Guardians Are Approaching Decision-Making Time

The Cleveland Guardians entered Tuesday with a 53-48 record. They have been competing with the Chicago White Sox for the top spot in the AL Central for weeks now, with the two teams alternating the divisional lead.

If the Guardians want to prevail, they need to understand that every win counts. And everything starts with the roster selection.

Jose Ramirez and Angel Martinez are both close to returning from their respective injuries. The former probably won’t need a rehab assignment, and the latter is already in the middle of one.

There’s a chance that both players return at some point this week, and while that’s excellent news, it will force the team to make some tough decisions. Some players who have worked hard to become relevant could be left out of the picture.

Nobody knows which way the Guardians will go, but Khalil Watson, Petey Halpin, and Gabriel Arias seem in danger of losing playing time. Ramirez’s imminent return will likely mean the end of Arias’ spell as the starting third baseman.

Arias, who made a couple of blunders this past weekend, is hitting .246 with an 85 wRC+ since returning from the injured list in mid-June. For the season, he is at an 86 wRC+ before Tuesday’s game. This is probably who he is at this point, and the team might be considering cutting ties with him.

Martinez, who has played mostly outfield this year, could push one of Watson or Halpin off the roster. The former was huge for a stretch in June but has mostly struggled ever since, yet boasts enormous potential. The latter hit his first two homers on Monday, so sending him to the minors could be poor timing.

The Guardians won’t remove the surging Steven Kwan and the excellent Chase DeLauter, the other outfield options, from the roster. Daniel Schneemann could be in danger, too, but he’s extremely versatile and can help in the infield, too, improving his chances.

In any case, it’s clear that the return of Ramirez and Martinez will bring some consequences. You could say that some of the position players will be competing for playing time or even a roster spot in the upcoming days.