The Cleveland Guardians are less than a week away from their Opening Day clash vs. the Seattle Mariners. As you can expect, the next few days will bring a flurry of roster-related decisions with them.
The Guardians are still waiting for a couple of injured stars to see if they can be ready for the start of the season. If they aren’t, other players might be looking at an unexpected chance to break camp with the team.
These players on the cusp of being ready to come back from injuries are relief pitcher Hunter Gaddis and outfielder George Valera. The former dealt with right forearm tightness, and the latter is nursing a calf issue.
Manager Stephen Vogt offered an update on their situation on Thursday.
“Guardians manager Stephen Vogt says that Hunter Gaddis and George Valera are “progressing day by day” but understands that with Opening Day approaching, the team “may have to make some decisions soon,” team insider Mason Horodyski posted on X with the skipper’s thoughts on the matter.
#Guardians manager Stephen Vogt says that Hunter Gaddis and George Valera are “progressing day by day” but understands that with Opening Day approaching, the team “may have to make some decisions soon”#GuardsBall x @WEWS pic.twitter.com/OMb6bAi0l4
— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) March 19, 2026
Valera resumed hitting, throwing, and running this week. The last item is very important, since he will be required to play the outfield and, well, he needs to be able to run at 100 percent.
On the other hand, Gaddis has thrown a few bullpen sessions on his way back and was scheduled for a live batting practice session this week.
Gaddis is one of the best right-handed relievers in the American League, and any prolonged absence would be a blow to the team. He is healthy now, so it’s a matter of getting himself in game shape, and that should take him a few days. He has a chance to be ready for the season opener, though.
The setup man had a 3.11 ERA in 2025 and a 1.57 mark in 2024, his breakthrough campaign.
Valera might not be as vital to the team’s chances as Gaddis yet, but he definitely can reach that level with a healthy 2026. Last year, he had an impressive cameo in the majors with a 113 wRC+ in 16 games, homering twice. He also posted a 144 wRC+ in 44 minor league games between the Complex League and Triple-A.
He is expected to be the main left fielder against right-handed pitchers, and could end up playing more depending on his performance.
NEXT: Guardians Facing Difficult Opening Stretch Of Season
