CLEVELAND -- The Guardians have not made any final determination on who will join their active roster when it expands by two players on Tuesday. But they have spent a chunk of time sorting through their options.
“We talked about it last night, talked about it again this morning,” Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said Sunday. “I'm guessing we'll talk about it after the game again today.”
Each team will add one position player and one pitcher to its mix on Tuesday when active rosters will expand to 28 players. The Guardians have a laundry list of options at Triple-A Columbus whom they could call up to contribute to their postseason push.
Cleveland seems to have a clear idea of what it is looking to do.
Position player
The Guardians have a bevy of options at Columbus, including Swiss Army knife Daniel Schneemann, first baseman Kyle Manzardo, outfielders Kahlil Watson and Blake Perkins and catcher/outfielder Cooper Ingle.
Antonetti practically described Schneemann when discussing how the Guardians are viewing this spot.
“For this role, it's probably more about versatility and where a guy protects us and other spots,” Antonetti said.
Antonetti was complimentary of first baseman Ralphy Velazquez (who’s ranked as the Guardians’ No. 2 prospect and No. 32 overall by MLB Pipeline), who has hit 15 home runs in August. The 21-year-old has also added left field to his toolkit this season as an additional pathway for him to reach the Majors.
COMPLETE GUARDIANS PROSPECT COVERAGE
Antonetti described that as a “work in progress” while noting Velazquez is most comfortable at first base. He doesn’t sound like an option to be called up. There are 40-man roster considerations the club figures to be keeping in mind anyway.
Schneemann played every position other than first base and catcher before Cleveland optioned him to Columbus on July 24. The 29-year-old entered Sunday hitting .330 with a .993 OPS in 24 games with the Clippers. Manzardo (.301 average, .965 OPS over 19 games with Columbus) has also hit well since the Guardians optioned him to Columbus on Aug. 3, after they acquired fellow left-handed-hitting first baseman Nathaniel Lowe on Aug. 3.
Given Lowe’s presence, calling up Manzardo to not play consistently may not make sense.
“We don't have a ton of at-bats to give that spot,” Antonetti said. “So it's really going to be who complements the group that we have up here, because I expect that the group that's here and in the clubhouse will continue to play regularly and get a lot of those at-bats.”
Pitching staff
The Guardians used a six-man rotation last September, which paved the way for its historic comeback to win the American League Central. All signs point to them sticking with a five-man staff this year. Antonetti said they will “likely go with another reliever or add to our bullpen.”
Franco Aleman and Daniel Espino are potential relief options with Columbus, and Slade Cecconi and Ben Lively fit under the latter bucket that Antonetti described.
Cleveland moved Cecconi (who’s on the 10-day injured list with right arm fatigue) to its bullpen after it acquired starter Foster Griffin before the Trade Deadline. Cecconi made his second rehab appearance with Columbus on Sunday, working around three innings and up to 50 pitches.
“We'll have a decision after today,” Antonetti said on Cecconi’s next step. “Does he go on another rehab assignment? Is he an option for us in the Major Leagues?”
Lively (who is not on the 40-man roster) has made three appearances with Columbus in his comeback from June 2025 Tommy John surgery. He has worked up to 4 2/3 innings with the Clippers. Antonetti noted his stuff has been up, but he’s been working to lock in his command.
One factor to keep in mind here is the Guardians have a doubleheader against the Tigers at Progressive Field on Friday. Cecconi could be an option to start one of those games, whether he’s activated by Tuesday or not.
“That will be part of our pitching plans, how do we account for that additional start we'll need,” Antonetti said. “That could be a combination of guys that are up here now. Slade could possibly play into that too.”
Reliever Shawn Armstrong (left calf strain) is not eligible to be activated off the 60-day IL until Sept. 23. Andrew Walters is not an option for a callup. He has been on the Minor League injured list since June 23 due to right elbow discomfort, and Antonetti said he’s still having symptoms.
“We're going to have to wrap our arms around that and figure out what the next course is from here,” Antonetti said. “But I don't think he's going to pitch anytime soon.”