Who Will Play Second Base for the Guardians in 2025?

There are a few options

The Guardians just traded their starting second baseman – who’s next in line?

As we process platinum glove-winning Andres Gimenez’s departure for Toronto, let’s take a look at the handful of possibilities who may take number 0’s place in the Cleveland lineup and infield in 2025:

1. Juan Brito, Switch-hitting 23 year-old, Triple-A INF/OF

Acquired in the Nolan Jones deal with Colorado, Brito put up a 113 wRC+ and 16.1/13.5 K/BB% at Columbus in 2025 in his age 22 season. He had a .187 ISO, hitting 21 home runs, flashing pulled-fly ball abilities with a 47% pull-rate and a fly ball rate around 40%. He moved around a bit, logging time at first base, right field, third base and even shortstop, but he spent the majority of his time at second base with 559 innings there (and 7 errors, not that we can tell much from Triple-A error count).

I think the Guardians believe in Brito and his bat and prize it highly… I’m not sure they believe in his glove as a second baseman. If they do, then I think there is a good chance Brito is given a legitimate shot to win the second base job in spring training and put his plate discipline and pulled fly-ball approach to the test in the big leagues. Some people aren’t going to like it, but I’m a firm believer in his approach translating well to the bigs and being a big boost for this team that needs to up their walk-rate. The question remains whether or not he can be an average defender at second, especially in regards to range and footwork and glovework around the bag. Only the Guardians can answer this question.

For what it’s worth, Andre Knott seems to think Brito gets the nod:

2. Tyler Freeman, Right-handed 25 year-old, 2B/SS/3B/CF

Many Guardians fans probably roll their eyes seeing Freeman on this list but I don’t think the Guardians have bailed on the value he may be able to produce yet. Notably, in 174 innings in the majors at second, Freeman has 4 outs above average. Now, that rate isn’t going to continue but in comparison Gimenez had 19 outs above average last season in 1,331 innings. Freeman is a very good second baseman and that is by far his best defensive position. I think it’s only fair to give him a little grace for struggling in a year he was asked to play a new position in centerfield and to remember that despite his 84 wRC+, he did manage a 13.8/7.3 K/BB/% and was selected to make the playoff roster before an oblique issue. Is there any particular reason to think Freeman can increase his measly 3.2% barrel rate or decrease his 46% groundball rate in exchange for a few more fly balls and line drives? The answer to those questions may determine whether or not he gets another shot, but, to me, Freeman makes the most sense on a purely defensive basis. For what it’s worth, the projection system Steamer still believes in Freeman whom it has with a 109 wRC+.

3. Angel Martinez, Switch-hitting 22 year-old, 2B/3B/CF

For whatever it is worth, Martinez logged over 500 innings last year in positions other than second base and only 165 innings at second. While many of us are intrigued by the plate discipline (19.5/8.9 K/BB%) and pulled fly-ball (50%/35%) ability Martinez shows, I think everything he does, Juan Brito does better. And, I believe the Guardians see him as more of an outfielder and third baseman-type than a second baseman. But, if I’m wrong, Steamer projects him for a 94 wRC+ and he would be able to return to the infield where he has spent most of his professional career. He is the youngest player on this list so there is plenty of hope for further development.

4. Brayan Rocchio to second base with Gabriel Arias playing shortstop

I do not believe the Guardians will move a player who just received a Gold Glove nomination off of shortstop and I also refuse to believe they think Arias is going to beat his chase issues and groundball issues as a hitter. So, I am not giving this option much further thought, other than to say that I do believe Arias can be an elite defender at short. The question is he actually puts it together enough to do that. I believe Arias is one of the next names on the roster who will be DFA’d or included in a small trade.

5. An outside addition such as the Chicago Cubs’ Nico Hoerner, right-handed hitting 27 year-old, or Tampa Bay’s Brandon Lowe, left-handed hitting 30 year-old.

I would not rule out the Guardians adding from outside the organization to fill their second base needs. I don’t think it is the most likely scenario given the presence of players like Juan Brito and Tyler Freeman, and the coming arrival of Travis Bazzana perhaps as early as September 2025 but more likely in 2026. However, the Cubs have Matt Shaw ready to play second base as needed, and could save money in moving the roughly $12 million a year they owe to Hoerner through 2026. Hoerner is a player I know the Guardians have liked. He is a great defender and a league average bat, so it would be a small decline from Gimenez defensively and likely a small upgrade to a 100 wRC+ bat. Meanwhile, Brandon Lowe is owed $10.5M from the Rays, who hold a club option on him for 2026 at $11.5M. Tampa is always looking to save money, so Lowe may be available. His timeline matches with Bazzana very well, but his 123 wRC+ bat from last season will not come cheaply and he has a fair amount of injury history only having played more than 109 games one year in his professional life so far. He would look amazing in the #2 spot in the Guardians lineup and help against RHP especially, but I don’t see this as a very likely move.

Summary:

As it stands, I expect Juan Brito and Tyler Freeman to be competing for the second base job in Spring Training, with Travis Bazzana hard-charging for the role as the season continues. But, an outside addition isn’t out of the realm of possibility, and we will know more as the offseason progresses.