| News |
|---|
|
Petey Halpin Petey Halpin Sent to Triple-A
Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 5:26 PM
The Guardians optioned Halpin to Triple-A Columbus on Friday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Halpin was in contention for a spot on the Opening Day roster, but it looks like the 23-year-old will start the new season in the minor leagues. Halpin has gone 8-for-30 (.267) with two home runs, two doubles, eight runs scored and five RBI during spring training. He could factor into the Guardians' 2026 plans as the season progresses, but Cleveland has plenty of depth in the outfield at this point. |
|
Nolan Jones Nolan Jones Outrighted to Triple-A
Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 5:21 PM
The Guardians outrighted Jones to Triple-A Columbus on Friday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Jones has the choice to reject the outright assignment and become a free agent. The 27-year-old outfielder has been trending toward missing the Opening Day roster recently, as he slashed just .211/.296/.304 across 403 regular-season plate appearances for Cleveland last season and went 5-for-33 (.152) with 14 strikeouts this spring. |
|
Tanner Bibee Tanner Bibee Receiving Opening Day nod
Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 1:16 PM
The Guardians named Bibee as their starter for Opening Day against the Mariners on Thursday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: It'll be the first Opening Day start for Bibee, who was scheduled to do so last season before being a late scratch due to an illness. The right-hander is coming off an up-and-down 2024 campaign, during which he posted a 4.24 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 162:54 K:BB across 182.1 regular-season innings. Now entering his age-27 campaign, Bibee will look to regain the form that resulted in a 3.25 ERA and 1.14 WHIP across his first two MLB seasons in 2023 and 2024. |
|
Brayan Rocchio Brayan Rocchio Projected starter at 2B
Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 8:09 AM
Rocchio is projected to be the Guardians' Opening Day starter at second base, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Analysis: This comes as no surprise, as Rocchio was pegged all along to be the team's starting second baseman. He and Gabriel Arias will form the infield's up-the-middle combo. Rocchio's strong second half in 2025 carried over into the Cactus League; he's slashing .313/.389/.531 with four doubles, one home run, four RBI, two steals and three runs scored over 12 spring contests. The job may not be his for the whole season, as prospect Travis Bazzana, the first-overall pick in 2024, is expected to arrive later this season. |
|
Parker Messick Parker Messick Stung by homers
Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 7:56 AM
Messick allowed four runs on seven hits while striking out three over 5.2 innings in Thursday's spring start against Kansas City.
Analysis: The positives are that Messick ran his pitch count to 87 (57 strikes), didn't walk a batter and pitched into the sixth inning for the first time this spring. Unfortunately, the left-hander was touched for three solo home runs in his fourth Cactus League appearance (third start). The left-hander entered the game with a 1.93 ERA and a strong case to be named the fifth starter. At this point, Messick and fellow lefty Logan Allen are competing for the final rotation spot. A roster projection posted Friday by Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal has Allen winning the job and Messick headed to Triple-A Columbus. While another roster projection posted Friday by Paul Hoynes and Joe Noga of the Cleveland Plain Dealer indicate it's still undecided. Each pitcher has minor league options remaining. |
|
Jose Ramirez Jose Ramirez Homers in return
Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 7:36 AM
Ramirez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Thursday's spring game against the Royals.
Analysis: Ramirez returned to the lineup for the first time since a left-shoulder scare last Sunday. He announced his return early, when he swatted a no-doubt home run in his first plate appearance. The homer was Ramirez's third of the Cactus League and an indicator that he'll be ready for Opening Day next week. |
|
Juan Brito Juan Brito Optioned to Columbus
Thu, Mar 19, 2026, 6:18 PM
The Guardians optioned Brito to Triple-A Columbus on Thursday.
Analysis: Brito logged an .820 OPS over 24 Triple-A games last year, but his attempt at making Cleveland's Opening Day roster will fall short after he slashed just .154/.313/.269 over 32 plate appearances in the Cactus League. The 24-year-old utility man has yet to make his MLB debut, though his defensive versatility figures to help his chances of receiving a midseason promotion. |
|
Jose Ramirez Jose Ramirez Back in lineup Thursday
Thu, Mar 19, 2026, 3:36 PM
Ramirez (shoulder) is batting third and playing third base in Thursday's Cactus League contest against the Royals.
Analysis: Ramirez exited last Sunday's contest with shoulder inflammation and needed a few days off, but he's back in the lineup and appears to be ready to go ahead of Opening Day next Thursday. Ramirez has an .833 OPS with two home runs, nine RBI, three stolen bases and a 5:9 BB:K across 36 plate appearances this spring. |
|
Bo Naylor Bo Naylor Tweak leads to offense
Wed, Mar 18, 2026, 8:54 AM
Naylor introduced a toe tap late in the 2025 season and became one of the Guardians' top hitters over the final month of the regular season, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: It was a very up-and-down 2025 season for Naylor until he pivoted away from a leg kick to a toe tap in August. "We don't get to the playoffs without Bo Naylor at the plate last year," Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. After implementing the toe tap and getting accustomed to it, the catcher took off in September. Over 19 games, Naylor slashed .290/.324/.548 with a 136 wRC+ and a 48.1 percent hard-hit rate. Those results have carried over to the spring in both the World Baseball Classic for Team Canada and in Cactus League games. Naylor slashed .353/.353/.588 in four WBC games and is slashing .385/.467/.615 in five Cactus League contests. |
|
George Valera George Valera Adds running to rehab
Wed, Mar 18, 2026, 8:28 AM
Valera (calf) began running Tuesday as part of his activity, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Valera had begun throwing and hitting earlier in the week, and the Guardians are hopeful he can return to game action in the coming days. Based on the calendar, there is some question whether Valera will be ready to go by Opening Day. Cleveland's outfield picture is unclear beyond Steven Kwan, and Valera is one of seven outfielders competing for three or four spots. |
|
Daniel Schneemann Daniel Schneemann Good to go Tuesday
Tue, Mar 17, 2026, 5:04 PM
Schneemann (ankle) is starting at third base and batting eighth in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Reds.
Analysis: The 29-year-old has been sidelined by an ankle sprain the past few days but is ready to retake the field Tuesday. Schneemann had a .206/.283/.354 slash line with 12 homers and nine steals in 131 regular-season games last year and is expected to operate as a super-utility player to begin 2026. |
|
Andrew Walters Andrew Walters Live BP session scheduled
Tue, Mar 17, 2026, 8:05 AM
Walters (lat) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session Wednesday, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Walters, who is working his way back from lat surgery last year, has been throwing bullpen sessions and from 120-150 feet off flat ground. He'll miss the start of the regular season, with a potential return during the month of May. |
|
George Valera George Valera Not running yet
Tue, Mar 17, 2026, 8:00 AM
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said Monday that Valera (calf) is feeling better but will not play for a few more days, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Valera has what the manager termed is a "mild" calf strain. He's resumed hitting and throwing but is not yet running. |
|
Gavin Williams Gavin Williams Works into fifth inning
Tue, Mar 17, 2026, 7:56 AM
Williams allowed five runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out seven over 4.2 innings in Monday's spring start against the Cubs.
Analysis: Williams' fourth Cactus League start was a departure from his first three, but the seven strikeouts and 85 pitches thrown are positive takeaways. He settled down after a rocky two innings, retiring seven of eight batters before tiring in his final frame. While nothing has been made official, Williams' five-day schedule lines him up to start Opening Day on the road in Seattle. |
|
Hunter Gaddis Hunter Gaddis Live BP session scheduled
Tue, Mar 17, 2026, 7:46 AM
Gaddis (forearm) will throw a live batting practice session Wednesday, MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Gaddis has thrown two bullpen sessions and is now ready for the next step. The right-hander experienced tightness in his forearm earlier in camp and is working his way back to eventually serve as a high-leverage reliever and setup man for closer Cade Smith. |
|
Jose Ramirez Jose Ramirez No imaging on left shoulder
Mon, Mar 16, 2026, 4:55 PM
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt told reporters Monday that Ramirez is "feeling much, much better today" after the superstar third baseman left Sunday's Cactus League game against the Athletics due to left shoulder inflammation, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: "We're going to assess [Ramirez] day-by-day. He should be fine in a few days," Vogt relayed during Monday's presser. Stebbins notes that there are no plans for Ramirez to undergo imaging on his left shoulder. That indicates the injury is not considered a long-term concern by medical staff and puts the superstar third baseman on track for Opening Day. |
|
Jose Ramirez Jose Ramirez Dealing with shoulder issue
Sun, Mar 15, 2026, 6:47 PM
Ramirez (shoulder) was removed from Sunday's matchup against the Athletics in the fourth inning.
Analysis: Ramirez was dealing with some shoulder inflammation after banging the arm up during a dive earlier in the game, and he is now considered day-to-day. With Opening Day still over a week out, the 33-year-old's status for the beginning of the regular season is likely not in question. |
|
Johnathan Rodriguez Johnathan Rodriguez Optioned to Triple-A
Sun, Mar 15, 2026, 12:56 PM
The Guardians optioned Rodriguez to Triple-A Columbus on Sunday.
Analysis: Rodriguez played in 31 games for Cleveland during the regular season last year and had a .626 OPS with two home runs and a 28.6 percent strikeout rate. He batted .273 across 25 plate appearances during spring training and failed to record any extra-base hits. |
|
Steven Kwan Steven Kwan Good to go Sunday
Sun, Mar 15, 2026, 11:38 AM
Kwan (illness) is starting in left field and batting leadoff in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Athletics.
Analysis: The 28-year-old was held out of the lineup Saturday due to an upper-respiratory infection but will make a quick return to the starting nine. Kwan has found his power stroke through 11 spring games with a double, a triple and two homers, resulting in a .947 OPS. |
|
Daniel Schneemann Daniel Schneemann Considered day-to-day
Sat, Mar 14, 2026, 12:19 PM
Schneemann (ankle) is expected to be back in the Guardians' lineup in the next couple of days, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Schneeman was scratched from Friday's Cactus League game against the Angels due to a right ankle sprain. The injury doesn't appear to be a long-term concern and shouldn't impact Schneeman's availability for the start of the 2026 campaign. He appeared in 131 regular-season games for the Guardians in 2025 and finished with a .206/.283/.354 slash line with nine steals (on 12 attempts), 12 home runs and 41 RBI in 422 plate appearances. Schneeman is projected to make the Opening Day roster as a utility man. |
Connect With Us:
