When Ramírez and Martínez come off the injured list after the All-Star break, the Guardians are going to have to make room. That much is clear. The harder part is deciding who gets squeezed out.
The answer, at least for now, points to a crowded group of Halpin, Watson and Arias. Three players, one open chair.
Halpin looks like the easiest fit to move. He gives the club defense off the bench, but the source of his value is temporary. He’s a stopgap, not a long-term answer.
Watson is a different case. His upside is higher, and he came out hot, but the bat has cooled. The move back to Columbus would give him steady at-bats and keep his development moving.
That leaves Arias, and the case for him is the strongest one. He’s already earned his spot, and his offensive jump isn’t just a tiny sample.
During his rehab stint in Triple A, he homered three times in just fifteen at-bats. After returning to the majors, he hit .212 with a .333 slugging percentage in June, then followed that with a .320 average and a .560 slugging percentage in July.
If Arias stays, the rest of the roster picture shifts around him. The outfield group would be DeLauter, Kwan, Martínez, Schneemann and Fry, while Arias would handle Ramírez, Rocchio or Bazzana when needed.
There’s still pressure coming from below. Ángel Genao is pushing Arias from Columbus, and if Arias can’t lock things down, Genao will be next in line. Ralphy Velázquez could also work his way into the conversation later in the season.
For now, though, the Guardians appear set on keeping Arias and giving him a chance to prove he belongs. Halpin is headed to Triple A.
Watson is going down, too, so he can keep developing. And if Arias doesn’t hold the job, or if he ends up being traded, the organization will have options waiting behind him.
In Other News...
Guardians Just Made The Outfield Pick Fans Have Been Waiting For
After opening the MLB Draft with pitchers Liam Peterson and Logan Schmidt, the Guardians finally turned to the outfield in the third round with Houstons Tre Broussard. Cleveland used the No. 95 pick on a player whose appeal is pretty easy to see: he brings speed, contact skills and the kind of profile that fits the organizations preference for athletic, versatile position players.
Broussards track record at Houston gives the pick some real intrigue, especially after he was successful on 56 of 64 stolen-base attempts over the past two years and hit .344 last season. The Guardians still have to get all of their draft picks signed, but if Broussard develops the way they hope, he could become part of the long-term outfield picture in a system that is always looking for the next reliable bat. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Pitching Depth Just Took Another Hit Fans Feared
The Guardians pitching pipeline has already been thinned by a run of recent moves, and Khal Stephens latest setback only adds to the pressure on a staff that has been asked to absorb plenty of turnover. Cleveland has seen depth pieces and rotation help move in and out through trades, leaving the organization with less margin for error than it would like as it tries to keep innings covered over the long haul.
Stephen is now expected to be sidelined for 10-12 months after a right ulnar collateral ligament repair, a development that removes another arm from the equation at a time when the club can least afford it. If the Guardians need to patch together a spot start or two, names such as Logan Allen, Austin Peterson and Yorman Gmez could come into play, but the bigger concern is how quickly the depth chart can absorb yet another blow. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Just Made Another Draft Bet Fans Know All Too Well
The Guardians went back to a familiar draft lane on Sunday, taking University of Houston outfielder Tre Broussard in the third round with the 95th overall pick. It is the kind of selection Cleveland has long been willing to make: a player whose game is built on speed, defense and enough offensive feel to make you think there could be more coming as he develops.
Broussard brings center-field ability, contact skills and a base-stealing element that fits the organizations usual appetite for athleticism up the middle. MLB Pipeline had him 91st on its draft board, which gives the pick a little more credibility than a pure flier, but the real appeal is the same one Cleveland keeps chasing in this part of the draft - a young college player with tools, movement and room to grow into something more. [Read more 🡒]