Cleveland Sports Forum

Just trying to lay the groundwork. Don't get complacent.

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Players have already started to trickle into the Guardians’ Spring Training facility in Goodyear, Ariz. That means it’s time to take a look at everything you need to know heading into Guardians camp:

When is the first workout for pitchers and catchers?
Thursday, Feb. 13.

What is the date of the first full-squad workout?
Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Where is the team’s facility?
The Guardians’ Spring Training facility is located in Goodyear, Ariz. For those interested in stopping by for workouts, the address is 2601 S. Wood Boulevard.






Can fans attend workouts?
Yes, fans can stand in a fenced-in viewing area down the left- and right-field lines of Field 1 and the left-field line of Field 2 at the Guardians' player development facility. Spectators can also get a glimpse of the action in spots through the outfield fence at Fields 1 and 2. These designated areas are free and open to the public daily, usually after 9 a.m. local time.

Who are some new faces fans should know?
Can we really call Carlos Santana a new face? It’s been a few years since his last stint in Cleveland, but for the first time since 2020, Santana is back in Northeast Ohio. Joining him as new additions to this roster are reliever Paul Sewald, starter Luis L. Ortiz and starter/reliever Slade Cecconi.






Who are some of the top prospects invited to Major League camp?
Chase DeLauter, formerly ranked as the Guardians’ top prospect (before they drafted Travis Bazzana with the No. 1 overall pick last year), is officially in camp this time around.

Remember last year when everyone wondered whether this kid who barely had experience in Triple-A Columbus would break the Opening Day roster ... so much so that the Guardians had to continually clarify that DeLauter was not actually in big league camp? Instead, he was just a Minor Leaguer coming over to help fill the late innings of games.

This year, DeLauter will be on the 40-man roster and will enjoy his first big league camp. And with the way he performed in the Arizona Fall League, he seems primed to put on another show.

As far as non-roster invitees, the only member of the Guardians’ Top 30 prospects, as ranked by MLB Pipeline, asked to participate in big league camp is lefty hurler Ryan Webb, ranked No. 28.






When is the team’s first Cactus League game?
As always, the Guardians will open Cactus League play with a matchup against the Reds on Feb. 22. Because they share a home field, Goodyear Ballpark, the teams rotate who serves as the home and away teams. For the opener, the Guardians will be the away team and the Reds will be the home club.

What are a few other notable spring games?
Well, that first matchup against the Reds will be extra special, considering it’s the first time for Guardians fans to see Terry Francona in the opposing dugout since his return. Fans also have a chance to see the Dodgers’ star-studded roster on March 11 at Camelback Ranch. Cleveland will also face two AL Central opponents on four occasions:

Feb. 27 at White Sox, 3:05 p.m. ET
March 9 vs. White Sox, 4:05 p.m. ET
March 10 at Royals, 4:05 p.m. ET (split squad)
March 15 at Royals, 4:05 p.m. ET

What is Spring Breakout and when is the game?
If you somehow missed the debut of the Spring Breakout initiative last year, think of MLB’s Futures Game but with more prospects from your favorite team in a more intimate environment. Sixteen exhibition games will be played between teams comprised of each organization’s top 20-25 prospects from March 13-16 in both the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues.

The Guardians’ Spring Breakout game is scheduled for March 14 against the Mariners at Goodyear Ballpark. First pitch is set for 8:05 p.m. ET.

• Here's the 2025 Spring Breakout schedule

Will the team’s games be televised?
The Guardians are working through the details of their television plans for this season, and they have yet to finalize their spring broadcast schedule.

When is the club’s last game in Arizona?
Cactus League play will conclude with a matchup against the Reds at Goodyear Ballpark on March 23, at 3:05 p.m. ET. The Guardians will serve as the away team.

Will there be any additional exhibitions before the regular season?
Like last year, the Guardians will travel across I-10 from Goodyear to Phoenix to compete in two exhibition games against the D-backs at Chase Field before regular-season play gets underway. The first game is scheduled for March 24 at 9:40 p.m. ET, and the second is March 25 at 3:40 p.m. ET.

What are the details for Opening Day?
The Guardians will dive right into division play on March 27, opening the season with a three-game series in Kansas City to start a nine-game road trip.






QUOTABLE

“I tell people all the time, [before getting this job] I used to -- if I was driving and there was a game going on, I’d see if Cleveland was playing because I loved listening to him. Just the way he paints the picture, the way he brings energy to a game on the radio, you don’t hear many others like him. So, it’s a very well-earned honor for him to be getting in [to the Hall of Fame] and I’m excited to see him again.” -- Guardians manager Stephen Vogt on Tom Hamilton winning this year’s Frick Award

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Angel Martinez has impressed the Guardians with his ability to play the outfield and second base.

By Terry Pluto, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Scribbles in my Guardians notebook:

I wonder if … Angel Martinez could end up winning the second base job. Or maybe, he wins a spot in the outfield. I asked Guards manager Stephen Vogt about Martinez at a recent press conference. Vogt mentioned Martinez in connection with positions. I have heard he likes Martinez — a lot. While the 22-year-old Martinez played mostly center field in Cleveland last year, the position he’s played the most in his minor league career is second base.

I still think … Juan Brito will end up at second base in 2025, although it may not be opening day. The Guardians tend to subscribe to the “April in Cleveland” theory when it comes to hitters having their first exposure to the majors. For many hitters, even veterans, April in Cleveland is the cruelest month because of the cold weather. Many guys don’t hit.

My best guess is … Martinez or perhaps Gabriel Arias opens at second base. Arias is out of minor league options. Arias is physically gifted, but seems to lose focus in the majors. He has 563 career MLB plate appearances, batting .212 (.624 OPS) 14 HR. He strikes out once every three at-bats. He had a good finish to 2024, batting .317 (.905 OPS) in 43 games. Cleveland may want to give him one more shot to prove he belongs in the majors.

The theory is … Brito would spend April and perhaps part of May in Class AAA Columbus. When he’s hitting, they’ll bring him up with his confidence high. Of course, if Brito has a monster spring training, that can change.




Travis Bazzana will need time before he shows up in a Cleveland uniform.

It makes no sense … for some fans and media people to expect Travis Bazzana to arrive in Cleveland at some point in 2025 and claim second base. Yes, the Oregon State product was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft. He hit .238 (.765 OPS) with three HR and 12 RBI in 122 plate appearances at Lake County, a High-A league. Baseball requires a lot of at-bats. Former Guardians manager Terry Francona told me that he thought between 1,200-1,500 minor league plate appearances were needed before most young players are MLB ready.

As for my scouting … I wanted the Guardians to pick Georgia’s Charlie Condon, who crushed SEC pitching. Colorado picked him. Condon was awful in High-A Spokane, batting .180 (.518 OPS) with one HR, 11 RBI and 34 strikeouts in 109 plate appearances. A few top prospects such as Wake Forest baseman Nick Kurtz (Oakland) and Tennessee’s Christian Moore (Angels) breezed through Class A and ended up in Class AA. But many first-year guys tend to struggle when they turn pro right after a long college season.

When it comes to right field … I just don’t know what the Guards would or should do. They can use Will Brennan (.284, .727 OPS career) vs. righthanders. He’s a career .192 hitter (.453 OPS) vs. lefties. They’d love to see Jhonknsey Noel win the job. Big Christmas had the memorable pinch-hit homer vs. the Yankees in the playoffs. He had a hot start when called up in the summer. After Sept. 1 through the end of the playoffs, Big Christmas was 8 for 78 (.104) with a homer (vs. New York). During the regular season, he batted .246 (.968 OPS) with seven HR in 63 plate appearances vs. lefties. They could do a Brennan/Big Christmas platoon.

If Chase DeLauter can stay healthy, he can take over right field at some point in 2025.

It will be fun to see what … Chase DeLauter does in spring training. In 2024, he was the King of Goodyear, batting .520 (13 for 25) with four homers. He opened the 2024 season as Class AA Akron, had foot problems and batted .192 (12 for 62). He was out for a month, then hit .312 (25 for 80) with seven HR between Class AA and AAA. He then hit .340 in the Arizona Fall League.

DeLauter could be the answer … in right field. If he can stay healthy. The team’s No. 1 pick in the 2022 draft has battled foot problems. He’s a career .317 hitter (.904 OPS) in the minors, but has only 406 plate appearances. He has an excellent arm. He’ll probably open the season in Class AAA.

I execpt … Kyle Manzardo to have a solid 2025 season. Carlos Santana will open at first base with Manzardo as the DH. Manzardo will play a lot of first base in spring training. Vogt praised how hard Manzardo has worked on defense. Santana can be a good mentor for him because the veteran had problems at the position early in his career. He was a converted catcher. Then Santana won a Gold Glove in 2024 at the age of 38. He was the oldest non-pitcher in MLB history to ever win his first Gold Glove.

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World Series champion Kiké Hernandez eyed as Cleveland Guardians’ missing puzzle piece, bringing much-needed veteran experience

by Sergei Madison February 8, 2025 in MLB

Kiké Hernandez: Potential Key Addition to Cleveland Guardians’ Roster

As the Cleveland Guardians gear up for the upcoming season, the question lingers: Is Kiké Hernandez, a two-time World Series champion, the missing piece to complete their roster puzzle? Amidst the anticipation of spring training, there is a palpable sense of incompleteness surrounding the Guardians’ current lineup. Despite an impressive 92-win regular season and an ALCS appearance, the team’s offseason moves have been perceived as somewhat conservative, prompting discussions about the need for a seasoned player to bolster their ranks.

In a recent article by Chad Jennings on The Athletic, titled “One last MLB free agent for every team: Finding new homes for 30 available players,” the suggestion of Kiké Hernandez as a potential addition to the Guardians caught the attention of many baseball enthusiasts. With 11 years of experience and two World Series titles under his belt, Hernandez could offer Cleveland a valuable blend of veteran expertise and versatility on the field. Jennings notes that Hernandez’s defensive prowess could significantly enhance the Guardians’ outfield dynamics, potentially elevating their overall defensive performance.

Defensive Upgrade and Strategic Depth

Hernandez’s potential impact on the Guardians extends beyond his defensive skills. His ability to play multiple positions seamlessly aligns with Cleveland’s strategic emphasis on positional flexibility. Given the team’s penchant for deploying players across different roles, Hernandez’s adaptability could prove invaluable in optimizing the Guardians’ lineup configurations. Moreover, his seasoned presence could serve as a beacon of leadership for the younger members of the team, offering guidance and mentorship crucial for team cohesion and development.

Balancing the Scales: Offensive Considerations

While Hernandez’s recent offensive statistics may not dazzle on paper, his utility as a part-time player or bench option presents a compelling case for the Guardians. Despite a modest .229/.281/.373 slash line last season, Hernandez’s broader contributions, encompassing defensive reliability, positional versatility, and veteran leadership, outweigh the sole focus on his batting performance. In a team dynamic that values adaptability and depth, Hernandez’s potential to elevate the Guardians’ roster dynamics cannot be overlooked.

A Decision to Ponder: The Guardians’ Dilemma

As the Guardians deliberate on the prospect of signing Hernandez, they are faced with a strategic choice that transcends mere statistics. The decision to enlist a seasoned player of Hernandez’s caliber goes beyond individual metrics; it speaks to the team’s aspirations for cohesion, adaptability, and competitive edge. While Hernandez may not emerge as a star hitter in Cleveland, his potential impact as a multifaceted asset could be the missing link that propels the Guardians towards a successful season.

In the realm of baseball strategy and team dynamics, the addition of a player like Kiké Hernandez embodies a nuanced approach to roster construction—one that values experience, versatility, and intangible contributions alongside traditional performance metrics. As the Cleveland Guardians weigh their options for the upcoming season, Hernandez stands as a compelling candidate to fill the void and enrich the team’s on-field dynamics and off-field camaraderie.

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Guardians' New Hitting Coach Talks Team's Approach For 2025 Season

Cleveland Hitting Coach Grant Fink discussed the team's offensive mindset ahead of the upcoming season during a recent interview.

Logan Potosky | 2 Hours Ago

After an impressive 2024 season, which took them all the way to the American League Championship Series, the Cleveland Guardians were in search of a new hitting coach.

This was because former Hitting Coach Chris Valaika was hired by the Cincinnati Reds as their Director of Hitting & Hitting Coach less than a week after the Guardians' campaign ended.

Cleveland eventually promoted Grant Fink, the team's Minor League Hitting Coordinator for the previous three seasons, the following month to take Valaika's place.

In a recent interview on the "Guardians Weekly" podcast, Fink discussed the team's approach at the plate ahead of the 2025 campaign. He explained that while the Guardians look to expand on their strengths, including a recent increase in power, they will also likely focus on another key area.

"I think we're just going to continue to build on it," Fink said. "We have an incredibly athletic team, and a lot of our players can get the bat to the ball. And I would think this year we're going to put a lot more emphasis on decision-making, and continue to learn how to take chances, and maximize our power when it's the right time. But also continue to play that gritty baseball that we've been playing the last couple years. There's no reason why we can't do both of those things."

Cleveland had a strong power jump last year. After hitting the second-fewest and fewest home runs in MLB in 2022 and 2023, respectively, the Guardians ranked tied for 12th in MLB with 185 homers in 2024.

While Cleveland's batting average has dropped from .254 to .238 over the past three seasons, the team has displayed remarkable strike zone discipline during this span. The Guardians have ranked top-four in MLB in fewest strikeouts each of the last three years (fewest in 2022 and 2023, fourth-fewest in 2024).

Ultimately, Fink aims to build on Cleveland's hitting fundamentals, which have been instilled and put into action throughout the organization.

"I think we set a foundation in our Minor Leagues the last few years, and it's moved its way up into the Big Leagues," Fink said. "And when [Valaika] was here, we worked hard together to work on those transitions. So just continuing with moving the needle there, we saw some progress last year, and we're going to continue to push that a little bit as we get going the next few years."

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Livid fan says Guardians aren’t building on last season’s success: Hey, Hoynsie!
Updated: Feb. 08, 2025, 10:36 a.m.|Published: Feb. 08, 2025, 5:05 a.m.


Livid fan says Guardians aren’t building on last season’s success: Hey, Hoynsie!

Updated: Feb. 08, 2025, 10:36 a.m.|Published: Feb. 08, 2025, 5:05 a.m.

By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Do you have a Guardians question that you’d like to have answered in Hey, Hoynsie? You can subscribe to Subtext here, text Hoynsie at 216-208-4346 for a two-week free trial or email him at phoynes@cleveland.com.

Hey, Hoynsie: The Guardians go to the American League Championship Series and they’ve spent the offseason acting like they’re rebuilding. Second base is wide open. They’re counting heavily on unproven Kyle Manzardo at first base/DH. Right field continues to be a joke and the rotation has three question marks. Instead of building on the ALCS appearance, they’ve regressed. This fan is livid. — Tom Koch.

Hey, Tom: It’s true the Guards have had a disjointed offseason. They’ve added and subtracted from the roster. I think Manzardo is going to be fine. I agree they need more production from right field. There are some interesting starting pitchers still available on the free agent market and there has to be concern how they replace Josh Naylor’s 31 homers and 108 RBI.

The Guardians, however, have made it clear over the last few years that they’re going to rely heavily on their homegrown roster. The result has been two AL Central titles in the last three years.

Hey, Hoynsie: I was shocked when I read that Juan Brito, who has a chance to win the Guardians’ second base job, has only one minor league option left. Maybe it’s because he has been on the 40-man roster. — Glenn Berger, Strongsville.

Hey, Glenn: When the Guardians acquired Brito from Colorado for Nolan Jones on Nov. 11, 2022, they put him on the 40-man roster. When he didn’t break camp with the Guardians out of spring training in 2023 and 2024, that accounted for two of his three minor league options. So he’s got one left.

Hey, Hoynsie: Do you think if Indians Gold Glove center fielder Kenny Lofton had played in a big market that he’d already be in the Hall of Fame? In general it seems voting is skewed against the guys who played most of their careers in small markets. — Jim B., Independence.

Hey, Jim: No, I don’t. Through most of Lofton’s career in Cleveland, the Indians were one of the best teams in baseball. They were in the postseason almost every year, which gives a player a lot of visibility. Lofton went on to play for the Yankees, Giants, Dodgers, Phillies and Rangers, all big-market teams.

He appeared in 20 postseason series, playing in 95 games.

I think the thing that hurt Lofton was that he only appeared for one year on the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot in 2013. He definitely deserved a longer look, and I hope he gets it through the Contemporary Era Ballot, which is the reformed Veterans Committee. That ballot will be announced during the 2025 season for induction in 2026.

Hey Hoynsie: Is the MLB TV deal the long-term plan for the Guardians? Or is this just a short-term thing before going back to a different network? — Matt, Seattle.

Hey, Matt I have not been able to nail that down, but this is what I do know: All of the teams that have had MLB produce and distribute their games have returned the following year.

I’m sure MLB has a long-term plan to bring as many of its teams under one broadcasting umbrella as it can. So if the Guardians decided to stay with them this offseason, after the Brewers and Reds left for more money at FanDuel Sports Network, formerly Bally Sports, it seems the Guards would be open for more than a one-year stay.

Hey, Hoynsie: I really believe that MLB would be a lot better if there were no more “major markets” vs. everyone else in terms of salary, trades or player movement. The only way that is going to happen is a salary cap like the NFL’s. If that takes a year-long strike, bring it on. — Tom Jones, Rochester, New York.

Hey, Tom: Easy for you to say. The players more than once have shown that they’re willing to strike to prevent a salary cap. In these situations over the years, it’s usually the owners that blink first.

Hey, Hoynsie: Are the Guardians trying to control the market on comeback pitchers? The trainers will be busy this year. — Roger Amoroso, Macedonia.

Hey, Roger: I think you’re referring to Shane Bieber and Vincent Velasquez, who are recovering from right elbow surgeries. Bieber re-signed with the Guardians, but it’s unclear when he’ll be able to take the mound. Velasquez just agreed to a minor league deal after not pitching last season following elbow surgery. The Guards, however, have not announced the signing because he must pass his physical next week when spring training opens on Tuesday in Goodyear, Arizona.

If Bieber or Velasquez can contribute like Matthew Boyd did last year, that would be a good thing. Boyd, of course, bounced back from Tommy John surgery late last season. Alex Cobb, the other pitching gamble last year, did not work out so well.

Hey, Hoynsie: Who was the last Guardians starter to pitch a complete game? Do you think that complete games in general are becoming a vanishing part of the game? — Karen K., Westlake.

Hey, Karen: Shane Bieber was the last Cleveland pitcher to throw a complete game. Bieber threw an eight-inning complete game against the Mets on May 21, 2023, in the second game of a doubleheader at Citi Field. Bieber in a 2-1 loss allowed two earned runs on seven hits. New York’s Justin Verlander went eight innings for the win. He was removed after the Mets broke a 1-1 tie with a run in the eighth inning.

Yes, the complete game is vanishing as more and more starters are removed after five innings and replaced by an endless stream of relievers. Last year there were 26 complete games thrown in the big leagues. In 1975, Catfish Hunter of the Yankees threw 30 all by himself. Indians Hall of Famer Bob Feller threw 279 complete games in his career.

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More experts were wrong on Hernandez who signed with the Dodgers on their way to the first $1 billion dollar payroll

Clear exemplar of the old [inaccurate!] saying that "those who can, do, and those who can't teach" Grant Fink a very unsuccessful Guardians minor leaguer who I believe made it up as far as Akron is now the major league hitting coach.

Complacent ? They traded the right side of their infield including a Gold glove winner and a 30 home run 100 RBI guy. Traded at least 3 relief pitchers and released another.

Hardly complacent....

Except for Santana (and he's a big "if" - "if" he can follow up on his 2024 season), hardly any high quality or established returns on those deals. No real track records on these guys.

The hope is Slade Cecconi and Luis Ortiz can handle a starting gig and be effective.

Alex Cobb???? Just say'n.

Gotta gamble on one or maybe two of Gavin Williams, Logan Allan, and Tristan McKensie coming through. As it's looking at this point, half the season will be gone before Shane Bieber sees any action. When he does appear, better hope we're still contending.

I really don't think the moves we've made really moved the needle any.

Tanner Bibee and a bunch of ? marks.

A lot of good things came together last season.

All the right strings were pulled.

Success came from unexpected places.

Just seemed like the stars were aligned.

Will 2025 bring the same?

Would be nice to get Kyle Gibson into the fold. He's a solid starter. Established. Innings eater. Just what the doctor ordered. I would be much more comfortable knowing we had a guy like Gibson on the mound.

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Unbelievable ! Garbage all of the time !

No need for fighting among the few of us left in the Forum.
We can all agree that nothing happened over the off season to brighten our prospects.
The farm system continues to deliver legitimate candidates and we have to hope many of them succeed.
Predictions for the team to finish 3rd are not unreasonable.

Personally I thought it was a very good off season no matter what the results end up being. I do not remember any one being too thrilled about last off season. but everyone jumped on the bandwagon as usual.

Personally the terrible baseball takes by Joe Z are hard enough to put up with and now he has decided to post in the politics folder.

Guardians
Guardians offer fans streaming option to watch 2025 season; TV home yet to be announced
Updated: Feb. 11, 2025, 3:09 p.m.|Published: Feb. 11, 2025, 10:20 a.m.

By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The wait is over for Guardians fans to be able to watch the 2025 season. At least part of the wait is over.

The Guardians, partnering with Major League Baseball, announced Tuesday that for the first time they will offer fans a direct-to-consumer streaming option to watch their favorite baseball team this season.


Fans can watch games on devices such as smart TVs, cellphone, laptops and tablets with no local blackouts. The cost is $99.99 a season or $19.99 a month. To purchase the streaming option, fans can go to CLEGuardians.TV starting Tuesday.

Rusty, I assume you like Ortiz and the batch of young prospects they acquired. And they did trade from strength with some quality replacements for Giminez on the near horizon. I think he got a good collection of talent for him. I was disappointed with what we received for Naylor. And I would have liked to have seen another discount depth starter, maybe Velazquez will help.