Positional Battles - The Outfield

 As we get into spring training let's talk about our battles at each position.  Let's start with the outfield.

STARTERS

Kwan (LF, backup in CF and RF)

Straw (CF)

Gonzalez (RF)

NEXT MEN UP

1. Brennan (RF, LF, CF)

2. Arias (LF, RF)

3. Josh Naylor (RF)

4. Palacios (LF) - Minors - I think they have given up on him as a ML secondbaseman.

5. Valera (RF, LF, CF) -Minors

6. Fry (LF) - Minors - He can also catch so his versatility may be his ticket to some ML playing time

7. Noel (RF) - Minors

COMMENTS

The starters for 2023, barring injury or an unexpected trade, were set by the end of the Guardians' post-season last year.   Francona threw a monkey wrench into into the "next men up" category saying he was exploring putting Josh Naylor in RF some this year.  The goal is obvious: Francona found out how effective it was at the end of the year to use the DH as a rotating spot.  That is, instead of a day off use the DH to help keep position player leges fresh while keeping their bat in the lineup.  Then they signed Josh Bell in the off-season.  So there were two guys (Naylor, Bell) for two positions (1B/DH).  To break out of that pattern, if you want to rest someone you put Naylor in RF and let one of your other starters 'rest' at DH and get one of your bench players to fill in behind the guy who is the DH that game.   I hope Francona abandons this idea as signing Bell basically eliminated that as either he or Naylor should be DHing, if healthy, almost162 games, with the other one at 1B or having a true day off.  Brennan as the 4th outfielder is perfect and effective if Gonzalez struggles and I believe in Arias in the outfield as an emergency thing.  He looked really comfortable out there when he was playing in Columbus last year.  But starting Arias in the OF in any regular season game does not give Palacios or Brennan a chance.  In fact, the only chance Palacios would ever get in this situation is if 2 outfielders had to go to the DL and/or are sent down to the minors.  And I am not sure about that.   They might give Fry a chance early in the season (or even later, depending on the situation) as they might not be concerned with losing him in a DFA situation.  Valera or Noel might get a chance after the all-star break if one of them shows he is ready.  The bottom line here for Palacios, Valera, Fry and Noel is to stay ready at AAA and if you get your shot, grab it with both hands.   Apparently, if your initial impression in the majors in 2023 is a mediocre one (Jones, Benson) you might never get a second chance.  For Palacios, he may already be there (no second chance) but let's see what things look like after the WBC.  Besides getting to play on a world stage and getting to play with his brother, I think Palacios has done himself a big favor as I think he would have only gotten garbage time ABs if he was in ST this year.   If he does well against ML pitchers in the WBC, his stock might go up significantly with the Guardians.  That is the ONLY way I see his stock going up, however, so Richie better make a good impression in the WBC.  I know he can because I believe in him as a player and he seems like a solid person, as well..