Trimming rosters near the end of spring training is like management getting to decide which players are left standing when the room goes quiet in a game of musical chairs.
Right fielder Will Brennan and right-handed reliever were left standing March 24 when the Guardians got closer to finalizing the 26-man roster they will take to Kansas City to open the 2025 season on March 27.
President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti on a Zoom call to highlight opening day pitcher Tanner Bibee signing a five-year $48 million contract extension announced Brennan and Andrew Walters were informed they will start the season in Triple-A Columbus. Joey Cantillo beat out Walters for the final spot in the bullpen. Brennan became the odd man out, as expected, after the Guardians acquired Nolan Jones from the Rockies on March 22 for utility player Tyler Freeman.
“We did talk with Joey Cantillo to inform him that he will be in the bullpen and that meant that we did option Andrew Walters to Triple-A,” Antonetti said. “A few things went into that. I think especially at the start of the season, we wanted to make sure we had enough length in the bullpen to make sure we could absorb innings, especially as our starters are building up their workload. Both Triston (McKenzie) and Joey can provide some length.
“Jakob Junis also has the ability to go multiple innings. So we made some tough decisions. We felt that there were a number of pitchers that got left off the roster that we think are going to impact us this year, but this is the group we’ll go with for opening day.”
Brennan and Jones both bat left-handed. Johnkensey Noel, who also plays right field, bats right-handed. Jones will get most of his at-bats against right-handed pitching, Antonetti said, but it isn’t as simple as platooning Jones and Noel according to the pitching match-up. Jones had lower back issues while with the Rockies. Manager Stephen Vogt wants to make sure Jones is healthy for September when the Guardians are making a playoff push.
“Exactly how we deploy those, guys, Voghter will work on a nightly basis to figure out the best matchups,” Antonetti said. “One of the things we’ll have to work with Nolan on is he has had some back issues that have impacted him over the course of the last few seasons and our goal is to try to help keep him out on the field and be as productive as he can. And that might mean having to manage playing time and manage volume a little bit to make sure we do the best we can to keep him healthy.”
The Indians selected Jones in the second round of the 2016 draft. They traded him to the Rockies in December 2022 for infield prospect Juan Brito. Brito was optioned to Columbus on March 21.
Jones hit 20 home runs, drove in 62 runs, stole 20 bases and batted .297 with the Rockies in 2023. The back injury limited him to 79 games last season. He hit .227 with three home runs and 28 RBI.
