Guardians set roster, Naylor to begin on IL

Cleveland Guardians Manager Terry Francona has set the 2022 opening day roster by announcing that outfielder Josh Naylor, reliever James Karinchak and catcher Luke Maile will all start the season on the injured list.

Naylor has been working his way back from an extensive ankle surgery that ended his 2021 season, the result of a brutal on-field collision in Minnesota.

“We spent a bunch of time with Naylor,” Francona said. “And the hope is that it's short . ... This kid worked his (expletive) off. To put himself in the position that he did is pretty remarkable. We'd just like to be able to watch him play another handful of games where the environment can be controlled.”

Naylor will begin the year with Triple-a Columbus. Karinchak and Maile will remain in Columbus, as both are progressing well in their respective rehabs.

Outfielder Steven Kwan, left-handed pitcher Konnor Pilkington and catcher Bryan Lavastida, all prospects, will make the opening day roster.

The team will carry 14 pitchers and 14 position players to open the season. Teams are allotted 28-man rosters through May 1, when the active rosters must be trimmed to 26 players.

Shane Bieber will take the mound on opening day. Zach Plesac, Cal Quantrill and Aaron Civale will follow in Games 2-4, in that order. Triston Mckenzie will most likely mix in somewhere and eventually shift to the rotation.

The opening day bullpen will comprise Emmanuel Clase, Bryan Shaw, Nick Sandlin, Anthony Gose, Trevor Stephan, Sam Hentges, Eli Morgan, Konnor Pilkington and Logan Allen.

Austin Hedges will act as the starting catcher with Lavastida as the backup until Maile can return from the injured list.

Jose Ramirez, Andres Gimenez, Bobby Bradley and Amed Rosario all have their infield spots, with Rosario possibly seeing more time in left field. Yu Chang, Owen Miller and Ernie Clement will all make the opening day roster as well. If Rosario does shift to left field, Chang and Miller, especially, could see time at second base while Gimenez slides over to shortstop.

Outfielders Myles Straw, Kwan, Franmil Reyes (likely remaining the everyday designated hitter), Oscar Mercado and Bradley Zimmer round out the roster on the position players' side.

Guardians, Ramirez still far apart in negotiation talks

The Guardians are in contract negotiations with star third baseman Jose Ramirez, though the two sides remain far apart, according to a report by The Athletic.

Ramirez, who has finished in the top six of American League MVP voting in four of the last five seasons, is set to make $12 million in 2022 and has a club option for the 2023 season.