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Hey, Hoynsie: Cleveland is likely to go with a five-man rotation to start the season. Do any of the six starters from last September have options? The odd man out may be in the bullpen and a trip to Triple-A Columbus would be needed to stretch him out if he’s needed to help the rotation. — Ed Brandyberry, Coraopolis, Pennsylvania.
Hey, Ed: Remember, the only reason the Guardians went with a six-man rotation was because rosters expanded on Sept. 1 and they were able to carry 14 pitchers.
Here are the number of minor league options these six starters still have: Tanner Bibee, Parker Messick and Gavin Williams (three each); Logan Allen (two) and Slade Cecconi (one each) and Joey Cantillo (none).
Cantillo started last season in the bullpen and was optioned to Columbus to get stretched out to start. The Guardians can’t do that this year because he’s out of options.
Hey, Hoynsie: Among the Guardians’ six candidates for the rotation, Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, Slade Cecconi, Logan Allen, Joey Cantillo and Parker Messick, who do you see in the rotation and what happens with the sixth hurler? — Don Dohanyos, Escondido, California.
Hey, Don: A lot can happen between now and March 26 when the season opens. But from the outside looking in, I’ll say the rotation will be Bibee, Williams, Cecconi, Allen and Cantillo with Messick a phone call away at Triple-A Columbus.
Hey, Hoynsie: The Guards need a veteran power bat in the middle of their lineup. What are they going to do about that? A real veteran bat might be out of their price range, but they need to find protection for Jose Ramirez. — Tim Lavin, New Orleans.
Hey, Tim: No doubt about it. But they’re trying to do it on their own terms, which means finding a hitter who can improve the offense, while not blocking one of the young position players they’ve been developing. Good luck with that.
Guardians’ manager Stephen Vogt.Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
Hey, Hoynsie: What would Stephen Vogt need to do to win a third straight manager of the year award? — C.D. Leach, Strongsville.
Hey, C.D.: Vogt was jokingly asked that question at the winter meetings. His tongue-in-cheek reply was, “We’d probably have to win 120 games.”
Hey, Hoynsie: Could the addition of Stuart Fairchild indicate that the Guards are committed to platooning in 2026 as opposed to picking a couple of the youngsters to play every day in center and right field? — Tim Johnson, Rockville, Indiana.
Hey, Tim: I don’t think the addition of Fairchild will alter their platoon philosophy. They’re always going to platoon because it allows them to keep payroll down and turn a 26-man roster into a 28-man roster. But if one of their young position players shows he can play and produce every day, why would they keep him in a platoon?
Hey, Hoynsie: The Guardians are 124 years old this year. Are there any traditions within the organization that date back that far? Like little superstitions among the players, or lingo around the office? Is there anything that, say, a member of the 1948 World Series squad would recognize today? — Carter Bays, New York City.
Hey, Carter: The one thing that jumps out at me is the letter “C” — no matter how it’s designed — as part of the team’s uniform. A member of the 1948 World Series champion Indians would easily recognize the C on the current Guardians’ cap today because it still stands for Cleveland.
Guardians’ Bo Naylor.John Kuntz, cleveland.com
Hey, Hoynsie: Do you think Bo Naylor will improve his hitting enough in 2026 to remain the Guardians’ starting catcher for the long run? — Tony Mollica, The Plains.
Hey, Tony: Unless something unexpected happens, I think Naylor is the starting catcher, regardless.
The coaching staff and front office were encouraged by how he hit (.290) and handled the pitching staff in September when the Guardians rallied to win the AL Central.
Overall, however, Naylor hit .195 (70 for 359) with a .282 on-base percentage for the season. The 14 homers were a career high, but there are still a lot of blanks in Naylor’s offensive game that need to be filled.
Hey, Hoynsie: Do you think Jhonkensy Noel, aka Big Christmas, will be in the Guards’ organization this year? Or will he be picked up by another club? — Mike Barrett, Ashland.
Hey, Mike: I think another club will either acquire Noel via trade or on waivers. Noel was designated for assignment on Dec. 17. Teams normally have seven days to trade, release or put a DFA’d player on waivers. That deadline has been extended into January for all players who were designated in late December because of the holidays.