3 Guardians players most impacted by Rhys Hoskins signing

Just because spring training has started doesn’t mean that teams are done adding to their roster. We got a prime example of that on Sunday morning when Rhys Hoskins moseyed his way into the Guardians’ spring training clubhouse on a minor league deal with an invitation from spring training. 

And while Hoskins is technically facing an uphill battle to a roster spot thanks to that NRI status, it’s hard to believe the Guardians would keep his power off their roster so long as he stays healthy this spring. 

With that in mind, here are the three Guardians most impacted by Hoskins joining the Guardians in camp. 

These three Guardians are going to be impacted the most by Rhys Hoskins signing with the Guardians

1B Kyle Manzardo 

This one’s pretty simple considering Hoskins plays exclusively at first base, which is Manzardo’s position. 

While this isn’t on the same level as the Guardians signing the ghost of Carlos Santana last season, there’s no way that Hoskins being on Cleveland’s roster doesn’t have some kind of impact on Manzardo’s long-term future. 

Even if they can theoretically serve as platoon partners to each other, Cleveland’s signing of Hoskins gives at least some kind of credence to the theory that the Guardians may not be ready to turn Manzardo into a full-time first baseman (even if he has bulked up). 

Manzardo’s clearly a part of the Guardians’ long-term future, but it’s a future that got a smidge more cloudy thanks to Hoskins being on the roster. 

OF Stuart Fairchild 

Prior to Hoskins’ signing, Fairchild seemed like the non-roster invitee with the best chance to make the Guardians roster thanks to the balance he could bring to the outfield picture as a right-handed bat. 

But any path he had to the Guardians’ roster may have closed up thanks to Hoskins’ signing and Steven Kwan being a potential option in center field. 

Fairchild is pretty much the exact opposite of Hoskins in that most of the value he brings to the fold is based around speed, defense and a low strikeout rate. It’s an important skillset, but it’s also a skillset the Guardians already have on their roster in spades. 

Fairchild is a better option in the right field than incumbent option Johnathan Rodríguez, but Hoskins could end up being the beneficiary of any roster spot opened up by potential Rodríguez DFA instead of Fairchild.

SS Gabriel Arias 

This is clearly a make or break season for Arias, who is entering his fifth big league season with the Guardians. 

While he’s shown flashes throughout that time span, he’s largely failed to live up to the prospect potential he had thanks to the incredible raw tools that he possesses. 

Now he’s entering camp as one of the Guardians’ numerous utility options, so he’s now going to be competing against Daniel Schneemann and David Fry for a bench role. 

Arias entered the spring as a valuable right-handed hitter in a lefty-heavy lineup, but Hoskins could provide that profile with a bit more power. 

Adding Hoskins to the roster could allow for the Guardians to sell (moderately) high on Arias.