The Cleveland Guardians’ infield situation has improved dramatically in the last week or so. Two ice-cold players, Jose Ramirez and Kyle Manzardo, are starting to come around, and the other two, Brayan Rocchio and Travis Bazzana, are firmly entrenched as top offensive performers at their respective positions.
Additionally, Daniel Schneemann can play several infield positions, and Angel Martinez can do it in a pinch, too. David Fry is also an emergency option.
The man who actually had a starting spot when the season started, Gabriel Arias, is close to returning from his hamstring strain, though. In fact, he will start a rehab assignment in a matter of hours.
“Gabriel Arias (left hamstring strain) is going to begin a rehab assignment. Set to play with Triple-A Columbus on Thursday, per Stephen Vogt,” Tim Stebbins, who covers the team on a daily basis for MLB.com, said.
Gabriel Arias (left hamstring strain) is going to begin a rehab assignment. Set to play with Triple-A Columbus on Thursday, per Stephen Vogt.
— Tim Stebbins (@tim_stebbins) June 3, 2026
This could be a blessing and a problem for the Guardians at the same time, depending on optics. Having Arias back, if he regains top form, would give them another infield option, capable of playing both middle infield spots.
However, he has struggled for years, except for a few hot stretches here and there, and has a career 76 wRC+. He was at 88 before going down a few weeks ago, so it’s not like he was lighting the world on fire. He was rounding into form, though.
It’s very possible, even likely, that the Guardians don’t have a spot for him on the roster, let alone the starting lineup, given their newfound quality and depth. Of course, injuries can always come into play, but it’s difficult to see where he fits as of today.
There’s a very good chance that the team will need to make an important decision whenever Arias’ rehab window is up. Some say he could be designated for assignment if there’s no spot for him, because he doesn’t have any minor league options left.
Arias was originally placed on the injured list on April 7 with a left hamstring strain. He encountered a few setbacks along the way and was even transferred to the 60-day list at one point.
He appears to have turned a corner in his recovery and will now test that hamstring in a competitive environment for a few days before getting the call to MLB, if he gets it.
NEXT: Kyle Manzardo Lifts Guardians To Second Straight Win In New York
