CLEVELAND, Ohio - With the current labor deal set to expire on Dec. 1, there’s already one big question hanging over baseball: will owners lock out the players, and if so, will it spill into the 2027 season?
That issue came up in a question about Steven Kwan, whose last season under Cleveland control would come before free agency. The answer is straightforward on the surface and messy in the details: service time is tied to games played, so if games aren’t happening, players aren’t earning service time. But, as was noted, all of it is negotiable.
The Guardians also got asked about the possibility of a roof over their home ballpark, and the answer there was much less encouraging. Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio and the Dolan family just put $435 million into Progressive Field improvements, and none of that money went toward a roof. The team’s lease runs through 2036, with an option for another 10 years.
As for Jose Ramirez, the reminder was to never count him out - but also not to ignore what he’s dealing with right now. He’s trying to make up ground after missing five weeks in the middle of the season because of a sore left hand, and that’s a lot to ask even from a player with his track record.
There was also some roster speculation around the corner, especially with Nathaniel Lowe and Rhys Hoskins potentially back in 2027. That discussion led to Ralphy Velazquez, who is waiting at Triple-A.
Fry gives the club more versatility because he can handle multiple spots, but he could also be a non-tender candidate. Manzardo, meanwhile, is a pure DH/first baseman, won’t be eligible for arbitration, and brings more power.
If Cleveland keeps running Jose Ramirez, Chase DeLauter and Jo Adell through the DH spot next year, that could shape Fry and Manzardo’s future too.
For September, the names mentioned were Kyle Manzardo and right-hander Daniel Espino - as long as the organization keeps Ralphy Velazquez off limits.
There was also a status update on two pitchers as rosters expand on Tuesday (Sept. 1).
Slade Cecconi, who is working back from right arm fatigue, has made one rehab appearance. Shawn Armstrong, coming back from a strained left calf, has not made an appearance yet.
On the pitching side, Stephen Vogt’s approach drew another question: why not let starters go deeper into games? The explanation pointed to a simple modern reality.
Vogt is trying to keep the rotation healthy and rested over the full season, and he’s used only seven starters this year. He’s also leaning on a bullpen that can cover a lot of ground once a starter reaches the fifth or sixth inning.
That’s part of the biggest shift in the sport. Bullpens now carry more of the load, and starting pitchers are no longer expected to pile up innings the way they once did.
The center-field question came down to trust and late-game flexibility. Petey Halpin is viewed as a strong defender in center, and Vogt seems more comfortable with Halpin or Steven Kwan there. Angel Martinez can play the position, but he usually works in left field and can also move to center or right late in games when pinch-hitting and defensive changes are more likely.
Elsewhere, there was curiosity about Jo Adell and whether a contract extension could happen in Cleveland now that his agent is Scott Boras. The response: Cleveland has signed and drafted plenty of Boras clients. Extending them has been the issue.
And when asked about the odds of the Guardians adding a roof someday, the answer was blunt: probably not.
In Other News...
Guardians Prospect Saga Took A Shocking Turn Before He Ever Signed
The Guardians thought they had lined up a promising addition when they reached a $2.8 million deal with a switch-hitting infielder known as David Severino, a player they had tracked as part of their international pipeline. Instead, an MLB investigation blew up the agreement before it ever became official, uncovering that the prospect had used fake documents and a fabricated gravesite to support a false identity and age.
What makes the situation especially jarring for Cleveland is that the club is not facing discipline, even as the player has been suspended for the fraud. Severino, whose real name is Daury David Severino Damaso, is now expected to sign for a much smaller bonus, leaving the Guardians to move on from a saga that never even reached the point of a signature. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Legal Crisis Just Raised A Bigger Question For Emmanuel Clase
The legal clock keeps moving for Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, and the latest ruling in Brooklyn did little to change the basic shape of the case. A federal judge denied the pitchers requests for separate trials in their November proceedings tied to an alleged pitch-rigging scheme, while also turning aside the governments bid to remove Clases attorney from the matter. Both pitchers have pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, leaving the Guardians facing another off-field storyline that is now officially headed toward trial.
For Cleveland, the immediate issue is less about courtroom maneuvering than about what this means for Clases future and the teams ability to plan around him. The case is scheduled to begin on November 2, and with the judge keeping the players joined together, the proceedings will unfold under a spotlight that could shape not only the next few weeks but the larger question hanging over one of the clubs most prominent pitchers. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Playoff Push Suddenly Has A New X Factor
The Guardians came home from an undefeated road trip with one month left before the postseason, and the timing only sharpened the sense that their push has a little more substance than a hot streak. Steven Kwan and Chase DeLauter have helped keep the lineup on base in August, while Parker Messick has settled in as a reliable starter with a 2.54 ERA over 33 starts, giving Cleveland a rotation piece it can actually lean on as the games start to matter more.
Even more important, the bullpen has been carrying real weight. Since August 10, it has posted a 1.52 ERA and sat near the top of several pitching categories, the kind of run that can change the entire shape of a stretch drive. For a club trying to hold momentum into September, that relief work may end up being the difference between simply hanging around and turning this into a legitimate playoff push. [Read more 🡒]