Cleveland Guardians: Amed Rosario to split time between shortstop and left field

Guardians manager Terry Francona hinted that Amed Rosario could once again be spending time in the outfield this season.

When the 2021 season ended, it seemed like Amed Rosario was set to be the Cleveland Guardians’ starting shortstop in 2022.

But manager Terry Francona threw a bit of a wrench into that idea this week, telling reporters that Rosario would split time between shortstop and left field this year.

So what could this mean for the current iteration of the Guardians’ roster? At first glance, Cleveland is no doubt trying to find a way to give more playing time to the glut of middle infielders they have on the active roster, along with those about to break into the majors (such as Gabriel Arias).

On a much darker note, moving Rosario to the outfield at times would mean the Guardians aren’t going to pull off any move of significance, either through a trade or what’s left in the free-agent market. There’s really no way around it: If Amed Rosario is getting significant playing time in left field this season, the Guardians are going to be in deep, deep trouble.

But Francona certainly knows all this, and he is well aware the front office is actively trying to acquire more talent for this roster. He can’t just come out and say, “Oh yeah, we’re in desperate need of a left fielder and honestly, I have no idea what I’m going to do there until it happens.” Well, he can, but it’s not the best look for a Hall of Fame manager.

Still, there’s a very real chance Cleveland stands pat; it’s not like the organization has earned the benefit of the doubt all that much when it comes to bringing in new names. The very thought of the Guardians potentially being content with Rosario spending significant time in the outfield – it was an adventure having him in center field last year – should send shivers down your spine.