The Guardians are using Sept. 1 to expand their roster, and Daniel Schneemann and Carlos Hernandez are expected to get the call. But the move that’s drawing the most attention is the one Cleveland is not making: Ralphy Velazquez is staying in the minors.
That has sparked questions from analyst Anthony Lima, who wondered aloud why the club isn’t giving the first baseman a shot after the season he put together. Lima argued that if Cleveland keeps passing on Velazquez, fans may never get a real answer on what he could have brought to a playoff push.
“Obviously, [Ralphy Velazquez’s] not getting the call-up. If he hits another eight home runs and he’s just cashing through time and time again, we’re just never gonna know.
We’re just gonna be sitting here never knowing if this guy would’ve produced. It’s the whole sport.
We’re just sitting here playing a guessing game on whether a guy is mature enough to handle something like that,” Lima said.
Velazquez’s numbers at Triple-A make the case for him pretty easy to understand. The 2023 first-round pick hit 21 home runs in 75 games and posted a .281/.364/.551 slash line, production that showed he had earned the promotion to that level and then some.
In another season, that kind of performance likely would have pushed him into a major league debut already, especially with Cleveland searching for help at first base. But this year’s bigger wrinkle is the labor situation looming over the sport.
Because a lockout is viewed as the most likely outcome next season, the Guardians have to think beyond just what Velazquez might give them now. If he were added to the active roster, he would not be able to play in the minors next year if a work stoppage happens. With nobody knowing how long that could last, Cleveland could be putting a 21-year-old with real upside in a tougher spot than necessary.
Ken Carman pointed to that same issue, saying, “This lockout is getting in the way. Last year, it did not stop them from putting Chase DeLauter on the roster in the postseason, because they weren’t afraid of a lockout coming up last year,” Ken Carman said.
Cleveland has earned trust for the way it handles its prospects, so there’s a case to be made for giving the front office the benefit of the doubt here. Still, if the Guardians miss the playoffs, this decision is going to be picked apart for a long time, in the same way their call on Francisco Lindor has been revisited more than a decade later.
For now, the hope is simple: Velazquez keeps moving toward the majors, and the timing works out in a 2027 season that isn’t interrupted.
In Other News...
Clase And Ortiz Face A Damaging New Twist In Cleveland Case
Federal prosecutors say the Cleveland Guardians pitchers at the center of the alleged pitch-rigging and betting case did more than simply face accusations tied to baseball integrity. In court filings, they allege Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz tried to mislead Major League Baseball investigators about their involvement, deepening a scandal that has already put the club in the middle of one of the sports uglier legal fights.
Both pitchers have pleaded not guilty to charges that include conspiracy, fraud, money laundering and sports bribery, and the case is now headed toward a November 2 trial. Prosecutors contend the pair ran afoul of MLBs Rule 21, which bars betting on baseball, while also attempting to hide payments and their roles during the leagues inquiry, adding another layer of risk for a franchise still waiting for this case to play out. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Bullpen Move Comes With One Roster Twist To Watch
The Guardians are set to get a little more flexibility as September roster expansion gives the club a chance to shuffle some pieces around. Right-hander Carlos Hernndez will be added to the major league roster to fill an open spot on the 40-man, while utility man Daniel Schneemann is also coming back up from Triple-A Columbus to give Cleveland some extra bench depth.
Hernndez has been in the organization on a minor league deal and recently returned from injury, which makes his promotion a notable step as the team evaluates its bullpen options down the stretch. Schneemanns recall gives the Guardians another versatile bat and glove to work with, and the move creates one roster wrinkle worth keeping an eye on as Cleveland sorts out how it wants to use its expanded September group. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Wild Card Chase Just Got Tougher Before Huge Orioles Series
The Guardians were already bracing for a pivotal stretch, and Baltimore made the kind of late move that can change the tone of a race in a hurry. The Orioles claimed outfielder Luis Robert Jr. off waivers from the Mets before the postseason eligibility deadline, adding a player with real upside even after an injury-troubled season. For Cleveland, which is trying to keep its wild card chase on track, the timing only adds to the pressure heading into a series that was important already.
Roberts path makes the move even more intriguing. He has also played for the White Sox and remains a quality talent when healthy, which is why Baltimore was willing to take on the rest of his salary for the season and sort out the longer-term option later. The immediate question for the Guardians is simple enough: how much tougher does a suddenly strengthened Orioles club make an already critical matchup for a team trying to stay in the postseason mix? [Read more 🡒]