Guardians Roster 2026: Two Spots Remain Open for Season Opener in Seattle

Manager Stephen Vogt says the roster is 'pretty close to set' but a few decisions remain to be made.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 7:05pm

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The Cleveland Guardians are still finalizing their 26-man roster for the 2026 season opener in Seattle, with two spots remaining open. Manager Stephen Vogt says the roster is 'pretty close to set' but they still have a few decisions to work through in the next few days. The team has made some moves, including re-signing right-hander Pedro Avila to a minor league deal and selecting the contract of right-hander Codi Heuer, who was optioned to Triple-A Columbus.

Why it matters

The Guardians are looking to build on their success from last season and make a strong push for the playoffs. Finalizing the roster with the right mix of players will be crucial to their chances of success in 2026.

The details

The Guardians need to fill the eighth spot in the bullpen and the last position player spot on the 26-man roster. The bullpen currently includes Cade Smith, Shawn Armstrong, Matt Festa, Erik Sabrowski, Tim Herrin, Colin Brogdon and Peyton Pallette, with the team deciding between lefty Kolby Allard and right-hander Colin Holderman for the final spot. For the position player spot, the race is down to first baseman-outfielder CJ Kayfus and outfielder Stuart Fairchild.

  • The Guardians break camp after Tuesday's game against Arizona at Chase Field.
  • The team announced the re-signing of Pedro Avila and the selection of Codi Heuer's contract.

The players

Stephen Vogt

The manager of the Cleveland Guardians.

Pedro Avila

A right-handed pitcher who was re-signed by the Guardians to a minor league deal and will open the season at Triple-A Columbus.

Codi Heuer

A right-handed pitcher who was selected to the Guardians' 40-man roster and optioned to Triple-A Columbus.

Kolby Allard

A left-handed pitcher who is in camp with the Guardians on a non-roster contract and is competing for the final bullpen spot.

Colin Holderman

A right-handed pitcher who was signed by the Guardians to a one-year, $1.5 million deal in December and is also competing for the final bullpen spot.

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What they’re saying

“There's still a few things we're sorting through. The roster is pretty close to set, but there are still a few decisions we need to work through in the next few days.”

— Stephen Vogt, Manager

“When we signed Codi, everyone was excited to see where he'd be. He's had a rough couple of years injury wise. His stuff is electric. For the majority of his outings, the strike throwing was great.”

— Stephen Vogt, Manager

What’s next

The Guardians are expected to add DH Rhys Hoskins to the 40-man roster in the near future, and they could create a spot for him by putting right-hander Andrew Walters on the 60-day injured list as he recovers from surgery on his right lat.

The takeaway

The Guardians are in a good position heading into the 2026 season, with a strong starting rotation and infield set. The final decisions on the bullpen and position player spots will be crucial in determining the team's depth and versatility as they look to build on their success from last year.