Guardians Get Big Update On Hunter Gaddis

March 9, 2026

By Mike Battaglino

The Cleveland Guardians entered spring training with some questions, but one area of the team seemed to be in very good shape. While jobs were up for grabs in the outfield and in the starting rotation, the bullpen looked to be pretty much set.

Relief pitching turned out to be one of the few places where the Guardians added pieces during the offseason. The newcomers were expected to complement returning closer Cade Smith and top setup man Hunter Gaddis.

Unfortunately, that is where the Guardians have had their most trouble with injuries this spring, as both Smith and Gaddis experienced setbacks that kept them off the mound.

While Smith recently returned to action, Gaddis remains sidelined, but the Guardians recently received a big update on the latter, and he has not been ruled out for Opening Day.

“Guardians manager Stephen Vogt says Hunter Gaddis is back in the building in Goodyear to resume his normal throwing program, and anticipates him getting [on] the mound here in the coming days. As for his Opening Day status, Vogt says the team needs to see how he progresses,” Mason Horodyski wrote on X.

Following his spring debut on Feb. 27, Gaddis felt tightness in his forearm. An MRI did not reveal any structural damage, which was very good news, so the right-hander has been recovering via rest.

Losing him for any length of time during the regular season would be significant, as Smith takes over as the full-time closer for the first time. Gaddis has 68 holds over the past two seasons, which is the most in MLB.

Last season, which was his fourth in the majors, Gaddis had 35 holds in 73 appearances. That was particularly important as Cleveland’s bullpen roles changed following the loss of All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase to an MLB gambling investigation.

Smith proved he was more than capable as Clase’s replacement, posting a 6-1 record with 13 saves over the final two months of the season. He suffered from a stiff neck early in this spring training and did not appear in a game until March 5. Fortunately, he looked just fine, retiring the side on just nine pitches in one inning of work against the Chicago White Sox.

Even though the Guardians still look to be fine with regard to their relief pitching, the sooner they know Gaddis will be back, the better.

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Guardians Announce 2 Roster Moves

March 9, 2026

By Mike Battaglino

The Cleveland Guardians have a wealth of prospects who will make their mark in the major leagues. Some will do so as soon as this Opening Day, while others will have to wait their turn with more development in the minor leagues.

With outfielders Chase DeLauter and George Valera about to play their first full MLB seasons, and infielder Travis Bazzana likely not too far behind, the Guardians have significant young players on the horizon. Others who play similar positions will be arriving someday, just maybe not in 2026.

At spring training, the Guardians announced two roster moves, with infielder Angel Genao and outfielder Khalil Watson being optioned back to the minors.

“Guardians manager Stephen Vogt tells media today that the team has optioned Angel Genao and Khalil Watson,” Mason Horodyski wrote on X.

Cleveland has been noted for its patience with their prospects, and in this case, the organization might benefit again. According to MLB.com, Genao is its No. 3 overall prospect, behind Bazzana and DeLauter, and No. 66 in all of baseball.

Watson is the Guardians’ No. 15 prospect, but that ranking does not take into account his excellent spring training this year. He was batting .429 and earned raves from manager Stephen Vogt during his eight-game stint.

The 22-year-old converted infielder was once considered a possible No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft, so his potential has always been evident. He played 43 games at Triple-A Columbus last season and should begin this season there.

Genao had a .250 spring batting average in his nine games played. The 21-year-old reached Double-A last season and could join Watson in Columbus, where he may form a double play combination at shortstop with Bazzana at second base.

The moves will allow Vogt to give more playing time to other players truly competing for the Opening Day roster. The final outfield spots are of particular interest, with Nolan Jones’ ongoing struggles at the plate potentially creating an opening for Johnathan Rodriguez to stick with the team.


Meanwhile, the middle infield looks to be set with Gabriel Arias and Brayan Rocchio likely to man those positions, with valuable utility player Daniel Schneeman and prospect Juan Brito also available.

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Guardians' Rhys Hoskins signing is perfect counter to 1-2 punch in Tigers' rotation

By Scott Fenwick

11 hours ago

Earlier this offseason the Tigers signed starting pitcher Framber Valdez to a three-year deal right around the same time they let the baseball world know they weren't going to be trading Tarik Skubal.

Assuming they stay true to their word and keep Skubal, not only will they have one of the best 1-2 punches at the top of their rotation, but it'll also mean they're going to have a 1-2 punch made up of two left-handed pitchers.

The Guardians line had been incredibly left-handed heavy in recent years and it was clear they needed to make some kind of response to counter Detroit's move. That response may have happened earlier this spring when they brought in Rhys Hoskins on a minor league deal. Is the response enough?

Rhys Hoskins can provide the Guardians with a ton of benefits in 2026

What the contract means

Do not be fooled by the fact Hoskins signed a minor league deal; it would be shocking if he's not on the Guardians' Opening Day roster.

The contract is set up to pay him $1.5 million if he makes the Guardians' big league roster. For a reference point: Carlos Santana's deal with Cleveland paid him $12 million last season. It'll be a lot easier to move on from Hoskins than it was for the Guardians to move on from Santana.

It's time to reframe expectations

If you were to ask the general baseball fan about Hoskins, they'll most likely remember him for his postseason heroics during his time with the Phillies.

But he's done a lot more than that, as he finished every 162-game season from 2018 to 2022 with 25 home runs and 70 RBI.

At his peak, he usually hit around .240 with an on-base percentage around .360. That type of power combined with above average discipline makes him seem like a top-level addition, even if he's been slowed by injuries as of late.

He missed the entire 2023 season after tearing his ACL, and he still had his power when he returned in 2024 but his contact worsened. He struggled with injuries again last season with the Brewers and lost playing time to Andrew Vaughn.

If you're expecting him to be a .250 hitter with 30 homers and 75 RBI, you'll likely be disappointed. But that doesn't mean that he can't be a .230 hitter with 20+ homers with good plate discipline.

That would be a steal for $1.5 million.

Veteran leadership

Alongside the on-field production he will also be a valuable resource for the young guys on the roster. Players like Kyle Manzardo and CJ Kayfus will be able to look to Hoskins for advice on what made his career so successful.

He will be able to bring in a lot of big game experience, as he routinely stepped up in the biggest moments. Although this is not a directly quantifiable attribute, it is a way that he can be a positive help for the team even if he struggles to find his footing on the field.

Roster flexibility

When camp started it felt like one of Johnathan Rodríguez or Stuart Fairchild would be pushed onto the Opening Day roster regardless of what happens in the spring since the roster was so left-handed heavy.

Adding Hoskins makes it easier to start the season with the best players on their roster as opposed having roster balance be a main factor. With that being said, Rodríguez and Fairchild will still have opportunities to break camp with the club.

Hoskins may not have the same impact as he would have had five years ago, but his potential upside exceeds any risk. If he clearly is not ready the Guardians can move on with limited repercussions, but he should provide value for however long he is with the team.

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Guardians latest camp cuts include 3 Top 30 prospects

Gaddis (forearm) throwing; next steps for Bazzana and Fairchild

2:05 PM CDT

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Guardians announced the latest cuts from their big league Spring Training camp on Monday, which included a trio of players on their Top 30 Prospects list.

The Guardians optioned infielder Angel Genao and outfielder Kahlil Watson to Triple-A Columbus, and they reassigned first baseman Ralphy Velazquez, outfielder Wuilfredo Antunez and right-hander Jack Leftwich to Minor League camp. The roster stands at 50 players.

Genao (the Guardians’ No. 3 prospect and No. 66 overall), Velazquez (No. 4, No. 89) and Watson (Cleveland's No. 15 prospect) each were in camp as a non-roster invitees. Each is a member of the Guardians’ 40-man roster, and each made a big impression on the Guardians this spring.

Genao has hit .250 (5-for-20) over nine Cactus League appearances while playing shortstop and third base. The 21-year-old was one of the youngest players in camp but stood out for how he carried himself.

“I was very impressed with Angel,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “I thought his maturity [stood out]. He did a great job with his body. This kid's physical, he's strong. But just the confidence that he exudes when he's playing the infield and at the batter's box, we saw a very mature player out there. It's really exciting for the future of Angel Genao."

Genao was optioned to Columbus, but will likely open the season with Double-A Akron. Last season marked his first stint with the RubberDucks, but he was limited to 77 games after dealing with a right shoulder strain early in the season. The Guardians added him to their 40-man roster in November.

Velazquez was Cleveland's youngest player in big league camp, but the 20-year-old made a big impression for his advanced offensive approach, his work defensively at first base and his ability on the basepaths. He has hit .385 (5-for-13 ) with two doubles over nine games.

The Guardians have a crowded outfield mix this spring, hence Watson's option. But it would not be a surprise if we see the 22-year-old (whom the Guardians also added to their 40-man roster in November) sooner rather than later this season.

Vogt has been effusive in his praise of Watson, who converted from infield to outfield full-time last year and can play all three spots. Watson is 6-for-14 (.429) with two doubles and one triple over eight games this spring.

“Kahlil Watson impressed us just as much as -- if not the most -- out of everybody in camp,” Vogt said. “The growth in the outfield, the advanced approach at the plate. He looks like a big leaguer in the box.

“Just his demeanor, his ability to relate to his teammates, I think we're all really excited about Kahlil Watson's future.”

Gaddis update

Vogt noted that Hunter Gaddis (who has been day to day with right forearm tightness) will be going through his normal throwing program out to 90 and 120 feet. The Guardians anticipate he will get back to throwing off a mound in the coming days.

Gaddis traveled home over the weekend to attend his fiancé’s graduation from veterinary school. He was able to work out and throw, and is now back in Arizona. The Guardians are taking things day by day with the right-hander's status right now.

"It's too early to put any other kind of label on it, other than he's back in the building going on his throwing progression today," Vogt said.

Gaddis has made one Cactus League appearance, on Feb. 27 against the Cubs, before he was sidelined by the forearm issue. He underwent imaging that came back clean, and began his progression on Thursday with weighted ball work.

Next steps for Bazzana and Fairchild

Travis Bazzana and Stuart Fairchild’s World Baseball Classic stints came to a close on Monday, when Australia and Chinese Taipei were eliminated from the tournament in pool play. Korea advanced over the two by virtue of a three-way tiebreaker.

The Guardians have an off-day on Wednesday, and the expectation is Bazzana (Cleveland’s No. 1 prospect and No. 20 overall, per Pipeline) and Fairchild (who’s a non-roster invitee this spring) will return to camp in the back-half of this week.

“But obviously we're gonna see how they feel with jet lag, making sure that they're 100 percent ready to get back in,” Vogt said. “But we anticipate to see both of them back in games here [at the] end of the week, weekend, and get them back into camp.”

Tim Stebbins covers the Guardians for MLB.com.

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Carl Willis gave the Guardians’ rotation one command — and they’re already pitching in September form

Updated: Mar. 10, 2026, 12:05 p.m.|Published: Mar. 10, 2026, 11:47 a.m.

By Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The calendar says spring training. The scoreboard says something else entirely.

Starting pitchers are supposed to be working on new pitches, managing pitch counts, and easing into the rhythm of a new season. Nobody is supposed to be locked in yet. Nobody is supposed to look this sharp.

Apparently, nobody told the Guardians’ rotation.

On the latest episode of the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, beat reporters Joe Noga and Paul Hoynes broke down what has quickly become the most electric storyline of Guardians camp: a starting rotation loaded with young arms that has already flipped the switch into full competition mode — and the numbers they rattled off on air were genuinely staggering.

The catalyst behind the surge, according to what manager Stephen Vogt shared Monday during a Zoom call from Goodyear, was a direct challenge from Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis. The message was simple. It landed hard.

“Carl Willis had told the pitchers it’s time to compete,” Hoynes said on the podcast. “The time for working on stuff is kind of fading into the background now. Let’s go out and compete. And the rotation was listening.”

The rotation was listening. That phrase alone tells you everything about where this group’s mentality is right now. These aren’t veterans going through the motions of a long February. These are hungry, young arms — Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee, Slade Cecconi, Joey Cantillo, Parker Messick — all of them 25 to 27 years old, and all of them seemingly hitting their stride at exactly the right moment.

Here is what this rotation did in a single turn through the Cactus League, and Hoynes read them off like a man who couldn’t quite believe what he was saying:

“Messick 4 2/3 scoreless innings yesterday,” Hoynes said. “Before him was Cantillo, 4 2/3 innings with 2 earned runs. Then Cecconi 4 innings, 1 earned run. Williams 3 2/3 innings, 1 earned run. And Bibee 4 innings, 0 earned runs.”

That is the entire rotation cycling through Goodyear and collectively posting quality start after quality start. In spring training. Before the games even count.

Noga couldn’t hide his amazement when he stepped back and took in the full picture.

“That’s almost midseason form right now, this early in spring training,” Noga said. “You don’t want them to be hitting their peak too early. But wow, to have gone through the rotation one time like that and to put up those numbers among the starters.”

It is a legitimate question: should the Guardians be worried about peaking too soon? Based on the context Hoynes and Noga provided, the answer is no — because this group proved last year that their ceiling is enormous. The reference point Hoynes kept returning to was September of last season, when Cleveland’s starters went on a dominant stretch that carried the club into October. Those arms did it then. They’re showing they can do it again.

The storyline inside the storyline is the battle for the fifth rotation spot. Messick — who delivered a scoreless 4 2/3 innings against the Royals and improved to 2-0 on the spring — is making a loud statement. Logan Allen, fresh off representing Panama in the World Baseball Classic, will be back in camp soon and eager to make his own argument.

What makes this competition even more fascinating is that Messick is actively expanding his toolkit. He worked in a cutter against the Royals that Hoynes described as hitting its proper velocity and movement profile for the first time — giving Messick six legitimate pitches to deploy. Six. For a pitcher already operating at this level, that is a terrifying development for opposing lineups.

Hoynes and Noga both noted on the podcast that these arms are not just holding steady — they are improving. And that should concern every other team in the American League.

If you want to hear Noga and Hoynes dig into every arm in this rotation, break down the Messick-Allen competition, and unpack what Carl Willis’s message really means for this team’s ceiling, fire up the latest episode of the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast right now. This is the kind of baseball conversation that makes the wait for opening day almost unbearable.

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Guardians' latest spring roster cuts send short-term message to rising prospects

By Henry Palattella

1 hour ago

Like every team in MLB, the Cleveland Guardians opened spring training with a colossal spring training roster consisting of bonafide big leaguers, prospects and depth players.

And while Guardians made their first cuts to that roster over the weekend, none of the players they removed from their big league roster were MLB-ready.

But they tightened that picture a bit more over the weekend by optioning Daniel Espino, Kahlil Watson and Angel Genao to the minors, among other moves.

Although Espino and Watson were longshots to make the Guardians’ roster out of spring training, they both impressed in spring and seem to have worked their way into the Guardians’ 2026 plans.

Kahlil Watson and Daniel Espino may be back with the Guardians soon

Espino’s “demotion” to Triple-A doesn’t do anything to take away from a strong spring that’s helped turn his career around.

After missing all of nearly three years due to a variety of shoulder injuries, Espino made his return to the mound late last season before dominating in the Arizona Fall League.

He’s thrown two scoreless innings this spring and appeared out of the bullpen in his final appearance in big league camp before being demoted, which could be his role for 2026.

Stephen Vogt told reporters that he wants Espino to help the Guardians at some point in 2026, so his call-up seems like a matter of “when”, not “if.” Now he’ll head to Triple-A to build up ahead of that debut.

On the other side, Watson and Genao were arguably the two biggest bright spots on the position player side. Of the two, Watson has the best chance to impact the Guardians in 2026. He went 6-for-14 at the plate with three extra base hits in his time with the Guardians while playing in all three outfield positions.

The Guardians moved Watson to the outfield in the hopes that he could become a part of the team’s long-term future, and he’s done exactly that.

While the 21-year-old Genao is still a bit further away from making his big league debut (he’ll likely start the season in Triple-A), he impressed in his first camp since being added to the Guardians’ 40-man roster during the offseason.

Speaking of young players, the Guardians reassigned first baseman Ralphy Velazquez to minor league camp. The 20-year-old also impressed during his time in Guardians camp, and is starting to look like a key part of the team’s future.

Although the Guardians still have some frustrating holes on their roster, giving Espino and Watson some more time in the minors is the right decision.

And, if their strong performances this spring are any indication, it may not be long until we see them play at the big league level.

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