3 Guardians who could benefit from a role change in 2027 

The Guardians are always going to be a team with a roster built around versatility. While that approach can sometimes be frustrating since it can lead to players being in uncomfortable positions in the name of utility, it’s clear that roster design is one of the Guardians’ biggest advantages. 

With that in mind, here are three Guardians who could be in line for a new role next season. 

The Guardians have some key decisions to make about some players on their roster for 2027

Keep Cooper Ingle at catcher 

While Ingle made his big league debut earlier this season, all four of his defensive appearances came in left field as the Guardians attempted to squeeze his bat into their lineup. That cameo didn’t really amount to anything, which is why it’s time for the Guardians to let him try to earn a roster spot as a catcher. 

The Guardians seem committed to keeping Ingle in the outfield since he spent some time there in the minors after he was demoted at the start of July, next season will be a bit different since Austin Hedges could depart in free agency. 

Cleveland has a vacancy at backup catcher for the first time since Cam Gallagher and Meibrys Viloria suited up for the franchise in 2023, and it’s time to let Ingle earn that spot. That will likely come with some growing pains behind the plate as he learns to call a big league game for the first time in his career, but you’ve got to let the kids play at some point. 

Move Slade Cecconi to the bullpen permanently 

After having one of the most consistent rotations for the first four months of the season, the Guardians front office threw a huge wrench in the spokes when they traded for Foster Griffin. That move bumped Cecconi to the bullpen, where he posted a 5.93 ERA in 13 2/3 innings in the regular season before recording two more relief appearances in the postseason.

Those results may be middling, but Cecconi showed some flashes with a fastball that sat around 96-97 miles per hour. Part of them stemmed from him being used as a multi-inning reliever in the postseason, but he’d arguably be just as valuable as a multi-inning weapon akin to how the Brewers have used Aaron Ashby this postseason. 

Cecconi hasn’t blossomed into the kind of starter the Guardians expected him to be when they acquired him for Josh Naylor, but this role change could breathe new life into his Guardians tenure. 

Keep Steven Kwan in center field 

This move is about maximizing Kwan’s defensive ability as much as it is about keeping the Guardians outfield at its best. After Kwan started his career with four straight Gold Gloves in left field, he was more of a "utility" outfielder in 2026 with 98 appearances in left field and 88 appearances in center, which may have been part of the reason why he had such a sluggish start to the season. 

But the best way for the Guardians to move past that would be keeping Kwan in center, where he had a slightly better batting average (.277) compared to left field (.269). Keeping Kwan in center would also help with the Guardians’ roster set up since it would free up the corners for Jo Adell, Chase DeLauter, Angel Martínez and whatever other outfielders are on the roster. 

There are a lot of question marks about Kwan’s future, but his role shouldn’t be one of them. 

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