AL Central: Arias among 2B candidates in Cleveland

Cleveland Guardians

Following the offseason trade of Andrés Giménez, the Guardians' second base is a position that will be up for grabs as spring games begin. We currently have Gabriel Arias (2B, CLE) as the player getting the most time at the position, but that's far from guaranteed.

Arias failed to capitalize on his opportunity last season, and in 563 career PA, owns a .624 OPS with a woeful 64% ct%. He did hit very well at Triple-A, though, and is still just 24 years old, so he can't be dismissed yet. Arias has actually played more at each of the other infield positions than he has at second base during his time in the majors, and a utility role may again be in the cards if he doesn't lock down the starting gig. 

Angel Martínez (2B, CLE) ranked 8th on our 2024 Cleveland Organizational Report. He then fared pretty well as a 22-year-old at Triple-A, where he registered a .793 OPS with an 81% ct%. Martinez then put up a 78% ct% in his 169 PA in the majors, though he hit just .232 and the power was lacking (3 HR, 70 xPX). 

Daniel Schneemann (2B, CLE) made his major league debut as a 27-year-old in 2024 and hit just .218/.303/.368 with 5 HR and a 63% ct% in 221 PA. His versatility will help keep him in the mix for a roster spot, but if he wins a starting job, it will be as a placeholder until a youngster is ready.

Juan Brito (2B, CLE) is number seven on this year's Org Report for Cleveland after a nice year at Triple-A in 2024. He hit .256 with 21 HR and 13 SB while showing solid plate skills (15% bb%, 80% ct%). He too has moved all around the infield, though second base has been his main spot the last couple of seasons. 

Tyler Freeman (OF, CLE) would be another option, though Manager Steven Vogt would probably prefer to keep him in center field, his primary spot a season ago. He made five-plus appearances at second base, third base, and shortstop, and could move around again, even if he's the primary center fielder.

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Chicago White Sox

Brooks Baldwin (SS, CWS) currently sits atop the depth chart at shortstop as spring training nears. The 24-year-old has a lot to prove after slashing .210/.250/.316 across 121 PA in 2024. Baldwin has flashed a mildly intriguing power/speed profile, and with just 35 PA at Triple-A, some struggles at the major league level were to be expected. But it's tough to envision a major step forward in 2025, and he could easily be pushed to another position or utility role if someone else emerges at shortstop. 

The team added prospect Colson Montgomery (SS, CWS) to the 40-man roster, protecting him from the Rule 5 draft. He is considered to be the shortstop of the future, but he struggled during his first taste of Triple-A in 2024, hitting just .214/.329/.381 in 573 PA. Montgomery had a terrific showing in the Arizona Fall League, but he'll have to hit at Triple-A to earn a promotion, and odds are against an immediate impact. 

Another prospect who could potentially get a look at shortstop is Chase Meidroth (2B, CWS), acquired from Boston in the Garrett Crochet deal. Opinions vary on whether or not he can handle shortstop, but he did start 49 games there at Triple-A in 2024. As for the bat, Meidroth put up a .293/.437/.400 line with 7 HR and 13 SB last season, drawing 105 walks and striking out just 71 times. He could be an above average bat right out of the gate and will soon factor into the infield mix in some way.

 

Detroit Tigers

Jason Foley (RHP, DET) led the team with 28 saves in 2024, and is the favorite to handle the role to open the 2025 campaign. But he's yet to crack a 20% K% and had a 4.12 xERA in 2024, leaving him with little margin for error and a loose grip on the role. 

Will Vest (RHP, DET) saw a decline in his K% in 2024 but still managed to record a second straight sub-3.00 ERA. He had a 2.29 mark in the 2nd half and notched a couple of saves, so he is likely to factor into the late-inning mix.

Tyler Holton (LHP, DET) has handedness working against him and he also had a pedestrian K% (21%) in 2024. He continues to outperform his skills, but with a 2.19 career ERA and eight saves last season, he could see some 9th inning chances as well. 

Alex Lange (RHP, DET), who led the team with 26 saves in 2023, is a dark horse candidate. He started off slow in 2024, was demoted to Triple-A in May, and had season-ending lat surgery in late June. Walks will always be a problem, but his ability to miss bats could help him get back into a high leverage role.

 

Kansas City Royals

The team has three guys in the rotation in Cole Ragans (LHP, KC), Seth Lugo (RHP, KC), and Michael Wacha (RHP, KC) who can be expected to handle a pretty heavy workload this coming season. The rest of the starter innings could be split among a handful of candidates, some of whom we will take a quick look at here.

Kris Bubic (LHP, KC) got many people excited over a three-start stretch in 2023 before going under the knife for Tommy John surgery. He returned in 2024 and flashed electric skills out of the pen during the 2nd half. Bubic likely has the inside track on a rotation spot, but both the workload and performance are unknowns.  

Michael Lorenzen (RHP, KC) was inked to a one-year, $5.5 million deal earlier this month. The 33-year-old registered a 3.31 ERA in 130 IP in 2024, but the skills tell a different story. Lorenzen's 4.75 ERA and 6% K-BB% suggest he'll have a hard time making himself useful again in 2025, even in deeper leagues.

Kyle Wright (RHP, KC) missed all of the 2024 season while recovering from surgery to repair a torn shoulder capsule. The shoulder issue wiped out most of 2023 as well, but the last time we saw him for a full season (2022), he had a 3.19 ERA across 30 starts with Atlanta. 

Alec Marsh (RHP, KC) had an up and down season in 2024, with the end result being a 4.53 ERA, a 4.13 xERA, and 22% K% over 129 frames. His BB% was better than in years' past, and holding those gains will be key if he's going to provide positive value during the upcoming season.

 

Minnesota Twins

There are three rotation spots that are definitely spoken for if everyone is healthy coming out of spring training. But that leaves a couple of question marks at the back of the rotation, which is a situation worth tracking this spring. Let's take a look at a few of the most likely candidates to land one of the open roles.

Chris Paddack (RHP, MIN) held a starting job for half of last season before a forearm strain put an end to his season in July. His numbers were underwhelming, as he recorded a 4.99 ERA, a 4.64 xERA, and a 20% K%. Assuming he's fully recovered, Paddack has a good shot at cracking the rotation, though his track record of health and performance say he won't spend the full season there.  

Simeon Woods Richardson (RHP, MIN) put up a 4.17 ERA in 28 starts a season ago, but it was a 4.92 mark in the 2nd half, and his xERA for the season was 4.64. A projected 11% K-BB% is further evidence of marginal skills, but he's likely to get some run in the rotation at some point.

Zebby Matthews (RHP, MIN) began last year at Class A but ended up making nine starts in the big leagues. His 6.69 ERA with the Twins certainly wasn't impressive but a 4.37 xERA and 18% K-BB% offer hope the results can significantly improve in short order.  

David Festa (RHP, MIN) missed plenty of bats in 2024, as he notched a 35% K% in 15 starts at Triple-A, then a 28% mark in 14 outings (13 starts) in the majors. While his ERA checked in at 4.90, his 3.79 xERA and 13.1% SwK show he possesses some enticing upside.

 

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