How Joey Cantillo’s lack of options could impact Guardians’ starting rotation in 2026

Last season, Joey Cantillo did everything the Guardians asked of him. After starting the year in the bullpen and recording a 3.81 ERA in 28 1/3 innings, the Guardians sent Cantillo to Triple-A midway through May so he could be stretched out as a starter. 

But after throwing just 11 2/3 innings at Triple-A due to arm troubles, the Guardians recalled Cantillo at the start of July after Luis Ortiz was placed on paid leave as a part of a sports betting investigation. 

While that suspension hurt the Guardians in the long-term since it cost them Ortiz (and eventually Emmanuel Clase), it gave Cantillo the runway needed to prove himself as an everyday player. 

The Guardians briefly sent Cantillo down to Triple-A at the end of August, but he was recalled at the start of September to be a part of Cleveland’s six-man rotation.

That move turned out to be one of the biggest for the Guardians in 2025, as Cantillo posted a 1.55 ERA in 29 innings in September, which resulted in him being named the American League Rookie of the Month. 

But after getting great results from their six-man rotation at the end of 2025, the Guardians are going to go back to a traditional five-man rotation for 2026, which means that someone who finished last season in the rotation is going to be the odd man out. 

Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams aren’t going anywhere, which means that Cantillo, Parker Messick, Slade Cecconi and Logan Allen are fighting for three spots. 

And one of the things that could impact that race is Cantillo’s lack of flexibility, as the 26-year-old pitcher is out of minor league options, meaning the only way he can sent off the roster is by being exposed to waivers.

Joey Cantillo’s lack of options will impact the Guardians in 2026

Last year, the Guardians sent Cantillo down to the minors twice so he could be stretched out ahead of a role change. That kind of thing can’t happen this year, which makes it hard to believe that Cantillo won’t start 2026 in the rotation. 

That thinking was reinforced over the weekend when veteran Guardians beat reporter Paul Hoynes was asked a question in his mailbag about Cleveland’s rotation, where he said that he thinks Messick will start the season at Triple-A while Allen and Cecconi will occupy the final two spots in the rotation. 

Even though Messick finished last season with a 2.72 ERA in 39 2/3 innings after making his MLB debut in August, he still has three minor league options remaining and the most unproven of all of the options in the Guardians’ rotation. 

That said, it would be malpractice for Logan Allen to earn a spot in the starting rotation over him. Even though Allen benefited from the six-man rotation as well, he’s been the definition of league average since making his MLB debut and would be better off being used as a trade sweetener this offseason. 

But even if the Guardians make the odd decision to go with Allen over Messick, Cantillo being in the rotation would be an obvious win, even if it doesn’t come with the same kind of versatility that it had last season.