Guardians’ bullpen silence is getting loud: Where are Hunter Gaddis and Cade Smith?

Updated: Mar. 05, 2026, 4:11 p.m.|Published: Mar. 05, 2026, 11:21 a.m.

By Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — There’s a missing persons case unfolding in Goodyear, Arizona, and the suspect is load management.

Through 13-plus games of Cactus League play, Guardians closer Cade Smith has not thrown a single pitch in a game. His bullpen counterpart Hunter Gaddis has made exactly one appearance. Two of the most-used relievers in baseball over the past two seasons — the backbone of the Guardians’ dominant late-inning operation — have been virtually invisible this spring. And on the latest episode of Cleveland Baseball Talk, Joe Noga and Paul Hoynes are asking whether that’s a smart plan or a slow-building crisis.

It is a direct question, and it deserves a real answer. The team’s official posture frames this as intentional. Smith and Gaddis have logged extraordinary workloads over back-to-back seasons, combining for more than 150 appearances between them. The organization is being careful and protective. They know what they have in those two arms, and they don’t want them ground into dust before a pitch is thrown in April.

But here is where concern creeps in. There is a meaningful difference between load management and silence. Hoynes — who has been around this organization long enough to recognize what normal spring training looks like — is not fully buying the “all is well” narrative without some reservation.

“That’s a concern,” Hoynes said. “We’ll have to see how the next couple of weeks unfold. But the question is if Smith isn’t ready to open the season, who closes for these guys?”

That question — who closes? — is the one that unravels everything. Cleveland has built its bullpen identity around having a lockdown ninth-inning option. Without Smith, the entire structure shifts. The alternatives are capable arms. But they are not Cade Smith.

Noga framed the stakes clearly: these two relievers are, in terms of organizational indispensability, nearly as important as everyday players like José Ramírez or Steven Kwan. They are expected to take the mound practically every other night. That kind of workload demands preparation, and preparation requires actual game reps — even in March.

Hoynes leaned into the timeline with increasing urgency.

“I don’t mean to be an alarmist, but obviously 13 games into the season, you want your closer to be at least be on the mound, at least once or twice,” Hoynes said.

There is a silver lining the hosts acknowledged: the extended absence of Smith and Gaddis has created valuable runway for an abundance of bullpen candidates. Colin Holderman, Connor Brogdon, Rule 5 pick Peyton Pallette, and veterans like Pedro Avila and Kolby Allard have all had more opportunities to make their case for a roster spot. The Guardians built a crowded pitching room by design, and that depth is now getting a workout.

But there is only so much comfort a fan can draw from organizational depth when the most important arm on the roster has yet to throw a single pitch in a game setting. The Guardians also have a historical context worth remembering here. Under Terry Francona, Cleveland had a well-documented tendency to pile heavy workloads onto both starters and relievers. This spring’s caution may be, in part, a corrective response to those patterns — protecting what matters most before the marathon begins.

The next few weeks will tell the story. Either Smith ramps up, gets his work in, and arrives sharp for opening day in Seattle, or this quiet spring becomes a very loud April conversation.

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Travis Bazzana manifested his WBC dream debut on his iPhone — now Guardians fans want him to type in a World Series

Updated: Mar. 05, 2026, 11:27 a.m.|Published: Mar. 05, 2026, 11:26 a.m.

By Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — If you need proof that Travis Bazzana is built different, look no further than his iPhone.

Cleveland.com Guardians beat reporters Joe Noga and Paul Hoynes opened the latest episode of the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast with the kind of story that sends chills down a baseball fan’s spine — and it starts not with a home run, not with a diving stop at second base, but with a note on a phone screen.

In the Tokyo Dome, batting leadoff for Team Australia, the Guardians’ top prospect went 2-for-4, launched a solo home run in the seventh inning, and helped the Aussies pull off a 3-0 upset over Chinese Taipei in the opening game of the World Baseball Classic. It was the debut performance of someone who had been building toward this exact moment for most of his life.

“This is something he’s been thinking about since he was a boy growing up in Australia,” Hoynes told listeners. “Then in college, he had it written on his iPhone that he wanted to bat leadoff and play for Team Australia in the WBC. And that’s exactly what he did.”

Let that sink in. Bazzana didn’t just dream about this — he wrote it down. He made it non-negotiable, committed it to memory, and then went out and lived it on one of baseball’s biggest international stages. That’s not luck. That’s the kind of drive and intentionality that separates top prospects from generational talents.

And on the podcast, Noga couldn’t help but run with the idea.

“If he’s that good at manifesting with his iPhone, he should type in ‘Guardians win World Series with Travis Bazzana batting leadoff in Game 7,’” Noga said. “I think a lot of Guardians fans would take that in a heartbeat.”

It’s a joke, sure — but there is genuine excitement underneath it. The Guardians have been patient with Bazzana, carefully managing his development through the minor leagues after injury setbacks pushed his timeline back. He might have already been in Cleveland had health cooperated. But watching him perform under pressure on an internationally televised stage makes the wait feel worthwhile.

What impressed the hosts wasn’t just the bat. Hoynes pointed out that Bazzana’s home run swing in Tokyo looked identical to the one he unleashed against the Dodgers in his final Cactus League appearance last week before departing for the WBC — clean, consistent, and locked in. And defensively, he made a diving stop at second base and gunned down a runner, flashing the kind of all-around game that makes scouts reach for their phones.

Then Noga dropped the comparison that will echo through Cleveland all spring.

“This is a kid who knows how to play the game and very much reminds me of Jason Kipnis in a lot of ways,” Nog said. “It looks like he could be the second coming there.”

Jason Kipnis. Two-time All-Star. The engine of a lineup that went to the World Series. A player defined by baseball intelligence, competitive fire, and the ability to come through when the moment was biggest. That name does not get dropped lightly in Cleveland — and Noga dropped it with total conviction.

Hoynes added important nuance: the comparison holds in body type and early defensive development — Kipnis wasn’t polished at second base right away either — but Bazzana may carry even more raw power at the plate. If anything, that’s an upgrade on the template.

For an organization leaning heavily into player development while operating with one of the game’s slimmest payrolls, Bazzana isn’t just a prospect. He’s the plan. He’s the bet. And right now, that bet is playing out in real time on a global stage in Japan — and it looks every bit as bright as advertised.

Listen to the full episode of Cleveland Baseball Talk with Joe Noga and Paul Hoynes for the complete breakdown of Bazzana’s WBC debut, the Kipnis comparison, and what it all means for the Guardians’ trajectory in 2025 and beyond. You don’t want to miss this one.

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Guardians’ late-inning arms off to slow starts because of injuries this spring

Updated: Mar. 05, 2026, 2:53 p.m.|Published: Mar. 05, 2026, 2:34 p.m.

By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Industrial-strength relievers Cade Smith and Hunter Gaddis are having a hard time getting started in spring training for the Guardians.

Manager Stephen Vogt said Smith and Gaddis would be eased in Cactus League play at the start of camp because of their heavy usage over the last two seasons. However, they have combined to make just one appearance headed into tonight’s game against the White Sox in Glendale, Arizona — and that one didn’t go so well.

Gaddis threw a scoreless inning against the Cubs on Feb. 27 and came away with tightness in his right forearm.

Vogt told reporters in Goodyear, Arizona that Gaddis had an MRI on the forearm and “it came back clean.”

“We’ll re-assess on Thursday (following Wednesday’s off day) and build him back after that,” said Vogt.

Vogt was asked if the injury meant Gaddis would have to return to “square one” of his spring training program.

“No, it’s just getting him back into throwing and building him up to get into games,” said Vogt. “Like all of our guys, we go one day at a time. The good news is everything came back clean.”

Smith has been dealing with a sore neck for almost two weeks. He is scheduled to make his first appearance of the spring tonight against the White Sox. He’s also scheduled to pitch Sunday against the Rockies at Salt River Fields.

For the last two years, the Guardians’ bullpen has been one of the best in the big leagues. The loss of Gaddis or Smith would have serious implications. The front office spent much of the winter fortifying the bullpen because of the loss of closer Emmanuel Clase, indicted by federal prosecutors along with teammate Luis Ortiz in November for conspiring with gamblers to throw fixed pitches in games to influence prop bets.

Smith replaced Clase last season, registering 13 of his 16 saves after the move, Gaddis replaced Smith in the set-up role.

The Guardians have pitched Smith and Gaddis hard and often the last two years.

Smith has made 162 appearances, including the postseason, over the last two years. He’s thrown 162 1/3 innings.

Gaddis has made 162 appearances, including the postseason, over the last two years. He’s thrown 151 1/3 innings.

Should Smith be unable to close, Gaddis would probably replace him. If Smith and Gaddis were unavailable, Shawn Armstrong, who saved nine games last year for Texas, could be an option.

After that it’s open tryouts.

The Guardians are also monitoring several other injury situations.

Vogt said part of Chase DeLauter’s “lower body soreness” was caused by a sore hamstring. DeLauter missed four games earlier this spring because of that injury. He returned to the lineup Sunday against Colorado and doubled and homered in his first two at-bats. However, he has not played since that game.

Vogt said DeLauter would start playing games after Wednesday’s off day.

Shortstop Gabriel Arias, scratched from Sunday’s split-squad game against Arizona because of lower back soreness, is feeling better.

Right-hander Austin Peterson, added to the 40-man roster in November, will miss six to eight weeks with a moderate grade strain of the right triceps. Peterson pitched in one game this spring.

Peterson led Cleveland’s minor league system with 145 2/3 innings last season, finishing second in strikeouts (127) and third in ERA (3.21). Peterson went 8-6 in 28 games, including 26 starts, at Double-A and Triple-A Columbus.

The injury hurts the Guardians’ depth in starting pitching.

Right-hander Tanner Bibee (0-1, 5.40) will face the White Sox tonight in his third start of the spring. The 8:05 p.m. game will not be carried by Guardians TV or WTAM/1100.

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Analyst Sends Warning About Nolan Jones

March 5, 2026

By Andres Chavez

Barring a surprise, the Cleveland Guardians are trending towards a George Valera-Steven Kwan-Chase DeLauter outfield alignment most nights in 2026.

Manager Stephen Vogt seems to favor those three players for what they can do on the field, but especially, what they can contribute at the plate.

Kwan will play every day unless he’s hurt, and DeLauter will likely play against all righties and even vs. some southpaws.

Valera seems to have the inside track for a spot on the corners, given his considerable offensive ceiling.

He put up a solid 113 wRC+ in a short 16-game cameo in MLB last year, and entered Wednesday with a 141 spring wRC+.

Analyst Bruce Drennan praised him, but made sure to warn not to write off a struggling outfielder just yet.

“They have hung onto him for a REASON,” Bruce Drennan said about Nolan Jones.

That reason Drennan mentions is none other than potential.

Unlike Valera, Jones has already had a well-above-average season as a major leaguer.

It happened in 2023 in Colorado, when he hit 20 home runs, stole 20 bases, and put up a 137 wRC+.

He then had a 69 wRC+ in 2024 amid injuries and contact issues, yet the Guardians re-acquired him before the 2025 campaign.

It was a disappointment overall, as the outfielder had a 72 wRC+ in 403 plate appearances.

Jones owns a disappointing 29.6 percent strikeout rate in the bigs, too high for a guy whose career-high in homers was the 20 he hit in 2023.

He also hit just five last year despite getting 400+ trips to the plate.

As Drennan says, however, Jones still has potential.

He is still in his physical prime at 27, and he has done it before.

The player believes he didn’t do enough to warrant a roster spot this year in Cleveland, yet here he is, trying to win a place and justify the team’s faith.

One thing is clear, though: 2026 will be his last chance to prove his worth in Cleveland.

Another season like 2024 or 2025, and he is, in all likelihood, gone.

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This Cleveland Guardians Outfield Prospect is Quietly Shining in Spring Training

With so many players playing so good to start spring training, this prospect has been somewhat overlooked.

Cade Cracas

Mar 4, 2026

If it weren’t for Cleveland’s farm system, 2026 would feel incredibly bland.

There wouldn’t be much excitement, no wave of young talent to keep an eye on and, more importantly, far less production on the diamond. Fortunately, that’s not even close to reality. If anything, the early returns from MLB Spring Training have only further shown what many already believed: the Guardians’ front office has quietly built and developed one of the most promising prospect groups in all of baseball.

Through the opening 12 games of spring training action, the Guardians have gotten major contributions from a number of players. One standing out, though, even in his limited opportunities at the plate, is outfielder Jaison Chourio.

In 13 at-bats, Chourio is quietly producing some eye-grabbing moments, with five hits, one double, one RBI and one run scored. He's currently tied with eight other players for the second-most amount of hits for the Guardians during spring training.

His double came in the ninth inning of the game in a loss to the Texas Rangers, 11-4. The ball came off the bat at a registered 106.3 mph, giving good contact and power behind his swing.

For a player who had a good bit of downs in 2025, but is still one of the Guardians' top prospects, this is exactly the type of play you like to see. Slowly but surely, he's putting himself in position to have a respectable 2026 campaign in the minor leagues.







Family Ties

Unfortunately for Jaison, his brother Jackson has stolen most of the headlines throughout his entire career. The non-Guardian signed an eight-year, $82 million deal before even making his major league debut, and since then, has slashed a strong 272/.317/.463 for an OPS of .781 across the past two campaigns of ball.

He's a great player and at the age of 21, he's setting himself up to be a staple for the Milwaukee Brewers for years to come.

But while Jackson steals the show, Jaison's quietly working his way up the minor league ladder.

He shows similar tendencies to his brother, playing in the outfield and being highly regarded as a top prospect. Over the past two years, Jaison has been a Top 10 prospect for the Guardians in the MLB Pipeline rankings.

He's also incredibly young, still just 20 years old, making his timeline for development very loose. He's able to continue working on honing his skills in the farm system, while making these spring training appearances before campaigns begin, to work his way up to the big leagues eventually.

Having a brother who's already relatively established as well allows him to learn and take notes behind the scenes, quietly surveying what's working and what isn't for Jackson.

This type of family bond is going to allow Jaison to succeed more over time, which could make him a staple for Cleveland's big league roster down the line. After all, if he can be anywhere near where his brother is in the big leagues, it'll be a major step up from what the Guardians have gotten from the outfield in recent years.

2026 Expectations

To conclude the 2025 campaign, Chourio was playing for the Lake County Captains in High-A, slashing .235/.380/.284 for an OPS of .664. His power has been a major negative, with him only striking six doubles, one triple and two home runs for 24 RBI.

He did look really good at getting on base, drawing 66 walks to just 77 strikeouts, good enough for a nearly .400 on-base percentage.

It was a step down from the efficiency he had in 2024, playing in 98 games with a career-high 24 doubles and five home runs. That season, he also tacked on 86 walks to just 69 strikeouts with an OPS well above .800.

As long as he takes this momentum out of spring training and into the regular season, he'll be able to get right back on track to quickly rise through the minors.

In 2026, expect to see Chourio become a more reliable contributor at the plate and legitimately be seen as one of the Guardians' top prospects. If he can end the year in Double-A, knocking on the door to take a step into Triple-A, he will be right back in the mix to take over a spot in the big league outfield in the future.

The next time the Guardians hit the field in spring training will be on Tuesday, March 3, at 3:05 p.m. EST against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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Cleveland Guardians Might’ve Found the Power-Hitting Tandem They’ve Been Looking For

Manzardo’s bombs, Ramirez’s swag gives the Cleveland Guardians hope for high-level production.

Matthew Pisani

1 hour ago

The Cleveland Guardians are looking to build offensively after last year’s bottom-tier lineup that only had one 30 home run hitter and was ranked near or at the bottom in just about every category there is.

So far this Spring, things are beginning to look up, starting with their two home run leaders of last season in Jose Ramirez and Kyle Manzardo.

KYLE MANZARDO

Kyle Manzardo opened many eyes this week with his Grand Slam off Roki Sasaki.

Now, Sasaki did not survive the first inning in that start and did not look good. But looking at the grand slam Manzardo hit, it is hard to not be impressed. It was a 2-2 four-seam fastball left over the plate and Manzardo smashed it.

Sasaki was one of the best closers in the game at the end of last season and into the playoffs, so seeing Manzardo break out of his early Spring slump with an opposite field grand slam is something Guardians fans are going to love.

It was widely reported last month that Manzardo packed on the pounds this offseason, gaining about 15 pounds worth of muscle. For a player that hit 27 home runs and had a .768 OPS last season in 470 at-bats, adding muscle and getting more playing time will only behoof him.

With Josh Naylor gone, that opens up an every day first base spot for Manzardo or CJ Kayfus. When one isn’t playing fist, the other will likely be DHing that day. As for Rhys Hoskins, expect him to be more of a filler, pin-chitter, and mentor to these young first basemen than anything.

Manzardo can easily eclipse 30 home runs this season. He took Paul Skenes into the Allegheny River last year. He has the power. He has the drive, and now he has the opportunity.

JOSE RAMIREZ

Jose Ramirez has been a topic of discussion all winter. He became the center of it all when he signed his extension a few weeks back, practically locking him up as a Guardian for the rest of his career.

Then, Ramirez got to camp and he was sporting a custom belt that garnered everyone’s attention. It is a belt that quite literally has his face all over it, sprinkled with splots of red and white and yellow and blue. It is colorful and it is fashionable. And it may even be good luck. On February 23rd, he broke in the belt by belting a home run in the Guardians’ win over the D-Backs in Cactus League play.

In 12 Spring at bats, Ramirez has already hit two home runs, stole a base, drove in six runs, and has an OPS of 1.208. Small sample size, but a very good sample, to say the least.

Jose Ramirez is a part of the Dominican Republic World Baseball Classic team, but he is not expected to play until the later rounds for personal reasons. If he can stay hot at the WBC, the Guardians will likely be in for another special season from their team leader.

The Guardians had a bad offense in 2025. They are not projected to be much better in 2026 with their slew of young, unproven talent. Manzardo and Ramirez carried the team on offense last year, but this year could prove different.

Travis Bazzana is hitting dingers for Team Australia, Chase DeLauter is swinging it very well. CJ Kayfus and George Valera both have MLB experience. If Manzardo can take the next step in his game and Ramirez continues to be a perennial MVP candidate, the Guardians just may surprise some people. Again.

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"The good news is DeLauter (who was a late scratch from Wednesday’s starting lineup) noted Friday morning that he’s feeling fine. He described what he’s encountered as “nothing crazy” and being "just a little tight in the legs,” mixed with a high running workload."

Great, he's just fine and dandy and will be playing anytime soon.

Caution....grasshopper !

As #Guardians Nolan Jones has cooled off from his hot start to Spring, batting .130 so far in 23 plate appearances.

It's still a small sample size, but Stephen Vogt says they are working on finding more "conviction" in Jones' at-bats

The Guardians signed Nolan Jones for $2 million this season — Terry Pluto is wondering why

Updated: Mar. 06, 2026, 12:28 p.m.|Published: Mar. 06, 2026, 11:22 a.m.

By Terry's Talkin' podcast, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Guardians have for years built a brand around patience, development and financial discipline. So when word broke that they’d brought back outfielder Nolan Jones to a $2 million deal this offseason, cleveland.com columnist Terry Pluto had a simple reaction:

Why?

On the latest episode of the Terry’s Talkin’ podcast, Pluto said he’s still trying to make sense of this roster decision by this smaller-market franchise where every dollar is a strategic choice.

“I mean, if you’re the Yankees or whatever, 2 million bucks, who cares, you know? But to these guys, every million they have is a million they don’t spend.”

The Guardians are still dealing with the financial fallout from losing their regional sports network arrangement — a hit Pluto estimates could be in the neighborhood of $30 million. Against that backdrop, committing $2 million to a player who has struggled to recapture the magic of his 2023 breakout season in Colorado raises a question about organizational priorities. That season with the Rockies, he hit .297 with a .931 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage). He totaled 20 homers and 62 RBI in 106 games.

Then he hit .221 with the Rockies in 2024 and .211 with the Guardians last season.

Another issue is philosophical, Pluto said. The Guardians have long preached a gospel of not signing veteran free agents to keep the path clear for prospects. It’s a policy they’ve cited repeatedly as a cornerstone of how they build. Then they go out and sign Jones — a left-handed hitter — into a system that is overflowing with left-handed bats on the rise.

“They kept saying, ‘We can’t bring in these veterans because they get in the way of our younger guys.’ ” Pluto said. “Well, if Nolan Jones was a right-handed hitter, maybe. But they’ve got 8,000 left-handed hitters coming up.”

The Guardians’ outfield picture for 2026 is one of the more interesting storylines of the spring. Chase DeLauter is generating buzz with his raw power, Ralphy Velazquez is turning heads in camp, and Steven Kwan remains an anchor. That’s a future that looks bright, which makes the Jones signing feel more like organizational noise to Pluto than organizational strategy.

Pluto says he’s watched Jones enough to know what the eye test says right now — and it isn’t encouraging.

“I know how Nolan Jones looks. He looks terrible,” Pluto said. “That’s the problem.”

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The Guardians’ farm system is ranked No. 6 in baseball, and ‘Ralphy Baby’ is just getting started

Updated: Mar. 06, 2026, 11:30 a.m.|Published: Mar. 06, 2026, 11:29 a.m.

By Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — No. 6 in all of baseball. That’s where MLB.com has placed the Guardians’ farm system in their latest preseason rankings — and the more you dig into the names populating that list, the more the number starts to feel like an understatement.

On the latest Cleveland Baseball Talk podcast, Joe Noga and Paul Hoynes went well beyond the ranking itself, breaking down exactly what it means in practical terms: which prospects are knocking on the big-league door, which name has emerged as the spring’s most exciting new storyline, and why this system’s identity has undergone a genuine transformation heading into 2025.

Cleveland sits at No. 6 behind the Tigers, Cardinals, Pirates, Dodgers, and Brewers — legitimate powerhouse systems all. But as Noga pointed out, the Guardians are doing far more than keeping pace.

“They really seem to be holding their own, particularly on the position player side of things,” Noga said.

Six players in MLB’s Top 100. Not two or three depth pieces filling out the list — six legitimate prospects.

“Travis Bazzana. Chase DeLauter, Angel Genao, Ralphy Velazquez, Parker Messick and Cooper Ingel,” Hoynes said. “MLB.com predicts that all six could have a hand in helping Cleveland this year at some point during the season.”

Read that again. MLB.com projects all six could contribute to the big-league roster at some point in 2026. This isn’t a distant promise built around a theoretical future contention window. This is a pipeline ready to deliver — now.

Red flags in the Guardians’ bullpen: Can Cleveland’s loaded depth save the day before the season opener?

Travis Bazzana leads the group and has been commanding attention all spring, including during the World Baseball Classic where his leadership, emotional fire, and defensive instincts have been on full display for Team Australia. Chase DeLauter and Parker Messick are near locks to see time in Cleveland this season. Cooper Ingle adds another position-player option on the back end of the group. The system’s described shift toward being “loaded on the position player side” isn’t just a front-office talking point — it’s a reality that’s visible every time one of these players steps on the field.

But the name generating the loudest buzz in Goodyear right now? Ralphy Velazquez.

“You’ve got to think with what Ralphy Velazquez has been able to do in this training camp. putting himself on the radar just like CJ Kayfus did the last couple of years. This is a kid who just hits the ball so hard and has such an advanced approach at the plate.”

The CJ Kayfus comparison carries real weight in Cleveland circles. Kayfus used spring dominance to accelerate his big-league timetable and become a fan favorite. Velasquez is following that exact script — raw power, a mature approach at the plate, and an undeniable presence that has scouts and coaches paying attention far earlier than anticipated. On the podcast, Noga and Hoynes even debated the nickname question: does “Ralphy Baby” — a nod to Jackie Gleason’s Ralph Kramden from The Honeymooners — become permanent? The answer was swift: until he says otherwise, it sticks.

A No. 6 farm system loaded with position players. Six Top-100 prospects, all projected to contribute this season. At least three or four MLB debuts expected before the calendar turns. And a kid nicknamed Ralphy Baby making the whole thing more fun than a farm system ranking has any right to be.

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Angel Martínez is making it ‘outrageous’ to leave him off the Guardians’ opening day roster

Updated: Mar. 06, 2026, 11:35 a.m.|Published: Mar. 06, 2026, 11:33 a.m.

By Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Spring training statistics are supposed to be taken with a grain of salt. The competition is uneven, the matchups are inconsistent, and hot streaks have a way of cooling once the calendar flips to April. Unless, of course, a player performs so consistently and so convincingly that the only logical response is to write his name on the opening day roster right now.

That’s exactly where Angel Martínez finds himself — and on the latest episode of the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, Joe Noga used one word to describe the idea of leaving him off: outrageous.

Noga and Paul Hoynes broke down the standout spring performances reshaping Cleveland’s roster decisions, and the picture they painted is one every Guardians fan needs to see.

Martínez entered camp with real roster questions hanging over him — a versatile switch-hitter with flashes of power who needed to show he belonged in the competition for a spot. His response has been relentless. Multiple hits in nearly every game. Doubles. A power surge that has continued to build rather than fade. Noga framed the stakes plainly:

“If this is a guy who whose position on the roster felt threatened in any way, he’s answering a lot of questions right now,” Noga said. “Going out there, collecting multiple hits in pretty much every game and continuing to display a power surge.”

A 1.589 spring OPS, two doubles in a single spring game against the White Sox — including one off a right-handed starter to open the game — is the kind of output that turns heads. Hoynes noted that Martínez significantly improved against right-handers last season and has already reinforced that development in Cactus League play. Add in his ability to play center field and hit leadoff as a switch-hitter who punishes left-handed pitching, and the case for him becomes nearly airtight.

“He’s an example of a guy who’s basically hitting his way onto that roster at least at the beginning of the year just because he’s so hot right now and he has that versatility,” Noga said. “He’s able to play in a bunch of different spots, do a bunch of different things for them. It’d be kind of outrageous to see him not on the roster to open the season.”

Outrageous. That’s the floor Martínez has set for himself.

Then there’s Milan Tolentino — a name barely registering on the average fan’s radar a month ago. He crushed his second home run of the spring in Cleveland’s 12-3 blowout of the White Sox, part of a seven-run seventh inning that turned the game into a statement. He hit 21 home runs at Triple-A last year, can play multiple infield positions including shortstop, and is now showing something beyond raw power at the plate.

What makes Tolentino more than just a spring novelty is what he’s doing away from the batter’s box.

“He’s been playing some really good defense throughout the spring,” Noga said. “We’ve seen him on a number of occasions make diving stops, make some really nice throws. This is a kid who through his efforts right now in spring training is putting himself on the radar if there are injuries, if there are situations or anything like that where he becomes maybe an option at some point just because of the power he’s been displaying at the plate and his ability to go out there and at least play a passable shortstop.”

Power plus defensive versatility plus a spring that refuses to cool down. The Guardians’ roster puzzle is getting more complicated by the day — and that’s exactly the kind of problem a competitive team wants heading into a new season.

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Red flags in the Guardians’ bullpen: Can Cleveland’s loaded depth save the day before the season opener?

Updated: Mar. 06, 2026, 4:37 p.m.|Published: Mar. 06, 2026, 11:37 a.m.

By Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians’ late-inning formula is built on two things: Cade Smith slamming the door and Hunter Gaddis making it a formality before he even gets there. So when both relievers are dealing with physical setbacks in spring training, the conversation changes — fast.

On the latest episode of the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, beat reporters Joe Noga and Paul Hoynes broke down the injury situations surrounding Cleveland’s two most critical bullpen arms and what it signals for the team before a single regular-season pitch is thrown.

Gaddis is the bigger concern. He made just one Cactus League appearance — February 27th against the Cubs — before coming down with a sore right forearm. The MRI came back clean, but he’s been working back through weighted balls, bullpens, and live BP before returning to game action. Time is not yet the enemy, but the calendar is moving.

“Those guys are industrial strength relievers,” Hoynes said. “They pitch 70+ innings a season like it’s nothing. It’s a bit of a red flag.”

Industrial strength. That’s the expectation — and the standard. Gaddis and Smith aren’t situational matchup arms you mix and match. They are the backbone of one of the most punishing bullpens in the American League. Anything threatening either of them deserves serious attention.

The news on Smith is more encouraging. He finally took the mound in a Cactus League game, working a clean, scoreless inning with a strikeout Thursday against the White Sox. The reason for his delayed spring was a stiff neck that kept him out of action for nearly 10 days. The club held him back deliberately, prioritizing long-term health after two seasons of heavy, high-leverage usage. Hoynes believes it won’t take Smith long to find his groove — he’s a one-inning guy, not a starter who needs to get stretched out.

But here’s the critical point: the Guardians didn’t stumble into this spring hoping for the best. They built a solution before the problems arrived.

“This is one of the reasons why Chris Antonetti Mike Chernoff and Stephen Vogt put together this loaded bullpen in the off season with a bunch of different options,”: Noga said. “They set themselves up to be able to handle an injury or a delay here or there, nothing catastrophic. This is the kind of thing that they’re able to absorb because of the number of arms and options that they have in camp.”

Foresight. That’s what separates a good front office from a great one.

“Yeah, they built that depth for a reason,” Hoynes said. “They knew that in all likelihood they were not going to have Emmanuel Clase this year, so they had to stockpile some arms. Injuries are a part of spring training. They’re a part of baseball. It happens every spring. So you’ve got to be ready to deal with it. And the way you deal with that is depth.”

The ripple effects of that depth are already visible. Kolby Allard — widely expected to serve as a reliever option — is now being stretched out as a starter, a direct response to Triple-A rotation depth concerns that grew thinner when Austin Peterson went down with a triceps injury. Allard, the consummate “give me the ball and tell me where to go” veteran, is embracing the role change without complaint, even knowing it likely earmarks him for Columbus rather than the opening day roster.

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Guardians make first round of spring training cuts

Published: Mar. 06, 2026, 3:27 p.m.

By Joe Noga, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians made their first cuts of training camp early Friday, optioning a pair of right-handed pitchers to Triple-A Columbus and sending four more along with a catcher to minor league camp.

Righty Austin Peterson, who sustained a moderate-grade triceps strain on Feb. 24 is set to be reexamined weekly as part of his rehab progression. Typical recovery timeframe for Peterson’s type of injury is 6-8 weeks.

The club also optioned reliever Yorman Gόmez, who had been added to the 40-man roster in November along with Peterson. Gόmez appeared in two Cactus League games, allowing five runs on four hits, including a home run with four walks and a strikeout over 3 1/3 innings

Right-handed pitchers Tanner Burns, Trent Denholm, Tommy Mace and Aaron Davenport are headed to minor league camp along with catcher Cameron Barstad, who hit .200 in 10 at-bats with four strikeouts and a walk over six games.

Cleveland’s camp roster now stands at 62 players including 23 non-roster invitees in addition to members of the 40-man roster. The Guardians have 30 pitchers (11 non-roster); seven catchers (four non-roster); 14 infielders (six non-roster); 11 outfielders (three non-roster). Of the 62 players in camp, 37 of them saw major league action last year.

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