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Guardians Have Tough Decisions to Make with Playoff Roster
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- Guardians Have Tough Decisions to Make with Playoff Roster
Just like all teams in MLB, the Cleveland Guardians got a little bit of a boost on September 1 when rosters expanded from 26 players to 28. The Guardians got the opportunity to add a much-needed arm to their bullpen, along with a position player in the mix.
However, as Cleveland prepares for the ALDS, it'll need to shrink their roster back down to the standard 26 players. Determining which players will be on the postseason roster, and who won't, will not be an easy decision for the Guardians to make.
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Which Position Player Will the Guardians Choose for the Playoff Roster?
When Cleveland's roster expanded about a month ago, Chris Annonetti made it clear that they wanted to add someone who could help the team in big, late-game moments, but didn't need to be in the starting lineup every day.
This description perfectly fit Daniel Schneemann , and that's who the Guardians ultimately chose to add back on to the big-league roster after he was optioned on July 24.
Since Schneemann has been back in the Majors, he's gone 3-for-10 at the plate, including a walk-off against the Detroit Tigers and a home run in Cleveland's regular-season finale on Sunday. Plus, the 29-year-old already has a handful of postseason at-bats across two playoff runs.
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Outside of swinging a relatively hot bat for his role, Schneemann is an elite defender wherever the Guardians play him in the field. He's appeared in all three outfield spots, third base, shortstop, and second base this season alone, and is still in the 78th percentile in fielding run value.
That skill set alone makes Schneemann a candidate to be a late-game defensive substitute in a playoff game and a strong candidate for a spot on Cleveland's playoff roster when it's finalized on Saturday.
Jun 13, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians outfielder Daniel Schneemann (10) celebrates his two-run home run with third baseman José Ramírez (11) in front of Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (13) during the third inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
However, if the Guardians do add him, they'll need to leave off someone who's been a key piece for the team during the second half of the season. It could be one of the team's young players who's been up and down in opportunities and doesn't have playoff experience.
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There are two players that fit that description: Angel Genao and Petey Halpin .
Genao has shown a lot of good, and some bad, in his first taste of the big leagues. The 22-year-old has a lot of potential at the plate and is no doubt a part of the team's future. But Genao also went 3-for-29 (.103 AVG over his final 15 games of the season.
On the other hand, what Halpin doesn't bring to the plate, he makes up for in the field with his stellar defense. But at what point does that become a redundancy on a roster with several other players who are elite at run prevention?
If Cleveland's choice does come down to either Schneemann, Genao, or Halpin, it won't be an easy one because they each bring something different to the table.
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Genao may be the future of Cleveland's infield, and Halpin is undeniably a terrific defender, but for now, Schneemann's versatility and player experience might make him the better option to have on a postseason roster.
This is likely the exact conversation Cleveland's coaching staff and front office are having this week.
