The Cleveland Guardians are heading into spring training with a good problem on their hands - too many quality starting pitchers. After leaning on a six-man rotation down the stretch in 2025 to navigate a grueling second-half schedule, the Guardians rode that depth all the way into the postseason. But with the calendar flipped to 2026 and a return to a traditional five-man rotation on the horizon, someone from that group is going to be the odd man out.
And make no mistake - this is one of the most compelling roster battles to watch this spring.
The names in the mix read like a who’s who of Cleveland’s pitching future: Logan Allen, Tanner Bibee, Joey Cantillo, Slade Cecconi, Parker Messick, and Gavin Williams. Each of them made a strong case last season to stay in the rotation. But only five spots are available, and that means the Guardians’ staff - led by first-year manager Stephen Vogt - will have to make a tough call.
Let’s start with Gavin Williams. The right-hander didn’t just have a breakout year in 2025 - he had a coming-out party.
His near no-hitter against the Mets was one of the most dominant performances of the season, and it cemented him as a potential ace. If he stays on this trajectory, we could be talking about Williams in the AL Cy Young conversation before long.
Pencil him in at the top of the rotation.
Then there’s the trio of Allen, Bibee, and Cecconi - all durable, reliable, and productive last season. Each logged at least 23 starts, giving Cleveland a consistent presence every fifth (or sixth) day. While they may not have grabbed headlines the way Williams did, their steady contributions were a huge part of the Guardians’ late-season surge.
Cantillo is an interesting case. He started the year in the bullpen and eventually transitioned into the rotation, making 13 starts after 21 relief appearances.
His versatility is a major asset, and it might ultimately work against him in this particular battle. If the Guardians want to keep all six arms in the mix, Cantillo could shift back to the pen - a move that keeps him ready to step into the rotation if injuries or performance issues arise.
And then there’s Parker Messick, the late-season call-up who turned heads in a big way. Over just seven starts, Messick posted some of the best numbers in the American League, including a pair of clutch outings in September that helped Cleveland leapfrog Detroit to clinch the AL Central. It was a historic comeback, and Messick played a real role in it.
But here’s the challenge: while Messick's upside is undeniable, he also has the least big-league experience of the group. That could lead the Guardians to send him back to the minors - not as a demotion, but as a way to keep his development on track while keeping him stretched out as a starter.
Manager Stephen Vogt knows he’s got a tough call ahead. "It’s going to be a really hard decision, whatever we end up doing," he said.
"There’s going to be a very heavy competition, and they’re all excited for it. You saw the look on their faces - they’re ready for it."
And that’s the thing - this isn’t just a numbers game. It’s a battle of talent, timing, and fit. The Guardians only used 10 different starting pitchers all of last season - a remarkably low number in today’s game - so whoever earns a rotation spot in March is likely to hold onto it, as long as the results follow.
This spring, Cleveland’s rotation battle won’t just shape the Opening Day roster. It could define the trajectory of the Guardians’ 2026 season.