Guardians Face Roster Dilemma with Rhys Hoskins Before Opening Day

Cleveland must clear a spot on the 40-man roster for the veteran first baseman.

Mar. 23, 2026 at 10:33am

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Rhys Hoskins has made the Cleveland Guardians' Opening Day roster, but the team has a full 40-man roster and no open spot for him. The Guardians will need to clear a roster spot before Thursday's season opener against the Seattle Mariners.

Why it matters

The Guardians lacked power in their lineup last season, and adding Hoskins could provide a needed offensive boost. However, the team must navigate roster rules and regulations to accommodate him before the start of the season.

The details

Hoskins, a 33-year-old first baseman, impressed the Guardians during Spring Training, hitting .222 with three home runs. Last season with the Milwaukee Brewers, he had a .748 OPS. The Guardians have a full 40-man roster after adding relief pitcher Codi Heuer over the weekend, leaving no open spot for Hoskins. The team will need to either remove someone from the 40-man roster, potentially exposing them to waivers, or place an injured player on the 60-day Injured List to create space for Hoskins.

  • The Guardians must clear a roster spot for Hoskins before Thursday's season opener against the Seattle Mariners.

The players

Rhys Hoskins

A 33-year-old first baseman who has made the Guardians' Opening Day roster despite the team having a full 40-man roster.

Codi Heuer

A relief pitcher the Guardians added to their 40-man roster over the weekend, leaving no open spot for Hoskins.

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What they’re saying

“They will now need to open up a spot for (1B/DH) Rhys Hoskins before Thursday.”

— Guardians Prospective

What’s next

The Guardians must decide how to clear a roster spot for Hoskins before Thursday's season opener against the Mariners.

The takeaway

The Guardians' addition of Rhys Hoskins to their Opening Day roster has created a roster crunch, forcing the team to navigate 40-man roster rules and regulations to accommodate the veteran first baseman before the start of the season.