3 must-watch competitions for Guards Spring Training

CLEVELAND -- If you’ve followed along with the Guardians’ offseason, you’ve likely noticed that a large chunk of their roster maneuvering has been bullpen-related.

But even with relievers accounting for the bulk of the Guardians’ acquisitions this winter, the club is fast approaching a Spring Training that is set to be laden with competition across the roster.

The Guardians’ first official workout for pitchers and catchers in Goodyear, Ariz., is set for Feb. 12. With less than one month to go, here are three intriguing competitions that await.

1) The rotation
The Guardians finished the 2025 season with a six-man rotation that spurred their September comeback to clinch the AL Central title. Cleveland pivoted from a traditional five-man staff during the stretch run, while the workloads for its handful of up-and-coming starters were approaching uncharted territory.

Those were unique circumstances, and the Guardians are set to move back to a five-man rotation come Opening Day. They have six reliable starters for that group in Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee, Slade Cecconi, Logan Allen, Parker Messick and Joey Cantillo.

“It's a good problem to have,” manager Stephen Vogt said on Thursday. “We're going to have some good competition in the rotation. The six that ended the year all showed really well down the stretch, and at times throughout the year in ‘25. We feel really good about that depth.”

There are avenues available within that depth. Cantillo has experience pitching in relief -- though he was stellar in the rotation after being recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Sept. 3 (1.55 ERA over five starts). Messick has Minor League options remaining, but he made a great first impression after making his MLB debut on Aug. 20 (2.72 ERA over seven starts).

We at least know Gavin Williams and Tanner Bibee are returning as the rotation’s anchors, and ultimately, any team would rather have a surplus of starters than otherwise. This will be a compelling group to watch in Arizona.

2) The outfield
Alongside All-Star Steven Kwan in left field, there are seemingly countless ways the Guardians’ outfield could come together. That mix is shaping up to be the club’s most intriguing position group during camp.

"There's a lot of outfielders that we need to get looks at,” Vogt said. “It’s exciting. There’s a lot of young talent that we have to play the outfield, and you’re going to see a number of people get some looks in center field and right field.”

Cleveland’s outfield options include Chase DeLauter (the Guardians’ No. 2 prospect and No. 58 overall, per MLB Pipeline), who is among those who will get reps in center and right field during camp. Nolan Jones, Angel Martínez and Petey Halpin are among the returnees who also could factor into center.

In right field, the options include George Valera and C.J. Kayfus (both of whom made their MLB debut down the stretch in 2025) and Johnathan Rodríguez. DeLauter and Jones each have right-field experience as well.

“There’s going to be a lot of competition at those two spots,” Vogt said.

The Guardians also signed Stuart Fairchild to a Minor League deal with an invitation to Spring Training, and they at least still have time to acquire another veteran to help bolster an offense that collectively struggled in 2025.

3) The bullpen
In his first season as a manager in 2024, Vogt oversaw a bullpen that led MLB in ERA (2.57). In ‘25, the Guardians ranked third in reliever ERA (3.44), and they led MLB from July 28 onward (3.27), after closer Emmanuel Clase went on non-disciplinary paid leave.

How does Vogt view the mix heading into Spring Training?

“From where I'm sitting, this is the deepest bullpen we've had in the last three years,” Vogt said.

The Guardians have an abundance of depth after they made a flurry of additions this winter. They signed right-handers Shawn Armstrong (who is slated to take on high-leverage work), Colin Holderman and Connor Brogdon to one-year deals and selected right-hander Peyton Pallette in the Rule 5 Draft. Cleveland also signed Codi Heuer and Pedro Avila to Minor League deals with invitations to big league camp.

Cade Smith is set to get the bulk of ninth-inning opportunities, and returnees behind him include Hunter Gaddis, Erik Sabrowski, Matt Festa and Tim Herrin. That makes at least 11 relievers for eight spots.

“We've got really good depth,” Vogt said. “There's a lot of good power arms. There's a lot of good stuff, and it's a matter of us just coming together in Spring Training, seeing what these guys have and then roll into the season.”