CLEVELAND -- The Guardians made an off-day roster move ahead of Friday’s series opener against the A’s in West Sacramento, optioning outfielder George Valera to Triple-A Columbus on Thursday.
The club noted it will make a corresponding move to fill Valera’s vacated roster spot Friday.
Valera opened 2026 on the 10-day injured list with a left calf strain, after emerging as a contributor for the Guardians down the stretch and in the postseason last year following his Sept. 1 MLB debut. The 25-year-old was activated off the IL on April 13 and appeared in 13 of the Guardians’ ensuing 16 games, while compiling a .216/.237/.297 slash line in 38 plate appearances.
A crowded outfield picture
Valera’s playing time has been limited in an outfield mix featuring Steven Kwan, Chase DeLauter and Angel Martínez, along with Swiss Army knife Daniel Schneemann and versatile catcher David Fry, who has also appeared in right field this season. Of his 16 appearances, Valera made nine starts (six in left, three in right).
Kwan has made 23 starts in center and six in left. Martínez's 16 starts in left rank first on the team, and he has also been one of the Guardians’ steadiest hitters this season (five home runs, .792 OPS in 29 games). DeLauter (five homers, .830 OPS in 29 games) leads the Guardians with 16 starts in right field. Martínez and Fry have each made five starts in right.
Schneemann has slashed .321/.391/.564 with four home runs in 26 games. He’s played center field, shortstop, second and third base this season. When he’s in the lineup in center, the Guardians have often slid Kwan back to his natural position in left.
Optioning Valera affords him a chance to play every day and get consistent reps.
Right versus left
After Valera’s option, six of the 12 position players on the Guardians’ active roster hit left-handed. Fry, Austin Hedges and Rhys Hoskins are the lone three righties, while Martínez, José Ramírez and Brayan Rocchio are switch-hitters.
The Guardians knew entering this season their position-player mix would lean left-handed. Perhaps the Valera option is an avenue to add another right-handed bat to the mix. It’s worth noting, however, that Cleveland entered Thursday with a .722 OPS against left-handed pitching, which ranked 11th in MLB. In 2025, they ranked 27th with a .647 OPS.
Who could be called up to fill the open roster spot?
If we look strictly at outfielders, the Guardians have a bevy of options at Triple-A Columbus. Those on the 40-man roster include Petey Halpin, Kahlil Watson (No. 14 prospect, per MLB Pipeline) and CJ Kayfus -- who was optioned to the Clippers as the corresponding move to Valera’s activation off the IL.
Halpin made a good impression on the Guardians during Spring Training before his March 20 option to Columbus. He could offer speed and plus defense in a reserve role. Watson has had a good start in Triple-A while logging an .877 OPS in 24 games.
Non-40-man roster outfielders include Stuart Fairchild (who was a non-roster invitee in Spring Training) and Nolan Jones. Fairchild has hit .316 with a .968 OPS in 21 games and can play each outfield spot, and Jones (who was outrighted to Columbus on March 20) has hit .291 with an .892 OPS in 24 games.
Halpin, Watson and Jones hit left-handed. Fairchild hits right-handed.