[U7Gohan]

State of the Team

The team finished Spring Training with a 17-10 record, good for the 2nd-best record in MLB. Top prospects OF George Valera (3.0, 5.0) and C Bo Naylor (3.0, 4.5) shined in Spring Training, but will open the season in AAA, knocking on the doors of the players holding down the C, corner OF, and DH positions, and with other prospects like OF Will Benson and 2B Brayan Rocchio in the mix as well. Alec Marsh will take the 5th SP spot after a strong spring, but his competitors will be knocking on the door in AAA as well. Emmanuel Clase will open the season on the 14-Day IL with dead arm, but will return very shortly. With that said, let's introduce the 26-Man Roster for the 2023 Opening Day Cleveland Guardians.

26-Man Roster

Hitters:

C: Austin Hedges (2.0, 2.0), Bryan Lavastida (2.0, 2.5)
1B: Vinnie Pasquantino (3.0, 3.5), Josh Naylor (2.0, 2.0)
2B: Andres Gimenez (2.5, 4.5), Bryson Stott (2.5, 3.5)
SS: Carlos Correa (4.5, 4.5)
3B: Jose Ramirez (4.5, 4.5)
LF: Steven Kwan (2.5, 2.5)
CF: Michael A. Taylor (3.0, 3.0), Oscar Mercado (2.0, 2.0)
RF: Oscar Gonzalez (2.5, 2.5), Matt Vierling (2.5, 2.5)

Pitchers:

SP1: Shane Bieber (3.5, 4.0)
SP2: Sandy Alcantara (3.5, 3.5)
SP3: Zach Plesac (2.5, 2.5)
SP4: Kris Bubic (2.5, 2.5)
SP5: Alec Marsh (2.0, 2.5)

CL: Emmanuel Clase (4.5, 4.5)
SU: James Karinchak (4.0, 4.0)
MR: Brad Boxberger (3.0, 3.0)
MR: Angel Perdomo (2.5, 2.5)
MR: Nick Sandlin (2.5, 2.5)
MR: Denny Bentley (2.5, 3.0)
LR: Seranthony Dominguez (3.0, 3.0)
LR: Anthony Castro (2.5, 2.5)

Preseason Predictions projects us to go 85-77 and tie for the AL Central crown. I suspect we can beat that mark with contributions from our top prospects. Let's do it!

Player Development

MLB 1B Vinnie Pasquantino (2.5, 3.5) - > (3.0, 3.5)

MiLB SP Joey Cantillo (2.0, 2.5) - > (2.5, 2.5)
MiLB OF Will Benson (2.0, 2.5) - > (2.5, 2.5)
MiLB 1B Aaron Bracho (1.5, 2.5) - > (2.0, 3.0)

Minor League Report

The latest Top 100 Prospects update lands the Guardians at 20th, with four Top 100 Prospects:

OF George Valera (3.0, 5.0) - #46
2B Brayan Rocchio (2.0, 4.0) - #53
SS Angel Martinez (1.5, 3.0) - #63
C Bo Naylor (3.0, 4.5) - #68

Around the League

Preseason Predictions

Preseason Predictions expect an extremely competitive AL, with the highest win total belonging to the Houston Astros at 87-75. The NL is similar, but with the Cardinals expected to go 94-68 and the Dodgers expected to win a whopping 103 games. The World Champion Padres are expected to get a chance to defend their title as the 2nd NL Wild Card team with an 87-75 record, while the runner-up Yankees are expected to tie for the 3rd AL Wild Card spot at 83-79.

Major Free Agent Signings

1B Anthony Rizzo (3.0, 3.0) to Red Sox, $36M/3yr
OF Michael Conforto (3.5, 3.5) to Braves, $4.3M/1yr
C Jason Castro (3.0, 3.0) to Dodgers, $5.3M/1yr
2B Jean Segura (3.0, 3.0) to Dodgers, $3.2M/1yr
OF Michael Brantley (3.0, 3.0) to Nationals, $9.4M/1yr

Major Trades

RP Paul Sewald (3.5, 3.5) to Mets

Major Extensions

SP Blake Snell (3.5, 3.5) signs with Padres, $96.8M/5yr
SP Luis Castillo (3.5, 3.5) signs with Cubs, $145.4M/6yr
SP Tyler Glasnow (4.0, 4.0) signs with Rays, $37M/2yr
SP Jordan Montgomery (3.0, 3.0) signs with Yankees, $21.7M/3yr
SP Aaron Nola (3.5, 4.0) signs with Phillies, $90.8M/4yr

We'll check back in with a month underway.