The Guardians are expected to make a roster move Tuesday when rosters expand, and Chris Antonetti’s comments point toward Daniel Schneemann getting the call. That would be the wrong kind of move for a team that badly needs more thump.
Cleveland already has enough light-hitting utility types. What it doesn’t have enough of is a player who can change a game with one swing, and that’s the real issue here: the Guardians rank 29th in MLB in home runs.
There are better paths available, starting with Kyle Manzardo. He’s not a guaranteed fix, but among the players on the 40-man in Columbus, he’s the one who has already shown legitimate major-league power.
He’s still the best bet to rediscover that pop, and his .288 ISO in Columbus only strengthens that case. If DeLauter can handle right field a couple times a week, Manzardo could return as the DH against right-handed pitchers on those days instead of Jo Adell.
Ralphy Velazquez is another option, even if the idea comes with some risk. He got off to the kind of slow Triple-A start that usually invites skepticism, but his ISO has climbed to .273.
The concerns about his ability to handle breaking balls and offspeed pitches have also started to fade. He could play left field if the club believes the defense is good enough, and while a part-time role at his age could complicate development, there’s a stronger argument for getting him to Cleveland if he’s already one of the organization’s five best hitters.
The only question is whether the Guardians see him that way right now.
Then there’s Cooper Ingle, who brings a .237 ISO and more offensive upside than Schneemann. If the Guardians think his work in left field has reached a usable level, he could get regular at-bats there and some time at DH. In a team starved for both power and production, that edge should matter.
In Other News...
Guardians Face A Tough September Choice With Two Roster Spots Open
With September call-ups arriving Tuesday, the Guardians are preparing to move from 26 players to 28 and give the roster a little more breathing room for the seasons final stretch. President of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said one of those additions will likely be a reliever and the other a position player, with the club still sorting through a mix of Triple-A options and injured-list candidates as it looks for the best fit.
The decision comes down to more than just filling space. Cleveland wants players who complement what is already on hand, and it is also weighing the reality that the extra bat may not see many plate appearances. In other words, these final roster spots are less about headlines than balance, and the Guardians still have a few moving pieces before those choices are locked in. [Read more 🡒]
Jose Ramirez Just Raised A New Concern For Guardians Fans
Jos Ramrez has already given Guardians fans enough reason to breathe easier by making it back after surgery for a hamate fracture, but his return has not come with a full sense of normalcy. He missed more than a month earlier this season, came back in July, and has still been working through the lingering effects of the injury while trying to anchor Clevelands lineup.
After a recent game against the Royals, Ramrez said the hand is still part of the conversation because the pain and strength have not fully gone away. Even so, he showed again why the Guardians need him, collecting two hits, a home run and four RBIs in the win, a reminder of the production he can still provide even while the injury concern hangs around. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Just Honored A Cleveland Baseball Voice In A Fitting Way
Before Tuesdays game against Kansas City, the Guardians made sure the Progressive Field press box paid tribute to one of the most familiar voices in Cleveland baseball. The team placed a framed photo and a bronze plaque in honor of longtime writer Paul Hoynes, whose coverage of the club has spanned 43 years and earned him the BBWAA Career Excellence Award at the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Hoynes also got a moment on the field, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch to Jos Ramrez in a fitting nod to a writer who has chronicled generations of Cleveland baseball. It was the kind of recognition that reflected both his longevity and the respect he has built around the game, especially from the corner of the ballpark where he has spent so much of his career. [Read more 🡒]