It’s not a secret that the Cleveland Guardians have a weak link in their lineup: Gabriel Arias. The middle infielder is having an abysmal opening week.
After Tuesday’s game vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers, Arias has reached base just twice in 17 plate appearances, with a single and a walk.
His .063 batting average is almost as comically bad as his -46 wRC+. Yes, that’s right, you can have a negative wRC+, and Arias is the owner of one.
For a player who has had three consecutive seasons with a wRC+ under 80, starting on a hot streak was incredibly important for his future in the organization. Right now, it is looking murky, to put it lightly.
The Guardians have one of the best prospects in baseball, Travis Bazzana, getting ready in Triple-A. Some would say he is ready right now, but the organization would love to gain an extra year of control, even if they won’t admit it publicly. To do that, they can’t call him up right now.
If they want to replace Arias with a capable hitter with more upside, they might have a solution in Triple-A Columbus: Juan Brito.
Brito remains a solid second base prospect whose future role remains undecided, given that he plays the same position as Bazzana. However, he is enjoying a nice start to the season in Columbus and could be a short-term solution for Cleveland if they want to move on from Arias.
Even after going 0-for-4 in Columbus last night, on Tuesday, Brito is hitting an amazing .375 with a 1.046 OPS in four games, adding two runs and two RBI. He finished last season with a solid 115 wRC+ in 24 Triple-A games, too, and has a long track record of success in the minors.
Juan Brito is having a great start to the regular season in Triple-A.
If he can continue to grow his versatility defensively, he may get a shot in the big leagues eventually. #GuardsBall
— Cade Cracas (@CracasCade) March 28, 2026
Brito is no Bazzana, but could definitely offer more offensive punch than Arias right now if the Guardians want a “bridge” between the latter and the former’s era.
The fact that Arias doesn’t have any minor league options complicates matters, but Brito is already on the 40-man roster, so that definitely helps.
Is Cleveland willing to end the Arias era earlier than anticipated?
NEXT: Stephen Vogt Speaks Out About Offensive Struggles In Loss To Dodgers
