Cleveland Guardians News

CENTRAL

Kyle Manzardo • 1B • Guardians

Kyle Manzardo Can Be a Great Late-Round Power Source

Cleveland Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo is ready to build on last year's success and came into spring training with a new look and new approach. The 25-year-old lefty bulked up this offseason, adding about 15 pounds coming into spring training. In 2025, he hit .234 in his first full season in the majors, exactly matching his batting average from 53 games in 2024. He dramatically increased his power production, though, with a .221 ISO, .329 wOBA, and 27 homers in his 142 games. While a 30-homer season is definitely a real possibility, Manzardo said his focus is to be better situationally. He's projected to hit fourth in the batting order again this season, right behind the always-productive Jose Ramirez. Manzardo's ADP is low enough that he can be a great option late in drafts if your team needs a little power and can take a hit in batting average.

Yesterday

Juan Brito • SS • Guardians

Juan Brito to be a Utility Option This Spring

Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said that infield prospect Juan Brito will see time at first base, second base, and third base this spring, according to Mason Horodyski of WEWS. Brito could also be an option in right field because the team doesn't have many right-handed options there. "If Juan Brito can play all of those roles... obviously it's beneficial for him and for us," Vogt said. Adding versatility will only increase Brito's chances of earning an Opening Day roster spot in 2026. The 24-year-old Dominican switch-hitter only played in 31 games in 2025 at the Rookie level and with Triple-A Columbus due to surgeries on his thumb and hamstring. He hit .243/.355/.437 with a .792 OPS, four homers, 17 RBI, 17 runs, and four steals in 125 plate appearances. Brito is unlikely to have a realistic shot at regular playing time in 2026, and he still has minor-league options remaining.

Yesterday

CJ Kayfus • 1B • Guardians

CJ Kayfus to Have Prominent Role in Cleveland Lineup?

Cleveland Guardians first base/outfield prospect CJ Kayfus should compete to earn a near-everyday role in the Cleveland starting lineup during spring training. The Guardians promoted Kayfus to the major leagues last season, but he did not find immediate success. Across his first 44 games in the big leagues, Kayfus held a .220/.292/.415 slash line with 10 doubles, four home runs, four stolen bases, and a 38:11 K:BB. Under the hood, the 24-year-old generated a modest .322 xwOBA with a 9.2% barrel rate. Earlier in the campaign, the former 93rd overall selection from the 2023 MLB Draft held a stellar .300/.390/.539 line with 14 long balls and four stolen bases across 86 games spread between Double-A and Triple-A. Kayfus should compete for at-bats at first base alongside Kyle Manzardo and see additional time in right field, sharing time with George Valera.

2 days ago

Kyle Manzardo • 1B • Guardians

Kyle Manzardo Packs on Muscle in Offseason

The Athletic's Zack Meisel wrote in December that Cleveland Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo added 14 pounds of muscle since the end of the 2025 season. The Guardians want him to hold up better physically and be a candidate for more reps at first base in 2026. The 25-year-old former second-rounder by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021 out of Washington State played in 142 regular-season games last year in his first full year in the big leagues, hitting .234/.313/.455 with a .768 OPS, 27 home runs, 70 RBI, 47 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 531 plate appearances. Manzardo appeared in 84 games as the designated hitter while manning first base 55 times. He'll be a legitimate late-round source of power and should start at first base more often with Carlos Santana no longer around. If Manzardo can improve against lefties -- he hit just .186/.253/.419 against them -- he'll have true breakout potential in 2026.

4 days ago

Emmanuel Clase • RP • Guardians

Emmanuel Clase Used Coded Language for Pitch-Rigging Plans

Federal prosecutors said that Cleveland Guardians right-handed reliever Emmanuel Clase and co-conspirators used coded language to discuss pitch-rigging plans, according to The Athletic's Mike Vorkunov and Zack Meisel. Clase received a text message hours before a game against the Reds on May 18 of last year that read, "Throw a rock at the first rooster in today's fight." Unsealed court documents on Friday also allege that Clase engaged in an illegal sports gambling scheme during the 2024 postseason. It was all part of an alleged effort by Clase and others to rig pitches during Guardians games for over two years. Co-conspirators netted winnings of at least $450,000, and Clase and teammate Luis L. Ortiz allegedly received kickbacks for their involvement. Clase and Ortiz were placed on non-disciplinary leave last July amid allegations of sports gambling, and they remain on leave and are not permitted to report to spring training.

4 days ago

Ben Lively • SP • Guardians

Guardians Finalizing Two-Year Minor-League Deal With Ben Lively

The Cleveland Guardians are finalizing a two-year minor-league deal with free-agent right-hander Ben Lively (elbow) on Thursday, according to Zack Meisel of The Athletic. Lively had Tommy John surgery last June. The 33-year-old veteran is in camp with Cleveland this spring and will continue to rehab from UCL reconstruction and a flexor-tendon repair. The Guardians aren't expecting Lively to contribute much in 2026, if at all. The former fourth-round pick by the Cincinnati Reds in 2013 out of the University of Central Florida only made nine starts for the Guards last year, but looked good when he was healthy, posting a 3.22 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 29 strikeouts and 15 walks in 44 2/3 innings. Lively had a 3.68 ERA with 147 K's and 64 walks in 195 2/3 innings in his two seasons with Cleveland. He will not be a fantasy asset in 2026.

5 days ago

Chase DeLauter • RF • Guardians

Chase DeLauter to See Time in Center and Right Field in Camp

According to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com, Cleveland Guardians outfield prospect Chase DeLauter is expected to see time in both center and right field during camp. The team's No. 2-ranked prospect is expected to not only compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster but also potentially carve out a starting role. Throughout his minor league career, the former 16th overall selection from the 2022 MLB Draft has shown high upside but has struggled to stay on the field. Last summer, DeLauter appeared in just 42 total MiLB games, with the majority of them at Triple-A Columbus. With the Clippers, DeLauter held a .278/.383/.476 line with five home runs and a strong 23:22 K:BB. Later in the season, he joined the Guardians in the postseason. If he were to perform well in camp, he should have the edge over Daniel Schneemann in center field or potentially George Valera in right field.

7 days ago

Tanner Bibee • SP • Guardians

Tanner Bibee in Line for Resurgent 2026 Season?

After posting consecutive seasons with front-line numbers in 2023 and 2024, Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee's production fell back down to earth in 2025. Across 182 1/3 innings (31 starts), the 26-year-old posted a 12-11 record with a 4.24 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 162 strikeouts. Bibee's strikeout rate dropped from 26.3% in 2024 to 21.3% in 2025, while his walk rate jumped from 6.2% to 7.1%. Still, Bibee's 3.62 xERA in 2025 suggests he suffered from some poor luck. His 71.9% strand rate was well below his career average of 76%. Additionally, Bibee was much better down the stretch of the season, logging a 1.30 ERA with 26 strikeouts across 27 2/3 innings in September and October. Heading into 2026, Bibee remains locked into a starting rotation spot in Cleveland and looks like a quality bounce-back candidate. With a current average draft position of pick 185, Bibee could end up as a value selection for fantasy managers.

Feb 8

Gavin Williams • SP • Guardians

Gavin Williams Looking to Build on 2025 Emergence in 2026

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams posted a breakout season in 2025, recording a 12-5 record with a 3.06 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 173 strikeouts across 167 2/3 innings (31 starts). The 26-year-old was able to shake off the injury bug that limited him to just 76 big-league innings in 2024, and now appears to be locked in near the top of the Cleveland rotation heading into 2026. However, there are a few aspects of Williams' profile that point to some likely regression. For one, his 11.8% walk rate in 2025 was well below average for a starter and was a major contributor to his middling 1.27 ERA. Additionally, Williams logged an unsustainably high 83.8% strand rate in 2025, which helped suppress his ERA. If he allows baserunners to reach at the same rate in 2026, it's unlikely that he will repeat his excellent 3.06 ERA. Still, even with some regression, Williams is a talented young pitcher with a solid 24.1% career strikeout rate and room to improve his overall profile. With a current average draft position of pick 150, Williams could be a worthy mid-round starting pitcher option for fantasy managers in 2026.

Feb 7

Cooper Ingle • C • Guardians

Cooper Ingle to Contend for Early MLB Debut?

Cleveland Guardians top catching prospect Cooper Ingle is expected to be in the mix for an early MLB debut in 2026. Ingle joined the Guardians in the fourth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Clemson. Ingle began 2025 by making his second appearance at the Double-A level. Through 92 games, the young backstop looked quite comfortable, posting a .273/.391/.441 line with a strong .882 OPS. He would hit nine home runs, while showing a strong eye at the plate, posting a 70:65 K:BB. He would then earn a second-half ticket to Triple-A Columbus. However, Ingle stumbled in his first look facing the top pitching in the minor leagues, posting a modest .207/.383/.329 line. He would hit just one round-tripper during this stint. Given his struggles, managers should expect MLB.com's No. 99-ranked prospect to begin the season at Triple-A. However, if he can find his footing early, he should contend for a first-half 2026 promotion.

Feb 6

Emmanuel Clase • RP • Guardians

Emmanuel Clase Accused of Rigging Pitches in 48 Games

Indicted Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase is accused of throwing suspicious pitches to benefit bettors in at least 48 games over two years, according to a court document that was filed on Thursday. Federal prosecutors listed nine games in which Clase allegedly threw rigged pitches in the indictment unsealed in November. Major League Baseball said it is cooperating with federal prosecutors and declined further comment. Pitcher Luis L. Ortiz's attorney asked for his client's case to be severed from Clase's, arguing that Ortiz and Clase have "markedly different levels of culpability." Prosecutors accused Ortiz of rigging pitches in two games in June of last year. Clase appeared in 197 regular-season games from 2023 to July of 2025, when he was put on non-disciplinary leave by the league. It's still a bit hard to fathom for Clase, who was one of the best closers in the game. If found guilty, he will never pitch again.

Feb 5

Angel Genao • SS • Guardians

Angel Genao Ready to Rebound in 2026?

Cleveland Guardians infield prospect Angel Genao, who is ranked No. 33 on Keith Law's top-100 prospect list for 2026, had a lost year in 2025 due to a sprained right shoulder that he suffered in spring training. Genao still managed to play in 85 games between the Arizona Complex League and Double-A Akron, but he didn't look like his 2024 self and often "seemed hesitant to swing at full speed." Overall, the 21-year-old switch-hitting Dominican slashed .263/.332/.382 with a .715 OPS, five home runs, 42 RBI, 49 runs scored, and six stolen bases in 373 plate appearances. Law believes that second base is more likely for Genao in the long-term, but shortstop is not off the table given his strong defense at the 6. Genao showed more full extension on his swings in the Dominican Winter League and could very well bounce back in 2026. Law has Genao as an above-average regular somewhere in the middle infield in Cleveland whenever he makes the jump to the big leagues.

Feb 5

Joey Cantillo • SP • Guardians

Joey Cantillo to Compete for Rotation Job This Spring

Cleveland Guardians left-hander Joey Cantillo has plenty of experience pitching in relief, but MLB.com's Tim Stebbins writes that Cantillo will compete for a rotation job in spring training. In 13 starts (67 innings) for the Guardians in the second half of last season, Cantillo had a solid 2.96 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 72 strikeouts, and 28 walks. The 26-year-old southpaw will primarily be competing with pitching prospect Parker Messick for one of the final spots in the rotation in camp. If Messick impresses more, Cleveland can just slide Cantillo back into a relief role. He had a 3.81 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 21 outings out of the Guardians' bullpen in 2025. Although he may have had some luck as a starter to close out the year, Cantillo did have a 25.9% strikeout rate and 10.8% walk rate while holding hitters to a .214 average. As more of a swingman than a locked-in starter, Cantillo can be ignored in mixed fantasy leagues.

Feb 3

Parker Messick • SP • Guardians

Parker Messick a Name to Watch in Spring Training

Cleveland Guardians left-handed pitcher Parker Messick is a name to monitor during spring training. Messick made his MLB debut last season and looked quite comfortable at the MLB level. Across his first 39 2/3 innings in Cleveland, Messick held a 2.72 ERA with a 1.38 WHIP. He struck out 38 batters while generating an elite 3.6% walk rate and a 29.8% hard-hit rate. He spent the majority of his campaign with Triple-A Columbus. Through 98 2/3 innings with the Clippers, Messick posted a 3.47 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP. During this stretch, the southpaw racked up 119 punchouts with 42 free passes. Currently, Messick is expected to compete for the No. 5 role in camp alongside Joey Cantillo and Slade Cecconi. While Messick may not have the same track record, he has shown significant upside in the minors and is worth closely monitoring in spring training.

Feb 3

Kolby Allard • RP • Guardians

Guardians Re-Sign Kolby Allard to Minor-League Deal

The Cleveland Guardians announced on Monday that they re-signed left-hander Kolby Allard to a minor-league deal that includes a non-roster invite to major-league spring training. The 28-year-old southpaw had a career-best 1.3 bWAR with a 2.63 ERA in 33 games (two starts) last year for Cleveland, mainly in a long-relief role. He also had a career-high four holds and a 12 1/3 scoreless-inning streak to close out the campaign. Allard had a 1.20 WHIP with 42 strikeouts and 14 walks in 65 regular-season innings. If Allard wins a roster spot out of spring training, he'll most likely serve in a long-relief role for the Guards, limiting his fantasy appeal. The former first-rounder by the Atlanta Braves in 2015 has pitched for four teams already in his first eight big-league seasons and has a career 5.34 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 269 strikeouts, and 106 walks in 109 appearances (44 starts).

Feb 2

Travis Bazzana • 2B • Guardians

Travis Bazzana Invited to Spring Training

The Cleveland Guardians announced on Friday that infield prospect Travis Bazzana has received a non-roster invite to major-league spring training. Bazzana, who was the first overall pick in 2024 out of Oregon State, hit .245/.389/.424 with an .813 OPS, nine home runs, 39 RBI, 71 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases in 84 games at three minor-league levels in 2025. The 23-year-old Australian's season ended early due to left-flank soreness, and he also missed almost two months earlier in the year with a right-oblique strain. So far, Bazzana hasn't looked like a No. 1 overall pick, although he has gotten on base regularly with a .384 on-base percentage. MLB Pipeline has Bazzana ranked as the No. 20 overall prospect going into the 2026 season. He's an extremely patient hitter and has 20/20 upside at the second base position. Bazzana could be a candidate for his MLB debut in the second half of 2026, depending on how he looks at Triple-A Columbus.

Jan 30

Cade Smith • RP • Guardians |

Cade Smith • SP • Yankees

Cade Smith in Line to be Cleveland's Primary Closer

With right-hander Emmanuel Clase out of the saves picture in Cleveland, Guardians right-handed reliever heads into the 2026 season as the team's likely closer. Smith took over for Clase in the middle of last season and finished out the year with a 2.93 ERA (1.95 FIP), 1.00 WHIP, a career-high 16 saves, 104 strikeouts, and 19 walks in 73 2/3 innings pitched out of the bullpen. He had earned 76.4% of the team's save share, and he was one of just five relievers in major-league baseball to strike out 100-plus batters. The 26-year-old has proven pretty dominant in high-leverage situations in his two MLB seasons in Cleveland, striking out 207 batters and walking 36 in 149 innings pitched. Smith relied mostly on his fastball to post a 28.3 K-BB percentage, which ranked sixth among all qualified relievers. His fantasy value has skyrocketed from last year to this year, and RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 5 fantasy reliever.

Jan 29

José Ramírez • 3B • Guardians

Jose Ramirez Signs Seven-Year Extension With Guardians

Cleveland Guardians All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez signed a restructured seven-year, $175 million contract extension on Saturday that will carry him through the 2032 season, according to Hector Gomez. In April of 2022, Ramirez and the Guardians agreed to a five-year, $124 million extension. Ramirez has been one of the best all-around players in baseball, dating back to the 2017 season. The 33-year-old Dominican switch-hitter can do it all, and he's hit .279/.353/.504 with an .857 OPS, 285 homers, 949 RBI, and 287 stolen bases in 13 big-league seasons. Not only does he contribute in all categories for fantasy managers, but he's been durable, playing in 150-plus games in each of the last five seasons. J-Ram has 30-plus homers and 100-plus RBI in three of the last five years despite playing in Cleveland. He's a top-five overall fantasy selection heading into spring drafts.

Jan 24

Steven Kwan • LF • Guardians

Blue Jays Have Had Previous Interest in Steven Kwan

Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports that the Toronto Blue Jays explored the idea of trading for current Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan at the 2025 trade deadline. Toronto is known to be searching for potential outfield upgrades, having reportedly made a sizable offer to outfielder Kyle Tucker before he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Guardians have two years of team control remaining over Kwan before he hits free agency, which is typically around the time Cleveland usually considers turning players into future assets. Across 693 plate appearances for the Guardians in 2025, Kwan posted a .272/.330/.374 slash line with 11 home runs, 56 RBI, 81 runs scored, and 21 stolen bases. He's won four consecutive Gold Glove awards in left field, so an acquiring team would likely plug him in as its everyday left fielder. If Toronto were to trade for Kwan, Blue Jays outfielders Nathan Lukes and Anthony Santander would likely lose playing time.

Jan 21

Chase DeLauter • RF • Guardians

Chase DeLauter Projected for Lead Role in Cleveland?

Cleveland Guardians outfield prospect Chase DeLauter has flashed immense potential in the minors but has struggled to stay on the field, pushing back his MLB debut. Last summer, DeLauter actually joined the club for their postseason run and appeared in two games. Given that he is set to enter spring training with a clean bill of health, DeLauter seems positioned not only to make the MLB roster but also to claim the starting job in center field. Earlier in 2025, DeLauter held an impressive .278/.383/.476 line with eight doubles, five home runs, and a 23:22 K:BB across 34 games at Triple-A. While he has not reached the 50-game mark in each of his last two minor league seasons, when on the field, DeLauter has been very productive. Managers should monitor his status in spring training as he could become a top-sleeper pick in five-outfielder formats if he is penciled into their Opening Day lineup.

Jan 21

Cleveland Guardians News

LEGEND