The Cleveland Guardians already have more established players than they have spots on their Opening Day roster. So, as the spring training schedule nears the halfway point, personnel decisions continue to be made.
With fewer split-squad games remaining, and players clearly destined for the minors this season, it makes sense to pare down the team. Though several of Cleveland’s top young prospects will remain almost until the season starts, others will go back to minor league camp.
The Guardians made seven of those roster moves on Friday, optioning two players and reassigning five.
“Guardians moves: Optioned Yorman Gomez and Austin Peterson to minor league camp. Reassigned Tanner Burns, Trenton Denholm, Tommy Mace, Aaron Davenport and Cameron Barstad to minor league camp,” Tim Stebbins posted on X.
Guardians moves:
-Optioned Yorman Gómez and Austin Peterson to Minor League camp.
-Reassigned Tanner Burns, Trenton Denholm, Tommy Mace, Aaron Davenport and Cameron Barstad to Minor League camp.
— Tim Stebbins (@tim_stebbins) March 6, 2026
None of those players were projected to make the Opening Day roster. Gomez, Peterson, Burns, Denholm, Mace, and Davenport are pitchers, and Barstad is a catcher.
Burns appeared in four spring training games in relief for the Guardians, which was the most among those pitchers and is tied for the team lead. Mace made three relief appearances, Gomez and Denholm made two each, while Peterson got into one game. Davenport was invited to spring training, but he is expected to be sidelined for the entire season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Barstad went 2-for-10 in his six games played. He had one walk and struck out four times.
The Guardians are still trying to decide on their outfield alignment and which players will earn the backup roles there. Chase DeLauter, Steven Kwan, George Valera, and Nolan Jones are expected to share starting duties, but there may be several contenders for the final spot, including Angel Martinez, Johnathan Rodriguez, and Khalil Watson.
Manager Stephen Vogt also has to settle on a five-man pitching rotation. Parker Messick could be the odd man out after Gavin Williams, Slade Cecconi, Tanner Bibee, Joey Cantillo, and Logan Allen.
In addition, second base may not yet be decided, with Brayan Rocchio and Juan Brito as contenders there. It will be interesting to see if Travis Bazzana’s impressive start for Australia at the World Baseball Classic puts him back into that mix.
Some difficult decisions remain as the first game of the regular season approaches.
NEXT: MLB Executive Points To Guardians' Success Amid Salary Cap Concerns
