Analyst Names Odd Man Out In Guardians’ Likely Infield Changes

Earlier this week, the Cleveland Guardians informed top prospect Travis Bazzana he won’t be making the Opening Day roster. While there was hope he could break camp with the team, the decision is hardly a surprise.

For many reasons, the Guardians can live with Bazzana in Triple-A for a month or two, and they most likely will. If he forces the issue with his performance, we will likely see him in May or June, but probably not earlier than that unless there’s an injury or two.

When Bazzana comes up this year, the Guardians will need to make more decisions. He will need to play every day, and Brayan Rocchio and Gabriel Arias are the starters in the middle infield spots.

According to Guardians writer Cade Cracas, Cleveland will need to decide between the two to make room for Bazzana in the defensive alignment, and Arias is the most likely to lose his spot.

“Eventually, the Guardians will likely pair Travis Bazzana and Brayan Rocchio, forcing Gabriel Arias out of the organization or into a backup role,” Cracas posted on X.

Eventually, the #Guardians will likely pair Travis Bazzana and Brayan Rocchio, forcing Gabriel Arias out of the organization or into a backup role.#GuardsSpring https://t.co/acfXIEKwws

— Cade Cracas (@CracasCade) March 16, 2026

Rocchio is a better defender than Arias, and at this point, you could make a case that he has more offensive upside, too.

Rocchio finished the 2025 campaign with a mediocre 77 wRC+, but had a much more decent 96 mark after returning from a stint in the minors in July, hitting .257/.310/.391 from July 1 until the end of the season.

Arias, who started last year looking like a breakout candidate, wrapped up the 2025 campaign with an equally mediocre 77 wRC+. Things can change, and for all we know, Rocchio can turn back into a pumpkin, and Arias might have that breakthrough performance by the time Bazzana is up.

If that’s the case, the Guardians will likely revisit the situation and make a different decision. However, Arias would likely be the one losing the most playing time as things stand right now. If he’s really struggling come May or June, he could also lose his roster spot.

There is no doubt that he is entering a pivotal season, and his future with the Guardians is on the line.