The Cleveland Guardians brought their Spring Training roster down to 62 players after Friday's moves.
Opening Day is still about three weeks away, and the Cleveland Guardians have started to whittle down their roster for the beginning of the 2026 season. For the first time since the team arrived in Goodyear, the Guardians made a series of roster moves, focusing primarily on the pitching staff.
Optioned To Triple-A
Only two players on Cleveland’s 40-man roster were affected by these roster moves. The Guardians optioned two pitchers to Triple-A Columbus on Friday: RHP Austin Peterson and RHP Yorman Gomez.
Both of these pitchers starting the year in the Minor Leagues is no surprise; in fact, it was the most likely outcome to begin the year in the first place, regardless of how they’ve pitched so far in Cactus League play.
Peterson only made one appearance before being optioned in the spring, throwing 1.1 innings and giving up four earned runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
These numbers did not indicate the pitcher he was throughout his Minor League career. However, shortly after this outing, the 26-year-old ended up on the injured list with a right tricep strain that could keep him sidelined for two months.
Gomez made two appearances with the Guardians' big-league team and gave up four earned runs, four walks, and a strikeout in his 3.1 innings of work.
The pair of right-handers were both added to the 40-man roster early in the offseason and could be an option for the Guardians later in the season.
Akron RubberDucks starting pitcher Yorman Gomez delivers to a New Hampshire batter during the first inning of a Minor League Baseball game at Canal Park, Aug. 21, 2025, in Akron, Ohio. © Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesReassigned to Minor League Camp
The Guardians also reassigned a group of players to Minor League camp. These players include RHP Tanner Burns, RHP Trent Denholm, RHP Tommy Mace, RHP Aaron Davenport, and C Cameron Barstad. Again, no surprises here.
With some of Cleveland’s big-league arms starting to be stretched out, and the Minor League pitchers needing to get work themselves, it makes sense for the Guardians to start sending more and more pitchers to Minor League camp so they can get work in themselves.
After these moves, the Guardians' roster is at 62 players.
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