Cleveland Guardians Final 26-Man Roster Spot Could Be Up For Grabs
Cleveland Guardians’ Daniel Schneemann celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the eighth inning of a baseball gameagainst the Kansas City Royals, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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By the time spring training ends, the Cleveland Guardians could face a real roster crunch.
Assuming the Guardians open the season with 13 pitchers, there could be a real contest for the last spot on the team’s 26-man opening day roster.
While the Guardians haven’t added any new offensive players to their roster this offseason, the team is clearly depending upon versatile David Fry to be fully healthy, and back on the roster.
The Guardians did re-sign catcher Austin Hedges. He will serve as a backup catcher, which will give Cleveland three catching options on the 26-man roster.
Given their need for right-handed bats, David Fry could play a crucial role for the Guardians.
Fry, 30, appears to be recovered from nasal surgery, after being hit with a pitch last season.
Fry has also undergone Tommy John surgery, from which he has fully recovered.
Fry’s right-handed bat is extremely valuable, as he can be used as a catcher, first baseman, third baseman, left fielder, or designated hitter, against left handed pitchers.
In 2024, Fry hit .285 against left-handed pitching, and made the American League All Star team.
Several young, and very promising players may break camp to start their seasons with Cleveland.
Those young players include outfielder George Valera, outfielder Chase DeLauter, and first baseman, outfielder, designated hitter, C.J. Keyfus.
Last seson, none of the trio were on the Guardians opening day roster.
Valera has one minor league option remaining, while DeLauter and Keyfus each have three.
However, with the Guardians need to improve their offense, the three young players will likely be critical components in the team’s quest to score more runs.
It must be noted that all three players are left-handed hitters, and that fact could weigh heavily in Cleveland’s ultimate opening day roster construction.
fangraphs.com lists the Guardians projected 2026 26-man roster as follows:
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – JULY 26: Steven Kwan #38 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates his two-run home run with teammates in the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals in game two of a doubleheader at Kauffman Stadium on July 26, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Lineup Starters:
Steven Kwan-OF
George Valera-OF
Jose Ramirez-3B
Kyle Manzardo-1B
Chase DeLauter-OF
Gabriel Arias-INF
C.J. Keyfus-DH
Bo Naylor-C
Brayan Rocchio-INF
Utility Players:
Austin Hedges-C
Angel Martinez-INF/OF
Nolan Jones-OF
Johnathan Rodriguez-OF
Starting Pitchers:
Gavin Williams-SP
Tanner Bibee-SP
Slade Cecconi-SP
Logan Allen-SP
Joey Cantillo-SP
Relief Pitchers:
Cade Smith-RP
Hunter Gaddis-RP
Shawn Armstrong-RP
Erik Sabrowski-RP
Matt Festa-RP
Tim Herrin-RP
Connor Brogdon-RP
Payton Pallette-RP
Left-handed starter Parker Messick, 25, had an outstanding rookie season with the Guardians last year.
Messick has three options remaining, and might give way to Joey Cantillo as the fifth Cleveland starter to begin the new season.
But Messick, a crafty lefty with good command, would be only a phone call away.
Armstrong, Brogdon, and Pallette are all new to the Cleveland bullpen, as each was signed as a free agent this offseason.
SACRAMENTO, CA – JUNE 20: David Fry #6 warms up prior to the game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on Friday, June 20, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Bryan Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
MLB Photos via Getty Images
Missing Names:
One should not take the fangraphs.com listing of the Guardians starting lineup as conclusive fact. Especially not this early in the year.
However, a solid case can be made for each of the players noted on the roster projection.
The names of David Fry and Daniel Schneemann stand out to this old scout as missing from the fangraphs.com listings.
Fry is listed on the injured list. In fact, reports indicate he is fully recovered.
So the fangraphs.com list raises several questions.
1- Given their need for right-handed power, does Johnathan Rodriguez make the club, as fangraphs.com suggests? Rodriguez has one option remaining.
2- Given the team’s high evaluation of David Fry, could he take the spot of Rodriguez?
3- In the fangraphs.com projection, the Guardians would have two utility outfielders in left-handed hitting Nolan Jones, and Rodriguez. Is it likely the team would only keep Jones?
4- Daniel Schneemann is conspicuously absent from the fangraphs.com projected opening day Guardians roster. Will he not make the club? Schneemann, a very valuable, left-handed hitting utility player can play second, short, third, left, center, and right.
Schneemann, 29, has three options remaining.
Schneemann has made tremendous contributions all over the diamond for the Guardians in limited service time.
Schneemann is an outstanding defensive player. He also can provide some timely hits, and he runs well.
5- Is Nolan Jones of more value to Cleveland than the versatile Daniel Schneemann?
The Guardians signed Jones to a one-year, $2M contract.
CLEVELAND, OH – JULY 18: Cleveland Guardians right fielder Johnathan Rodriguez (30) rounds the bases after hitting his first career home run during the second inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Athletics and Cleveland Guardians on July 18, 2025, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Is A Trade Possible?
Might the Guardians be willing to trade Johnathan Rodriguez, Nolan Jones, or Daniel Schneemann?
Could any of those players fetch a quality right-handed hitting prospect with lengthy team control?
Conclusions:
Assuming David Fry is on the opening day roster, the Guardians could find themselves without a roster spot for Daniel Schneemann.
It seems likely the Guardians could option Johnathan Rodriguez to Columbus to make room for Fry, removing a needed right-handed bat from the 26-man roster, in favor of Nolan Jones, a left-handed hitter.
To this writer, it seems a roster crunch could loom large as spring training gets closer for the Cleveland Guardians.
