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Triston McKenzie Triston McKenzie Starting spring opener
Sat, Feb 22, 2025, 6:43 AM
McKenzie will start Saturday's spring opener against the Reds, Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: It will be a big moment for McKenzie, who teased the Guardians with a strong 2022 before injuries, including an elbow, limited him to four starts the following season. He was able to avoid Tommy John surgery but spent the second half of 2024 in the minors. Reports on his bullpen and live BP sessions on the back fields track his fastball velocity up to 95 mph, which is higher than the 92.5 mph he posted during the healthy 2022 campaign. The right-hander is one of several starters competing for a job behind ace Tanner Bibee. |
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David Fry David Fry Sent to 60-day IL
Wed, Feb 19, 2025, 1:02 PM
Cleveland placed Fry (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Analysis: The transaction doesn't come as a surprise, after Fry underwent surgery in November to address a torn ligament in his elbow. Fry is expected to need 6-to-8 months to recover from surgery before he's ready to serve as a designated hitter, so he could have a chance at being ready to contribute for Cleveland when he's first eligible to come off the 60-day IL in late May. The 29-year-old will require 12 months of recovery time before he's cleared for full throwing, so he won't be an option behind the plate or in the field in 2025. |
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Sam Hentges Sam Hentges Lands on 60-day IL
Tue, Feb 18, 2025, 9:19 AM
The Guardians placed Hentges (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list Sunday.
Analysis: Hentges' move to the 60-day IL was fully expected, as the left-hander is in line to miss the entire 2025 season after undergoing surgery last September to repair the capsule and labrum in his throwing shoulder. His spot on the 40-man roster will go to right-hander Jakob Junis, whom Cleveland signed to a one-year deal Sunday. |
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Carlos Santana Carlos Santana Looking at everyday role
Tue, Feb 18, 2025, 7:50 AM
Santana will likely occupy an everyday role to start the 2025 season, Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com reports. The soon-to-be 39-year-old is expected to serve as the primary first baseman.
Analysis: Santana returned to Cleveland in the offseason and still is a productive hitter in the twilight of his career. He credited former big leaguer Nelson Cruz, who taught him how to age gracefully. "I don't feel 38," Santana said. "This is my No. 1 priority. I eat healthy, sleep well, I'm not doing alcohol, I have training, I have a chef." The Guardians have up-and-comer Kyle Manzardo in the pipeline, but Santana is viewed as the primary replacement for Josh Naylor's power bat at first base. Santana crushed lefties in 2024 (.286/.356/.578), but a repeat of his line against righties (.219/.318/.358) could eventually create a platoon situation. |
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John Means John Means Signs on with Cleveland
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 12:02 PM
Means (elbow) agreed Monday with the Guardians on a one-year, $1 million contract that includes a $7.5 million club option for 2026, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: The two sides reportedly had made progress on a deal over the weekend and now they've crossed the finish line. Means underwent his second Tommy John surgery last June and could miss the entire 2025 season, so the Guardians are essentially making a roll of the dice on him for 2026. The left-hander has made just 10 starts at the major-league level since 2022 due to injuries but held a 3.62 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 134:26 K:BB over 146.2 frames covering 26 starts in 2021. |
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David Fry David Fry Elbow responding well
Sun, Feb 16, 2025, 2:46 PM
Fry's surgically repaired elbow is responding well to treatment, and he's due for his next re-check in March.
Analysis: Fry was limited to DH duty for the Guardians toward the end of the season in 2024. It's unclear if he'll get a chance to play behind the plate at all when he returns. If not, Fry will lose his catcher eligibility in 2026 leagues. |
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Shane Bieber Shane Bieber Throws off mound
Sun, Feb 16, 2025, 8:18 AM
Bieber (elbow) threw off a mound Saturday, Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Bieber threw a 15-pitch session, and his velocity was in the 87-to-89 mph range, which is higher than he anticipated. The right-hander underwent Tommy John elbow surgery in April of 2024 and is targeted for a return this summer. |
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George Valera George Valera Will start running this week
Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 10:34 AM
Valera (knee) will begin his on-field running progression this week.
Analysis: Valera is 19 weeks removed from surgery to repair his right patellar tendon. He's been throwing and hitting and will add running and batting practice to his routine soon. The hope is that Valera will begin defensive drills in March, but it's not clear when he might be ready to play in games. Once healthy, he's projected to be assigned to Triple-A Columbus. |
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Trevor Stephan Trevor Stephan Close to throwing off mound
Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 10:31 AM
Stephan (elbow) is expected to begin throwing off a mound in late February.
Analysis: Stephan had right UCL reconstruction surgery last March and has progressed to throwing five days per week from 120 feet. There's no projected timetable yet for the reliever's return, but he seems likely to miss at least the first couple months of the season. |
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Shane Bieber Shane Bieber Slated for mound work soon
Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 10:26 AM
Bieber (elbow) is scheduled to begin throwing off a mound in mid-February.
Analysis: Bieber has progressed to playing catch five times per week and has expanded the distance out to 120 feet. The veteran right-hander had Tommy John surgery last April and is not expected back until around midseason. |
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Nic Enright Nic Enright Dealing with strained lat
Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 10:19 AM
Enright is dealing with a low-grade right lat strain and is not expected to be game-ready until April.
Analysis: It's not clear when Enright was diagnosed with the injury, but he is expected to resume a throwing program next week. Added to the 40-man roster over the offseason, Enright missed much of last season due to injury but was excellent when healthy, posting a 1.06 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 31:5 K:BB over 17 innings with Triple-A Columbus. |
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Daniel Espino Daniel Espino Out until at least July
Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 10:15 AM
Espino (shoulder) is not expected to be game-ready until at least July.
Analysis: Espino had another right shoulder surgery last March to repair his right shoulder capsule and rotator cuff. He's 11 months into a 16-to-18 month timeline, so while he could make it back for the second half, it's also possible he'll miss a third straight full season. |
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Jakob Junis Jakob Junis Adds versatility for CLE
Thu, Feb 13, 2025, 10:52 PM
Junis signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract with the Guardians on Thursday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Junis has worked primarily in relief for each of the last two seasons and was particularly impressive across 67 innings in 2024 by maintaining a 2.69 ERA and 0.85 WHIP. He's unlikely to crack the Guardians' rotation to begin the season, but he should certainly make spot starts and occupy a multi-inning relief role. |
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Gabriel Arias Gabriel Arias Competing for keystone gig
Mon, Feb 10, 2025, 5:48 PM
Arias will compete during spring training for the Guardians' second base job, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Bell currently projects Juan Brito to win the job but acknowledges it's a coin flip between him and Arias. Tyler Freeman, Daniel Schneemann and Angel Martinez will also be in the mix. Arias, who turns 25 later this month, has slashed only .212/.274/.350 with a 32.3 percent strikeout rate in parts of three major-league seasons and spent the entirety of the second half last season in the minors. However, he hit well in the Venezuelan Winter League and boasts a career 42.3 percent hard-hit rate. |
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Juan Brito Juan Brito In running for second base job
Mon, Feb 10, 2025, 5:41 PM
The Guardians "continue to express their extreme excitement" at getting a look at Brito at second base this spring, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Joe Noga of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported in January that Brito might be a long shot to win the second base job. However, Bell has listed Brito as the starter at the keystone in her first Opening Day roster projection, though she acknowledges the answer "back and forth between Brito and Gabriel Arias all spring." The 23-year-old Brito slashed .256/.365/.443 with 21 homers and 13 steals in 2024 at Triple-A Columbus and offers the most offensive upside out out Cleveland's second-base candidates. Tyler Freeman, Daniel Schneemann and Angel Martinez are also in the mix to replaced Andres Gimenez, who was traded to the Blue Jays. |
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Vince Velasquez Vince Velasquez Goes to Cleveland as NRI
Tue, Feb 4, 2025, 2:04 PM
The Guardians signed Velasquez to a minor-league contract Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Analysis: Velasquez made just nine appearances in 2023 and zero in 2024, but he should be fully recovered from UCL surgery on his right elbow. The 32-year-old was last seen in the big leagues with the Pirates in 2023, when he posted a 3.86 ERA and 37:14 K:BB over 37.1 frames. Velasquez will likely open the 2025 season in the rotation at Triple-A Columbus. |
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Kolby Allard Kolby Allard Goes to Cleveland as NRI
Mon, Feb 3, 2025, 2:34 PM
The Guardians signed Allard to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training.
Analysis: Allard made four starts and three relief appearances for the Phillies in 2024, producing a 5.00 ERA and 23:8 K:BB over 27 innings. In 82 frames with Triple-A Lehigh Valley last season, he held a 5.38 ERA and 74:34 K:BB. Allard will compete for an Opening Day roster spot but is likely headed to Triple-A Columbus where he'll provide rotation depth. |
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Slade Cecconi Slade Cecconi Will build as starter
Sat, Feb 1, 2025, 8:40 AM
Cecconi will build up as a starter during spring training, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Cecconi, who was acquired from Arizona during the offseason, worked as a starter and reliever with the Diamondbacks, although he was knocked around in both roles. The Guardians' front office was concerned about starting depth entering the offseason, and they've worked to address that, adding Cecconi and Luis Ortiz, but there are still unknowns. Both Gavin Williams and Triston McKenzie had rocky campaigns in 2024, which opens a crack for Cecconi to emerge as a member of the rotation that opens the season. |
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Will Brennan Will Brennan No lock in right field
Sat, Feb 1, 2025, 8:30 AM
Brennan and Jhonkensy Noel enter spring training in a competition for the starting job in right field, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Brennan made the most starts in right field in 2024, but the left-handed hitter platooned the position in the second half after the righty-swinging Noel was called up late June. Brennan burst onto the scene in 2022 but failed to replicate on that promise the last two seasons, hitting just 13 home runs with a .673 OPS over 252 games. The Guardians would like to get more power out of the corner outfield position, particularly after the team traded Josh Naylor during the offseason. Enter Noel, who went deep 13 times in 67 games after his callup. He presents issues, too, so the eventual starter may emerge from outside this duo. |
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Jhonkensy Noel Jhonkensy Noel Competing for starting job
Sat, Feb 1, 2025, 8:20 AM
Noel and Will Brennan enter spring training in a competition for the starting job in right field, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Those two platooned in right for the second half of 2024, and that arrangement could return this season. The Guardians would like to have a bat that replaces the power lost when Josh Naylor was traded to Arizona. Brennan hasn't replicated the promise he showed when he first appeared in the majors in 2022. The right-handed hitting Noel bopped more home runs (13) and slugged higher (.486) than Brennan (eight, .388), but he could be a liability against righty pitching and needs to improve selectivity at the dish to become a lineup regular. Noel had a 31.8 strikeout percentage with a chase percentage of 45.0, both among the lowest in MLB. If neither player delivers what manager Stephen Vogt wants, Cleveland could seek another option. |
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