Guardians’ big picture question? Who should play short? Travis Bazzana? – Hey, Terry!

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Guardians are in first place in the Central Division as the pressure rises with summer temperatures. Here are some questions from fans. One of the topics was what to do about shortstop:

Hey, Terry: I think manager Stephen Vogt was hired with a long term goal. He was to evaluate young talent this season, deciding who to plan around and what pieces might be needed for a run either in 2025 or 2026. The fast start has put the front office in a quandary. Your thoughts? – Phil

Hey, Phil: This is the type of discussion the Guardians have been having for months after the team started so fast. I doubt the front office expected this 62-41 record. Former manager Terry Francona called it “threading the needle,” which means trying to win now and develop players at the same time.

Will they trade some prospects? Yes. But they are not going to trade any of their elite young players – unless it brings back an impact player who will be under team control beyond 2025. I could be wrong, but I don’t expect a huge move from the Guardians. Some small deals? Yes.

Hey, Terry: Wouldn’t Amed Rosario look good at the bottom of the order? He could play SS or outfield & be an improvement. What say you? – Marvin

Hey, Marvin: The Guardians traded Rosario to the Dodgers on July 27, 2023, for Noah Snydergaard. Rosario would be a free agent after the 2023 season. They had no plans to re-sign him. They wanted to open short for young players such as Gabriel Arias and Brayan Rocchio to claim the position.

I always liked Rosario because of his hustle and good attitude. But he was below average defensively at short. I wrote a recent column about how the hope was the Guardians would have an answer to their shortstop question by now – but they don’t.

As for Rosario, he batted .265 (.675 OPS) with Cleveland and .256 (.709 OPS) with the Dodgers in 2023. He became a free agent. Very few teams were interested. He signed with Tampa Bay for $1.5 million. With the Rays, he’s batting .310 (.748 OPS) with two homers and 26 RBI. He is a super utility man, having played 17 games in the outfield, 17 at second base, 10 at third and 10 at shortstop.

Hey, Terry: I’m hoping to see Travis Bazzana at second base next spring and Andres Gimenez at shortstop. – Alan

Hey, Terry: Gimenez was a fine shortstop when Cleveland traded for him (in 2022), but they really needed a good second baseman. I think Bazzana will be on the team next year, playing second base, and Gimenez at short. They don’t want to say that right now without Bazzana on the team yet. – Doug from Houston

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Hey, Terry: If the Guardians believe they are a serious World Series contender, then maybe (just maybe) put Bazzana at second now and find out if he is up to it. Of course the risk is losing a year of player control. – Bill

Hey Alan, Bill & Doug: The temptation is to confuse the baseball draft with drafts in football and basketball, where top picks in the draft play right away and make an immediate impact. That simply doesn’t happen in baseball, especially with hitters.

If Bazzana actually reaches the majors as a full-time player in 2026, that will be fast. It means he rushed through the minors in 1 ½ seasons. I recall Francona saying most players need between 1,200 and 1,500 at-bats in the minors to be MLB ready. The stats are about 85% of players who make the majors go back to the minors at least once. If Bazzana even makes the majors by the 2025 All-Star break, it will be a huge surprise.

Hey, Terry: What about Juan Brito at Class AAA Columbus? He has over 1,400 minor league at-bats. I like Jose Tena, too. – Doug from Ocala, Florida

Hey, Doug: Brito was my favorite prospect heading into 2024. He was the Guardians’ Minor League Player of the Year for 2023, according to Baseball America. Brito is hitting .253 (.814 OPS) with 14 HR and 59 RBI with Class AAA Columbus. He is mostly a second baseman. He does have 1,423 pro at-bats.

Brito is only 22, making him one of the youngest players in Class AAA. He started slowly, but he’s hitting .287 (.980 OPS) since June 1. He is the guy who could go to spring training in 2025 and impress, perhaps leading to Gimenez moving back to his original shortstop position.

That said, Gimenez is the best second baseman I’ve ever seen … period. Robbie Alomar had that distinction in my mind until I watched Gimenez.

Hey, Terry: Another option at shortstop could be Tyler Freeman. He is a right-handed hitter so desperately needed in a left-handed dominant lineup. He is a great athlete who deserves a more permanent spot in the lineup. It’s so tough to play part time. Shortstop is his natural position. – Michael

Hey, Michael: Having watched Freeman play short, I consider him so-so at best with the glove. I’ve been far more impressed with him in center field. Freeman has played a lot. He entered Friday with the fifth most at-bats on the team.

Freeman is hitting .223 (.670 OPS) with seven HR and 32 RBI. He is a right-handed hitter, but he’s batting only .221 vs. lefties. I don’t see him as the answer for short.