GuardiansPublished: Dec. 08, 2025, 6:48 p.m.
Akron RubberDucks second baseman Travis Bazzana talks to the media during media day at Canal Park in Akron.Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
ORLANDO — Chris Antonetti, president of baseball operations, talked to reporters on Monday, the first official day of the winter meetings, and touched on a number of subjects.
Travis Bazzana, hampered by oblique problems last season, is in good health and has returned from Australia. He is working out at the Guardians’ facility in Goodyear, Arizona.Bazzana, the overall No.1 pick in the 2024 draft, is expected to play for Australia in the World Baseball Classic in March.The Guards have secured a fourth option on outfielder George Valera because of a variety of injuries he suffered during his minor league career. Valera made his big-league debut last season, and the Guardians like his approach at the plate.Juan Brito has started playing winter after recovering from a right hamstring injury that cost him a good chunk of last season. He is another player that the Guardians secured a fourth option on because of his injuries. Chase DeLauter is going to get a chance to play center and right field in spring training. The Guardians are going to be careful with his playing time to help him avoid the injuries that have slowed his career.The Guardians at the end of last season asked first baseman Kyle Manzardo to get stronger and bigger because they want him to play more games at first base. Manager Stephen Vogt said Manzardo has gained 14 pounds in the offseason.New Guardians’ coaches Andy McKay (field coordinator) and Tony Arnerich (bench coach) are at the meetings getting to know the other members of the organization. Right after they were hired from the Mariners in November, they each spent a week in Cleveland getting introduced to the organization.It’s believed, following the additions of McKay and Arnerich, that the Guardians’ big-league coaching staff is set for 2026.Antonetti said Corey Kluber will be back as a pitching consultant with the Guardians next year. The Guardians were impressed with the work the former two-time Cy Young winner did with their pitchers in his first season last year.The Guardians are not anticipating a big boost in TV revenue after ESPN purchased the team’s in-market streaming rights for the next three years.Why did the Guardians sign Nolan Jones to a one-year, $2 million deal after he hit .211 (75 for 355) with five homers and 34 RBI?“Nolan did not have the season he envisioned,” said Antonetti. “We still believe there’s positive potential for a real productive player in there. He demonstrated that with the Rockies (2023) when he was one of the better outfielders in the National League. We’re hopeful that with a good offseason of work, he can get back closer to that player.”When asked if he would welcome the Tigers trading ace Tarik Skubal out of the AL Central, Antonetti said, “I’d be happy to face him as little as possible moving forward. He’s really good.”
Paul Hoynes, born in Cleveland, has been the beat writer for the Indians/Guardians since 1983. He attended Cathedral Latin High School in Cleveland and received a journalism degree from Marquette University. He… more