This story is from Tim Stebbins’ Guardians Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, Click here. And subscribe to receive it regularly in your inbox.
CLEVELAND — When the Guardians report Spring training in Goodyear, Ariz., next month, a camp will begin that should be loaded with competition among both the pitching staff and position players.
As for the latter, the outfield will be an intriguing group to follow this spring. Let’s take a look at three reasons why.
1. The land of opportunities
When Guardians decision-makers indicated this winter that they expected competition within the team during spring training, it’s easy to look first to the outfield. Cleveland has a dozen options heading into camp, and only one (Steven Kwan, left field) is on the starting roster.
Beyond Kwan, outfielders include: Chase DeLauter (Guards’ No. 2 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline), David Fry, Petey Halpin, Nolan Jones, CJ Kayfus, Angel Martínez, Johnathan Rodríguez, Daniel Schneemann, George Valera and Kahlil Watson (No. 18). The Guardians also signed veteran Stuart Fairchild to a contract Minor league agreement on Dec. 20, which includes an invitation to big league spring training.
Of course, players like Fry, Kayfus, Martínez and Schneemann each have versatility to play around the diamond. But center and right field appear wide open, and the Guardians will have six weeks in Goodyear to sort through their options before assembling their Opening Day mix.
2. Young people
The Guardians want to give their promising players opportunities this spring, and they are aware of that while considering potential acquisitions that could help complement the younger guys.
DeLauter, Valera and Kayfus fall into this category of young people. Each reached the Majors last season, and each will have a lead this spring and an opportunity to further help Cleveland in 2026. This trio figures to have a lot of eyes on them during camp, certainly DeLauter — who made his MLB debut in October in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against Detroit.
DeLauter will have reps at center and fair during camp. Valera will be in right field, and Kayfus has shown down the stretch in 2025 that he can handle right field and first base. With this trio, Cleveland’s outfield could be infused with key young contributors in 2026. Spring training is the first step toward that possibility.
3. Potential for addition
Even though young talent will get an in-depth look this spring, it could still make a lot of sense for Cleveland to add a veteran hitter to its outfield lineup.
The Guardians’ struggles to gain on-field production in 2025 have been discussed ad nauseam this offseason. The same goes for the fact that DeLauter, Kayfus and Valera could provide a boost in 2026. But the good fits remain on a free agent market which has progressed at a methodical pace this winter — notably potential complementary actorslike veteran right-handers Austin Hays, Miguel Andujar and Harrison Bader.
The Guardians have four right-handed hitters under their belt squad of 40 players in Gabriel Arias, Austin Hedges, Fry and Rodríguez. Fairchild also hits right-handed, but that nonetheless appears to be an urgent need to address over the next month.
