Right now, the safest bet for the Guardians’ 2027 Opening Day group is that it won’t look wildly different from the one they finish 2026 with. Cleveland has spent the last few offseasons making real changes, but this is still a roster in motion, and there’s already a pretty clear early picture forming for next spring.
The lineup projection starts with Steven Kwan in left field, Chase DeLauter in right, Jose Ramirez at third, Jo Adell at designated hitter, Travis Bazzana at second, Angel Martinez in left, Kyle Manzardo at first, Patrick Bailey behind the plate, and Brayan Rocchio at shortstop.
Kwan and Adell are the two names that jump out immediately because they’re also the most obvious trade candidates on the big-league roster. Even so, the sense here is that Cleveland is better off keeping both for now than dealing either one away.
Kwan is the simpler case. Earlier this offseason, Chris Antonetti said the plan was for the All-Star-caliber outfielder to be in Cleveland next season.
That should always be read with some caution, but Antonetti usually leaves more room for interpretation when the team is still weighing all its options. In this case, he sounded more definitive than usual.
A move could still happen later this winter, but it doesn’t sound imminent.
Adell is a little different, though the logic still points toward keeping him. Cleveland brought him in because it needed right-handed depth, and moving the 27-year-old now would leave the same hole the Guardians tried to patch in August.
Manzardo is another player who looks like he gets another shot. He was optioned to Triple-A at the start of August after his consistency dipped, and his numbers explain why: a .684 OPS and a 32 percent strikeout rate in 312 at-bats last year.
Even so, he’s only 26, and the power is real. Players don’t stumble into 27 home runs the way Manzardo did in 2025.
Before Ralphy Velazquez gets his turn - and that should happen at some point next season - Manzardo appears set to get one more crack at showing what he learned over the offseason.
The last spot in the outfield is still the kind of question Cleveland has been chasing for years. It remains unsettled here, too. The free-agent market doesn’t offer much help, so the best answer may still come from inside the organization.
If the Guardians draw a left-hander on Opening Day, Angel Martinez looks like the strongest offensive option. The 24-year-old led Cleveland with 18 home runs last season and posted a career-best .755 OPS.
If the matchup is against a right-hander, Petey Halpin could also enter the mix, with Kwan shifting over to left field.
In Other News...
Guardians Face A Tough Call On A Top Prospect Soon
Jaison Chourio has climbed steadily through the Guardians minor league system and is now at Triple-A, putting him on the doorstep of a decision Cleveland has been preparing for. The organization is expected to add him to the 40-man roster soon, a move aimed at keeping him out of the Rule 5 Draft and preserving one of the more intriguing young players in the system.
For the Guardians, it is the kind of roster call that comes with both urgency and patience. Chourio is viewed as a top prospect, but he still appears to be about a year away from making a regular impact in the majors, which means Cleveland has to balance protecting his future with the realities of a crowded roster right now. [Read more 🡒]
Former Guardians Prospect Gets Another Shot With A Contender
Christian Cairo is getting another fresh start, this time with a contender that has a long track record of turning depth pieces into useful big league options. The former Guardians prospect was claimed off waivers by the Dodgers from the Mets, adding another stop to a pro career that has already taken him through four organizations over seven seasons without a major league appearance.
For Cleveland fans, Cairo remains one of those familiar names who never quite got the call despite sticking around the game and keeping himself in the mix. The Dodgers made a second roster move the same day by re-signing infielder Tyler Fitzgerald to a minor league deal, a reminder of how quickly the margins can shift for players trying to stay positioned for a breakthrough. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians May Have Another Future Core Infielder On The Rise
Welbyn Franciscas rapid climb has given the Guardians another name to watch in the middle infield pipeline. The 20-year-old switch-hitting infielder from the Dominican Republic signed with Cleveland in 2023 and reached Double-A Akron this season, then backed up that progress with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League. That combination was enough to land him at No. 98 on Bleacher Reports Top 100 prospect list, a notable step for a player still early in his professional career.
For a Cleveland system that has long valued homegrown infield talent, Franciscas rise adds to the sense that the organization may have another future core piece developing in plain sight. He is one of four Guardians prospects included on the list, which weighs both current ability and long-term upside, and his placement suggests evaluators are taking notice of how quickly his tools are translating. The next test will be whether he can keep that momentum going as he moves closer to the upper levels. [Read more 🡒]