GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Moving boxes have flooded the Guardians' clubhouse at their player development complex in Arizona in recent days. Cleveland will break camp on Tuesday to head to Seattle to begin its 2026 regular season.
But as Cactus League play winds down, the Guardians' brass still has a few decisions to make as the club finalizes its 26-man Opening Day roster.
“The roster is pretty close to set, but there are still a few decisions that we need to work through over the next few days,” manager Stephen Vogt said before Sunday's 8-2 win over the Reds. “But I really love where we are right now, how it's shaping up.”
Here is what the Guardians must figure out over the coming days.
1. The final outfield spot
The Guardians have space for four outfielders. Steven Kwan and Chase DeLauter make two, and it would be a surprise if Angel Martínez isn’t on the team after his strong performance this spring. George Valera (left calf strain) is likely to open the season on the injured list, which leaves one spot for CJ Kayfus and non-roster invitee Stuart Fairchild.
Kayfus has three Minor League options remaining. Fairchild signed a Minor League deal in December. According to a source, his deal included an upward mobility clause, which, if triggered, would allow him to seek an opportunity with another team if the Guardians did not add him to their roster.
A few things to consider here: Kwan will play left and center field, and Martínez can also play both. DeLauter (who’s the Guardians’ No. 2 prospect and No. 46 overall, according to MLB Pipeline) is the only outfielder whom the club wants to keep in one spot, in part due to his physical history. He’s set to play right field and DH.
“We want to keep this guy as close to 100 percent every day as possible,” Vogt said of DeLauter. “We felt like putting him in right field -- one, it's his best outfield position, and it also allows him to have the consistency of, ‘I know where I'm going to be. I know where I need to go.’”
Fairchild can play all three outfield spots, while Kayfus can play right and left field, and first base. The decision may be a matter of keeping Fairchild for his versatility and to add a right-handed hitter to a mix full of lefties, versus having another power bat in Kayfus (who had an .888 OPS over 20 games in September).
2. The final bullpen spot
The bullpen picture gained some clarity Sunday; non-roster invitee Codi Heuer (who also had an upward mobility clause in his Minor League deal) was selected to the 40-man roster and optioned to Triple-A Columbus.
Seven of the eight bullpen spots are secured by closer Cade Smith, Shawn Armstrong, Erik Sabrowski, Tim Herrin, Matt Festa, Rule 5 Draft pick Peyton Pallette and Connor Brogdon (who signed a one-year deal in December and is out of options). It’s down to Colin Holderman and non-roster invitee Kolby Allard for the final job.
Holderman (who has two options remaining) had a 7.01 ERA in 24 appearances with the Pirates in ‘25, when he dealt with a right thumb injury. He had a 3.52 ERA over 113 appearances with Pittsburgh from ‘23-24.
In nine appearances this spring, Holderman has allowed nine runs on 10 hits and four walks over nine innings. Those numbers are skewed toward the right-hander’s first two outings, when Holderman allowed seven runs on six hits and one walk over 1 2/3 innings.
Allard (who also has an upward mobility clause) was dependable for the Guardians in 2025 while pitching in a bevy of situations. The lefty had a 2.63 ERA in 33 games (including two starts) and has been stretching out this spring. Five of Allard’s seven appearances this spring have been two or more innings.
Allard’s ability to provide length in relief could be valuable while the Guardians open the regular season with 13 games in 14 days.
“We're coming out of the gates hot,” Vogt said. “So we’ve got to make sure that we have the right bullpen pieces together to be able to protect our guys."
3. The rotation order
Vogt said the club is working through finalizing the rotation order. We know Tanner Bibee will start on Opening Day on Thursday, and Gavin Williams is listed as Friday’s probable starter.
Slade Cecconi will start Monday’s exhibition against the D-backs at Chase Field, and Joey Cantillo will piggyback him. The Guardians want to get both pitchers some work. That could line them up to start Saturday and Sunday against the Mariners, in some order.