Guardians spring training battles: Breaking down the top options in center field in 2024

If the Guardians ever figure out their problem with finding offense from the center field spot in their lineup, it'll be like the sun was totally blocked out for about four minutes — maybe that's not the best example, since the latter will be happening just before the home opener on April 8.

The Guardians are desperately trying to make the former a reality, but it's been tough sledding.

Center field has been a proverbial turnstile in Cleveland for years. The list isn't nearly as extensive (or humorous) as that Browns every-quarterback-jersey that always pops up online, but it's the spot for which they seemingly haven't found an answer.

After the acquisition of Myles Straw at the 2021 trade deadline, it looked like maybe they had secured their future in the middle of the Progressive Field outfield for years to come. Straw joined Cleveland and finished the season with a .739 OPS over his final 60 games, which was combined with elite defense and speed on the basepaths. That led to a long-term extension the following spring.

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But since the ink dried on that deal, Straw's offense has cratered. He's posted a sub-.600 OPS in two consecutive seasons. He can provide immense value defensively and on the bases, but much of that is equalized by a hitter with one combined home run in his last 300 games.

Straw's offensive issues have opened the door for a competition for that spot this spring as the Guardians draw closer to Opening Day. Here's a look at their options.

Myles Straw working with Guardians hitting coaches with a focus on 'intent' for 2024 season

Straw will make roughly $4.9 million (including his signing bonus) in 2024, $6.4 million in 2025 and $7.4 million in 2026, so he's going to be on the roster regardless (and that's before including his club options for 2027 and 2028). The question is if he can hit enough to warrant an everyday role, or if he is relegated to a defensive/base running option off the bench, which might be the most efficient way to use him.

So what is the team working on with Straw to try to extract a little more offense from him? In a word: Intent.

Straw has long been a singles and doubles hitter while tying to maximize the usefulness of his speed. But he hasn't made hard contact enough to really make it all work.

He likely won't put up any power numbers regardless, but the hope is his bat can have a little more pop after a winter with that one goal in mind for 2024.

"I think he's in a very good spot," said hitting coach Chris Valaika. "He hired a trainer in Bradenton, so he came in more physical. He's heavier, he's stronger, he's continued the adjustments that we made over the offseason. I think he's feeling more confident this year. I think he's no dummy. He knows that he's going to have to compete for his job and come in and show us something and get the player that we all know he can be."

Straw is the type of hitter who almost has to be re-trained to see that a little more swing and miss is OK — as long as a little more pop comes with it.

"It's really hard to ask guys to swing and miss, not that [the] goal is to swing and miss," Valaika said. "It's hard to break that mold."

Newly acquired Estevan Florial is a player to watch in Guardians spring training camp 2024

Estevan Florial might be one of the most intriguing players in Guardians camp this spring.

He's a former top-100 prospect with a combination of power and speed, but his contact rate in the majors has left some serious question marks (41 strikeouts in only 134 plate appearances). In four seasons with the New York Yankees, he hit a combined .209 with a .609 OPS. He's hit just one home run in the majors, but last year with Triple-A Scranton he belted 25.

Now 25, Florial has another chance with the Guardians, but the clock is ticking. He's out of minor league options, so the Guardians will have to either keep him on the major league roster or expose him to waivers — which, after giving up Cody Morris for him, won't be ideal. At times, that can work in a player's favor to at least break camp with the team, if another position player with options can be sent to Triple-A for a short time.

"He's been in a market, he's played in the big leagues, so it's not some brand new kid to the big leagues, even though he's still young in age," Valaika said. "Left-handed, impact-potential bat, something that we've been lacking, that gives him a shot. He's here for a reason."

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If Florial can work on his contact rate, and if Straw doesn't find the "intent" for which he's searching, Florial could suddenly be a big part of the Guardians' 2024 lineup, at least at some point. The question of who opens the season in center field for the Guardians and who ends up seeing the most playing time throughout the entire year doesn't necessarily have the same answer.

Steven Kwan, Will Brennan and others could potentially shift to center field for Guardians in 2024

Similar to Andres Gimenez potentially shifting from second base to shortstop, the Guardians could move two-time Gold Glover (in two season) Steven Kwan to center field. But, similar to Gimenez, the Guardians may keep him there since he's provided so much value at that spot, even if center field is the more premium position than left field or right field.

Will Brennan could move over, thus opening up another corner outfield spot (which potentially might be needed with George Valera and/or Chase DeLauter eventually on the way). Brennan, though, has had his own offensive inconsistency issues with a few hot streaks sprinkled in (including one that involved the unfortunate demise of a bird). Brennan hit just .266/.299/.357 last season.

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Ramon Laureano, who should have a semi-regular role against left-handed pitching, could be an option there, though his defensive metrics over the last several years heavily lean toward his value being in right field more so than center (17 defensive runs saved in right field, and just one in center field).

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Jhonkensy Noel and Johnathan Rodriguez are outfielders already on the Guardians' 40-man roster, but they'd need a Herculean spring to really make up push to start in center field by Opening Day.

Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com. Read more about the Guardians at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/cleveland-guardians. Follow him on Threads at @ByRyanLewis.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians spring training 2024 centerfield Myles Straw Estevan Florial