Guardians Have Clear Decision to Make With Rule 5 Pick

Back in November, the Cleveland Guardians were in desperate need of more bullpen depth, and they took a chance in the Rule 5 Draft by selecting RHP Peyton Pallette from the Chicago White Sox organization. 

There was ultimately little risk involved with selecting the 24-year-old pitcher, but Pallette automatically assumed a spot on the 40-man roster, and he must be on Cleveland’s big league roster, or he’ll be sent back to the White Sox, which is where the big dilemma comes into play. 

So, with Opening Day a week away, the Guardians have a decision to make with Pallette: Should he be with the team on their way to Seattle for the first series of the season, or will they opt to start the process of sending him back to Chicago? 

Truly, Cleveland’s decision-makers shouldn’t take too long to reach a resolution. It’s pretty clear that Pallette should be on the Opening Day roster as he continues to show that he has the stuff to be on a Major League roster.

Pallette had a late start to his Spring Training due to some shoulder tightness, but the right-hander has impressed in nearly every game he’s appeared in. 

Palette has made five appearances in Cactus League play and has yet to allow a run, giving up only three hits, issuing three walks, and striking out a whopping 11 batters. What should also encourage the Guardians is that Pallette has occasionally hit 98 mph with his fastball. 

“He’s had a great camp,” said manager Stephen Vogt earlier this week. “I mean, he’s had a great showing [and] we’re all really excited about what Peyton could be.”

Deciding whether Pallette should make the roster should be the easy part; determining how and where he fits into Cleveland’s reliever core is the harder piece. 

Obviously, the high-leverage innings for the Guardians will be covered by Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis, and Shawn Armstrong. However, Pallette could slot in very nicely as a middle-innings reliever. He even showed the ability to throw multiple innings on Monday.

This mult-inning effort also caught the eye of Vogt, who said, “We’re going to continue to try and build him up and see how it progresses.”

With the Guardians starting the regular season next Thursday, we’ll know Pallette’s fate with Cleveland in the coming days, but it’s hard not to see the 24-year-old making the roster after what he’s been able to accomplish this spring. 

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