The Cleveland Guardians may not have made a ton of roster-altering moves during MLB’s Winter Meetings in Orlando last week. Still, based on what skipper Stephen Vogt and President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti said, they provided some insight into the team.
After the Winter Meetings, here’s a prediction for what Cleveland’s 2026 Opening Day lineup could look like next March:
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Let’s take a look at some of the rationale and takeaways behind this potential Cleveland lineup.
There have certainly been some Steven Kwan trade rumors this offseason, but if the organization was going to move him, the Winter Meetings felt like the perfect time to do so.
That said, the Winter Meetings are past, and Kwan is still a Guardian.
Perhaps Cleveland does still opt to move their All-Star left fielder this winter, but the chances of that feel much lower than they did a week ago; thus, Kwan is in this starting lineup projection.
Sep 18, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Guardians’ Brayan Rocchio (4) and Steven Kwan (38) celebrate after the final out against the Detroit at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Antonetti made it pretty clear last week that any potential addition, whether that be through trade or free agency, can’t take away opportunities from their young, promising players such as Chase DeLauter and George Valera.
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It would still make plenty of sense for Cleveland to add a veteran outfield bat, even if it’s just for depth, to this group. However, the Guardians appear very confident with their young core, so envisioning a different impact bat in the Opening Day lineup at this point in the offseason may not be the approach the front office is focusing on.
Maybe the most interesting comments made by a Guardians staff member all week came from the manager, who said Brayan Rocchio would play “a lot of shortstop at spring training,” while Gabriel Arias moved around the field a little bit more.
With that in mind, it certainly feels like the Guardians are at least open to the idea of having a more offensive-minded player get a chance in the middle infield.
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Travis Bazzana being on the Opening Day roster feels a little far-fetched. The next player ready for an opportunity up is 24-year-old Juan Brito, who has a minor-league career OPS of .831. The switch-hitter would have likely made his debut in 2025 if it weren’t for a pair of injuries, so giving him a chance right away in 2026 wouldn’t come as a shock whatsoever.