The Cleveland Guardians roster, as reported earlier, is set, with the exception of one position player spot.
The Guardians have left the door open for that player to come from just about anywhere. He could be a free agent cut from another camp, a trade piece, or one of the guys they recently optioned to Triple-A.
It’s not official yet, but the signs are pointing toward an unexpected player taking possession of that final spot.
“While the Guardians have not yet finalized their 26-man Opening Day roster, OF Johnathan Rodriguez is with the club now and will travel to Kansas City. Stephen Vogt: ‘We’ll know officially tomorrow. … We can’t make it official until we know,'” Jack Vita wrote on X.
While the #Guardians have not yet finalized their 26-man Opening Day roster, OF Johnathan Rodriguez is with the club now and will travel to Kansas City.
Stephen Vogt: "We'll know officially tomorrow… We can't make it official until we know."
— Jack Vita (@JackVitaShow) March 25, 2025
With Rodriguez traveling to Kansas City for the opener, it doesn’t take much to realize he is the favorite to get that remaining spot.
However, the Guardians are keeping a close eye on the market to see if they can bring in a quality veteran.
That’s why they are being careful not to make any promises yet.
Rodriguez would be an interesting choice.
He hasn’t been able to make a difference in the majors yet, but he hit 29 home runs last year in Triple-A and posted a .930 OPS.
The 25-year-old carries some serious pop, even if he strikes out a lot.
He could make the occasional start and be an asset as a pinch-hitter.
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