In just a couple days, we will know the Guardians’ 26 choices for their ALDS roster. But, that won’t stop the impatient among us from guessing ahead of time!
Most choices are obvious:
Patrick Bailey and Austin Hedgees – Catchers
Nathaniel Lowe and David Fry – First Basemen
Travis Bazzana and Angel Genao – Second Basemen
Brayan Rocchio – Shortstop
Jose Ramirez – Third Baseman
Angel Martinez, Steven Kwan, Chase DeLauter, Jo Adell, Petey Halpin – Outfielders
Parker Messick, Gavin Williams, Joey Cantillo – Starting
Pitchers
Daniel Espino, Tim Herrin, Hunter Gaddis, Erik Sabrowski, Shawn Armstrong and Cade Smith – Relief Pitchers
All of these players will make the roster. So, who gets the final four spots?
That leaves four positions.
Tanner Bibee, Foster Griffin, Slade Cecconi, Matt Festa, Daniel Schneemann, Rhys Hoskins, Craig Yoho, Franco Aleman and Austin Peterson would seem to be the top remaining options.
If Hoskins is healthy, I suspect he will make the roster to provide an additional right-handed hitter against Hagen Smith, Anthony Kay, Bryan Hudson and Sean Newcombe. Is he healthy? Supposedly, he is scrimmaging. Is he going to actually help vs. LHP? The jury is definitely out there. But, I have a feeling he will make it.
So, who gets the last three spots? Who SHOULD get them? With the depressing news that Colin Holderman is out, I think one answer should be Foster Griffin. Griffin has a 3.08 FIP against LHH. He should be a weapon to be deployed against left-handed hitters and seen as more reliable in that spot than Tim Herrin for the ALDS, given that the team will not need his services as a starter. He is the perfect pitcher to deploy with 1 or 2 runners on and 1 or 2 outs, given his penchant for getting groundballs, if a lefty is at the plate.
Ok, so two spots left. I think you can make a strong argument for Slade Cecconi, Tanner Bibee and for Daniel Schneemann. Is 14 positions players and 12 pitchers the right mix, or would it be helpful to have an additional left-handed bat on the bench? It is not going to be Kyle Manzardo as there have been zero signs that the team wants him back, at least yet. Would the team pull a 2025 Chase DeLauter and bring Ralphy Velazquez up as a bench bat? I WOULD BE SO HAPPY IF THEY DI… but, I don’t think that’s likely.
If the goal isn’t to get a serious left-handed bat to pinch-hit against Grant Taylor late in a game, then I vote Tanner Bibee and Slade Cecconi to fill out the roster. Both have experience, both have moxie and both can give you a really good inning of work if needed. In fact, I think the team should consider moving Espino to the back end of the pen and making Cecconi Cantillo’s opener for game three. I don’t oppose Schneemann making the roster but I do think if they want a left-handed bat, they should choose someone with consistent home run power. I know Schneemann provides a ton of defensive versatility and pinch-running skills, but, if that’s what they want, they should probably pick Schneemann over Halpin, and I don’t see them doing that.
So, there you have it. Add Rhys Hoskins, Tanner Bibee, Slade Cecconi and Foster Griffin to the names listed above and that’s my prediction for the ALDS roster.
