Guardians announce ALDS roster; Hoskins, Cecconi odd men out
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CLEVELAND -- The Guardians set their 26-man roster for the AL Division Series against the White Sox on Saturday, which had few surprises.
Cleveland’s roster almost identically mirrors the group it featured in September, minus Slade Cecconi and Austin Peterson. The right-handers were removed from a mix that decreased by two spots from the final month of the regular season.
While Peterson only made two appearances for the Guardians this season, Cecconi made a career-high 28 appearances (including 21 starts). He was a member of the Opening Day rotation before a move to the bullpen in August following the Guards’ acquisition of lefty Foster Griffin.
Cecconi was with the Guardians all season, other than when he missed one month with right arm fatigue that followed his role change. He was the odd man out because Cleveland opted to carry each of the starters in its season-ending rotation, in Griffin, Parker Messick, Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee and Joey Cantillo, some of whom could be options to pitch in relief.
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“It felt like keeping one extra kind of one-inning-stint guy was a little more important,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “Unfortunately, that meant Slade wasn't going to be on the team. We asked Slade to do a lot this year. He was in the rotation for over half the year, moved to the bullpen, unfortunate injury.
“He came back and pitched some big innings for us down the stretch. Slade is very much an option for us moving forward depending on how long the season progresses.”
Elsewhere, first baseman Rhys Hoskins is not part of the ALDS roster. The 33-year-old went on the injured list with lower back inflammation on Aug. 19 and missed the remainder of the regular season.
Vogt said the Guardians talked a lot about adding the right-handed-hitting Hoskins as an extra bat. The White Sox roster includes five left-handers whom they could deploy in relief. In the decision of Hoskins vs. a 12th pitcher, the latter won.
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“Rhys got himself ready, and we can't thank him enough for that,” Vogt said. “He'll continue to stay ready throughout the postseason.”
Cecconi and Hoskins are among the players on the Guardians’ taxi squad, which also includes but is not limited to catcher Kody Huff and reliever Craig Yoho. Any could be activated in the event of an injury. Huff is ranked as Cleveland’s No. 27 prospect by MLB Pipeline.
Right-hander Colin Holderman (right wrist inflammation) also is not on the roster, though he noted this week he won’t make it back for the postseason and expects to undergo surgery to address a nagging issue.
One lingering question is who will start Game 3 for the Guardians, following Messick and Williams in Games 1 and 2. Bibee, Cantillo, Griffin and opener Daniel Espino each loom as possibilities. Every pitcher but Williams will be available out of the bullpen in Game 1.
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For now, here is the Guardians’ ALDS roster, which features 14 position players and 12 pitchers.
Catchers (2): Patrick Bailey, Austin Hedges
Infielders (6): Travis Bazzana, Angel Genao, Nathaniel Lowe, José Ramírez, Brayan Rocchio, Daniel Schneemann
Outfielders (6): Jo Adell, Chase DeLauter, David Fry, Petey Halpin, Steven Kwan, Angel Martínez
Pitchers (12): Shawn Armstrong, Tanner Bibee, Joey Cantillo, Daniel Espino, Matt Festa, Hunter Gaddis, Foster Griffin, Tim Herrin, Parker Messick, Erik Sabrowski, Cade Smith, Gavin Williams