86 FIP and an 8.73/3.66 K/BB/9 last season in almost 100 innings at Columbus. If he can take some additional steps, that’s a useful depth option who has potential to replicate Logan Allen-type production.
Alaska Abney, RHrP, 25 years old – In 20 innings in Double-A, Abney put up a 1.44 ERA and a 3.12 FIP with an 8.64/0.72 K/BB/9. Abney showed a huge jump in control in 2025 and if he can continue that in 2026 and find a LITTLE more strikeout ability, we could see one of the most fun names to come through our system make the big leagues. His low-arm slot offers a unique look to hitters that I’d enjoy adding to the Guardians’ pen.
Petey Halpin, LHH CF, only 23 years-old – Halpin has put up solid OPS over .760 against RHP in his minor-league career but he simply cannot hit southpaws. With his defensive work in centerfield being above approach, I think there is a path for Halpin to become the primary starter for the Guardians in center and us not to be mad about it. But, again, you’ve got to have a good option to play there against lefties if that is the case… Halpin has a 39 stolen base-12 caught stealing ratio over the past two years, and I’d like to see him improve that ratio in Columbus for a couple months to maximize his value.
Yorman Gomez, RHSP, 23 years old – In High-A and Double-A last season, Gomez put up a 2.96 ERA/2.76 FIP and a 10.28/3.55 K/BB/9 and got himself added to the major league roster. Gomez’s best spot might be as a very good reliever, BUT he averaged 4.5 innings per appearance last season so there is still a chance he can be a solid back of the rotation starter (he is only 5’11, so I am not seeing a mid-rotation ceiling). However, the thing to get excited about is probably that Gomez has a great shape on a fastball that sits 94-96 and can touch 97 and a great slider, so, if asked to be a reliever, he has potential to be very, very good with even a slight jump in velo.
Steven Perez, RHrP, 24 years old – In High-A and Double-A, this player ALSO put up some great numbers at the height of 5’11, this time solely in relief. Perez had a 1.83 ERA and a 3.15 FIP and a 9.13/2.61 K/BB/9. That’ll play as a matchup lefty if needed.
Kahlil Watson, LHH CF, 22 years old – Between Double-A and Triple-A, Watson put up a 129 wRC+ with a 27.7/11.2 K/BB% while playing excellent centerfield. He has some interesting makeup qualities, getting benched briefly in Akron due to some issues about being discontent at not getting promoted, supposedly. He has a 16% swinging-strike rate and a zone-contact rate only around 80% with a chase rate around 33%. All those numbers limit his offensive ceiling, but he does have some solid raw power and pulls fly balls pretty well. He is also very young and can still develop some. There is hope for him to be a good defensive centerfielder who can hang around league average with solid power… but it is mostly hope, nothing sure because of the chase and whiff issues. Watson has 49 stolen bases and 22 caught-stealing over the past two seasons, so you’d also like to see him improve that ratio to help his overall value as a player.
Jake Miller, RHrP, 25 years old – Between AA and AAA, Miller put up a 2.86 ERA and a 3.57 FIP with a 7.64/3 K/BB/9. Miller gets a 50% ground ball rate, so he would be a sinker-heavy middle-reliever who also utilizes a cutter for groundballs if he makes it to the bigs, but that can be very helpful in certain spots.
Matt Jahec, RHrP, 24 years old – In 23 innings at Akron, Jahec put up a 2.66 ERA and 3.04 FIP with a 7.61/2.99 K/BB/9, getting a groundball rate of 60%. If you like Miller, Jahec is likely a better version of that. And, again, there are times in games where you REALLY need a groundball.
Wuilfredo Antunez, LHH OF, 23 years old – Between High-A and Double-A in 2025, Antunez put up a 139 wRC+ with a 22.1/7.7 K/BB%. He is a platoon bat as he hasn’t really hit left-handed pitching, but he may be a particularly good platoon bat if things pan out. Hard to see on the current Guardians where a left-handed corner-outfielder who can’t hit lefties can break in, but it’s good depth and a potential trade piece if 2026 goes well for a still-young player.
Connor Brogdon, RHrP, 30 years old – Stuff+ likes Brogdon’s fastball and his changeup and says his cutter is decent. Hard to argue that the Guardians should be able to help him maximize his value.
Tommy Hawke, LHH OF, 23 years old – Perhaps you remember Hawke was the player who stole 65 of 70 bases for the Guardians between Single-A and High-A last year. He ran into some injury issues in High-A, but that is the kind of player who will always be in consideration for at least a bench role. Hawke is a contact-first player who is likely never going to hit for any power to speak of, but his 4% swinging-strike rate and a contact-rate of around 90% gives him a chance to be a very valuable fourth outfielder if he continues to develop. He also put up a 148 wRC+ last year, and, while it’s fair to acknowledge that it’s likely unsustainable, it’s certainly not a negative!
Peyton Pallette, RHrP, 24 years old – Pallette struck out 12 batters per 9 and walked a little fewer than 4 batters per 9 for the White Sox in the minor leagues last season. He also threw 64 innings. I like the Guardians’ chances of finding another Trevor Stephan in their Rule 5 choice here and expect him to be on the roster all year long.
Jacob Cozart, LHH C, 23 years old – Cozart gets rave reviews for his catching defense and was a high draft pick for Cleveland in 2024. Last year, after an awful start with the bat, Cozart put up a 140 wRC+ with a 22/14 K/BB% from June to the end of the season. To put it frankly, if Cozart can continue anything remotely close to that in Akron and Columbus in 2026, he’ll find himself on the major league roster in September and you’ll see Cooper Ingle start taking infield or outfield reps. He does have only a 74% contact rate and a 12.5% swinging-strike rate, so his offensive profile is pretty volatile.
Tell me what you think in the comments below! Who has you most excited on this list, and who did I miss?
