The Guardians are in no rush to lock up Jo Adell, at least not yet.
That was the message in response to a reader who suggested a two-year extension with a club option for a third year after Cleveland acquired Adell from the Angels at a bargain. For now, the club controls Adell through 2027, but there are bigger issues lurking behind the scenes, including a possible lockout after the current basic agreement expires in December and an ownership change that could come near the end of the 2027 season.
From the outside, the recommendation was simple: wait and see how Adell finishes the year, especially with the bruised left knee hanging over his stretch run.
David Fry, meanwhile, is officially back with the Guardians - even if you might not know it from the way the lineup has been handled. He was recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday, then sat without an at-bat on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. That came after a scorching run in Columbus, where Fry homered six times in his last six games.
There was also some curiosity about Stephen Vogt’s late-game choices in Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to the Giants. Rookie Petey Halpin got the ninth-inning at-bat because Vogt wanted the lefty-right edge against right-hander Dylan Smith. The manager was also working with a short bench, since Chase DeLauter and Jo Adell were active but unavailable because of injuries.
Halpin has held his own against righties, hitting .260 (27 for 104) in those matchups this season. Another option would have been David Fry in a right-on-right spot, but Vogt stayed with the left-handed hitter. DeLauter, also a lefty bat, likely would have been the choice if he had been available.
Vogt also drew questions about catcher Patrick Bailey, including why he kept using him and why he pinch-hit him for Austin Hedges in the ninth inning of that same loss. The answer there was matchup-driven too: Bailey is a switch-hitter, so Vogt wanted him batting left-handed against Dylan Smith.
Bailey didn’t come through in that spot, striking out in a key moment. But the next two games offered a reminder not to overreact to one night.
In Thursday’s 5-3 win, Bailey had two hits, a walk, a stolen base and an RBI. On Friday, he added a homer and a ground-rule double.
Another reader wanted to know what the Guardians play after a successful steal at Progressive Field. The answer wasn’t a song at all, but a trumpet or bugle call, according to Court Berry Tripp of the Guardians’ PR department.
The comparison was made to a call to the post at the Kentucky Derby. The preference from Hoynsie: “Born to Run,” but that’s just me.
First base came up as a possible area for change once rosters expand on Sept. 1.
Ralphy Velazquez is unlikely to be called up because the CBA expires in December, but there was a suggestion that David Fry could get a look there soon. Nathaniel Lowe has been playing well at the position, and Kyle Manzardo still needs a path too.
As for the bigger picture, there was skepticism that a wave of big free-agent spending is coming anytime soon. The Guardians’ best read on their future may come from this season itself, with so many young players getting everyday major league reps. That should give the front office a clearer sense of what it has for 2027 and beyond, and where the club will need to add through trades or free agency.
And when it comes to why the team didn’t anticipate Jose Ramirez’s left-hand hamate issue after his 2019 surgery on his right hand, the answer was straightforward: teams don’t operate until a player actually needs surgery.
In Other News...
Gabriel Arias Just Forced A Former Guardian Back Out Of Chicago
The Cubs infield shuffle kept turning over before Owen Miller could really settle in. Chicago brought him up after Dansby Swanson went down with an injury, looking for quick depth in the middle infield, but his stay on the roster was about as brief as it gets. For a player who has already worn uniforms for Cleveland, Milwaukee and Colorado, it was another short stop in a career that has bounced around the league.
Chicago then claimed Gabriel Arias off waivers, and the move pushed Miller back out of the picture almost immediately. Arias is expected to fill a utility role behind Nico Hoerner and Pedro Ramrez, giving the Cubs another versatile infield option while closing the door on Millers latest chance to stick in Chicago. [Read more 🡒]
Angel Genao Is Forcing A Guardians Infield Dilemma
Angel Genaos first taste of the big leagues has been enough to make the Guardians pay attention. Since making his MLB debut on Aug. 5, he has handled a utility infield role with the kind of steady play that can change a managers thinking, pairing a .320/.382/.440 slash line with encouraging defensive work through his first 50 at-bats.
Stephen Vogt has already acknowledged the ripple effect, noting that Genaos performance is turning the infield into a real competition for playing time. For Cleveland, that is the good kind of problem to have, but it can also lead to difficult roster decisions as the club tries to balance production, versatility and opportunity across the group. [Read more 🡒]
Stephen Vogt Just Sent A Clear Message With Clevelands Lineup
Stephen Vogt did something rare for Cleveland this week by rolling out the same lineup in back-to-back games, a small choice that still carried plenty of meaning in a season where the manager has mixed and matched often. It suggested a group that was starting to settle in, and it came with rookie Angel Genao holding down shortstop for a second straight start while Erik Sabrowski continued to trend up after his return from the injured list.
The lineup stability also fit the broader tone around the club, where Vogt had checked in with key players about how they were feeling before locking things in. Jos Ramrez was part of that conversation, and he kept adding to his place in franchise history with another hit, nudging himself further up Cleveland's all-time list while the Guardians tried to find a rhythm that has been elusive for much of the season. [Read more 🡒]