Grading the Cleveland Guardians Opening Day roster by position

Relievers

"Relievers (9): Emmanuel Clase, Anthony Gose, Nick Sandlin, Trevor Stephan, Bryan Shaw, Sam Hentges, Eli Morgan, Logan Allen, Konnor Pilkington"

Overview:

The relievers are talented but I have the same concern here as I do for the starters. There is so much talent in this group but after it? Yikes. Emmanuel Clase and when he’s healthy, James Karinchak, will once again be a formidable back of the bullpen-type duo. But Karinchak isn’t healthy, so here we are.

Nick Stephan and Trevor Stephan had solid 2021s but they’re young and only entering their second major league season. So anything can still happen. Konnor Pilkington is a relative unknown but has oodles of talent. The three of them could be the best parts of the bullpen or in the minors by June.

I have a lot of hope for Anthony Gose, the outfielder turned pitcher who represented team USA last year in the Olympics. He’s got some real talent. He and Bryan Shaw are going to be innings eaters for sure.

Sam Hentges had an ugly 2021 and an even uglier spring training but he’s going to be given a shot and I’m not sure that’s wise. I’m pulling for him, I’m just not betting on him. That lastly leaves us with Logan Allen, who struggled all year and isn’t as nearly as exciting as fellow Guardians pitching prospect, Logan Allan. Can’t wait for those two to be teammates.

And of course, there’s Eli Morgan, who I don’t think is going to be a world-beater but he’s useful.

Grade: B+

If Karinchak returns to form and doesn’t exhaust his arm as fast in 2022 as he did in 2021, while Clase, Shaw, and Gose remain as consistent as possible, this is going to be very good bullpen. There are a lot of unknowns here but I have more faith in them than in other positions.