Guardians Have Decisions to Make as Gabriel Arias Nears Return
The Cleveland Guardians will be forced to make some tough roster decisions once Gabriel Arias is healthy.
Video Transcript
Gabriel Arias is getting closer and closer to being ready to return to the big league roster after suffering that hamstring in-injury at the beginning of April.
But as Arias gets closer and is almost ready to be back with the big league team, that leaves the Guardians in an interesting position, and they certainly have some tough decisions to make before that does happen.
And the first one is, assuming the Guardians still want Arias around, it's gonna be where is he going to play?
Now, of course, at the beginning of the season and before Arias got hurt, he had shortstop locked down, and he was just playing there just about every single day.
But Brian Rocchio has really taken onto that position.
He's always been an elite defender, but he's also taken some very nice strides offensively as, as well.
And in fact, he has the second highest OPS on the team right now.
So he's gonna continue to get everyday at-bats.
And then at second base, of course, Travis Bazan certainly looks like not only one of the best offensive second baseman in baseball, but one of the best overall second baseman in baseball right now.
So Arias is not going to be an everyday player for the Guardians.
If one of those players, Bazan or Rocchio, is for some reason taking a day off or maybe dealing with an injury, then yes, Arias can play there.
But if Arias is gonna be playing, it's gonna be more in a utility role, similar to what he was in 2023 and 2024.
We know that he can play either of the middle infield positions well.
He does have some experience playing the outfield and first base too, so the Guardians are probably gonna have to, have to move him around the lineup or around the diamond if they want him in the lineup.
So that's the first decision that the Guardians are gonna have to make.
But even before that happens, once Arias is ready and once he is healthy and done with this rehab assignment, they're gonna have to figure out where is he gonna fit on the big league roster.
And what I mean by that is who's gonna lose their spot?
If someone has to be the odd man out, is it gonna be Stuart Fairchild?
Is his time with the Guardians already coming to an end just days after it began?
Are the Guardians gonna go in a different direction and maybe option one of the middle infielders that they're not, not named Rocchio or not named Bazan?
It certainly is gonna be interesting to see, but as Arias continues on with this rehab assignment, the Guardians are certainly gonna have to sit down, look through all their options, and make some tough decisions once he is ready to be activated off the injured list.
