Arias could be the favorite to capture the Guardians' second-base job, Mandy Bell and Tim Stebbins of MLB.com report.

EDGE Analysis

The Guardians have held an open competition at second base to replace Andres Gimenez, who was traded to the Blue Jays this offseason. Arias is out of minor-league options and has had a decent spring with a .758 OPS and one home run, which might be enough to put him at the top of the pecking order. However, Juan Brito, Tyler Freeman, Daniel Schneemann and Angel Martinez remain in the mix and nothing has been decided yet. Ultimately, manager Stephen Vogt could have something of a committee approach at second base.

Arias started at second base and went 1-for-2 in Saturday's spring game against Cincinnati.

EDGE Analysis

Second base is one position battle playing out during the Guardians' spring training. Arias was given the first start of the Cactus League -- he lined a slider to center field for a single in his first at-bat -- and he'll be followed by others. Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt told Steve Stockmar of MLB.com on Saturday that "four or five guys" are in the mix. The most anticipated of the bunch may be prospect Juan Brito, who slashed .256/.365/.443 with 21 homers and 13 steals in 2024 at Triple-A Columbus. Over the coming weeks, expect to see Brito along with Tyler Freeman, Angel Martinez and Daniel Schneemann at the keystone.

Arias will compete during spring training for the Guardians' second base job, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bell currently projects Juan Brito to win the job but acknowledges it's a coin flip between him and Arias. Tyler Freeman, Daniel Schneemann and Angel Martinez will also be in the mix. Arias, who turns 25 later this month, has slashed only .212/.274/.350 with a 32.3 percent strikeout rate in parts of three major-league seasons and spent the entirety of the second half last season in the minors. However, he hit well in the Venezuelan Winter League and boasts a career 42.3 percent hard-hit rate.

The Guardians optioned Arias to Triple-A Columbus on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

The Guardians have valued Arias for his ability to play all over the infield and outfield during his time in the majors over parts of the last three seasons, but he had fallen out of favor lately, with recent call-ups Angel Martinez and Daniel Schneemann having supplanted him as superior utility options. Arias should get the opportunity to play on an everyday basis as he heads to Columbus, though it may take an injury to another Guardians position player or a downturn in performance from Martinez and/or Schneemann before Arias resurfaces in the big leagues.

Arias is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

Arias started in five of the past six games while seeing action at three different positions, but he'll head to the bench in Sunday's series finale. The Guardians should continue to open up regular playing time for Arias against left-handed pitching, but his starting opportunities against right-handed pitching may be more sporadic while the Guardians have all of their regular hitters available with the exception of outfielder Will Brennan (ribs), who was recently placed on the injured list.

Arias went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a stolen base against Baltimore in a loss Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Arias accounted for two of Cleveland's five hits in the defeat and plated the team's final run with his fifth-inning solo homer. The utility man has perked up at the plate of late, batting an even .400 (10-for-25) with a pair of long balls and five RBI over his past nine games. Arias missed some time due to a family medical emergency during that span and isn't an everyday player for the Guardians, so the hot stretch extends back to the beginning of June.

Arias went 3-for-4 with a double, three RBI and one run scored in Tuesday's 10-8 win over the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

Arias has been in the lineup for the last two games since he returned from the family medical emergency list. The utility man provided a two-run double in the second inning and an RBI single in the eighth as one of four Guardians to log multiple hits in the contest. Arias is slashing .231/.262/.358 with two home runs, 14 RBI, 14 runs scored and four stolen bases on six attempts over 141 plate appearances this season.

Arias (personal) was reinstated from the family medical emergency list and will start at shortstop and bat eighth in Monday's series opener in Baltimore.

EDGE Analysis

Cleveland sent infielder Angel Martinez back to Triple-A Columbus to make room on the 26-man active roster for Arias, who rejoins the big club after missing the previous three games while tending to a personal matter. Though he'll immediately enter the lineup in his return to the Guardians as the Orioles send southpaw Cade Povich to the mound, the righty-hitting Arias is expected to serve as a bench player against right-handed pitching more often than not.

The Guardians placed Arias on the family medical emergency list Friday.

EDGE Analysis

By rule, Arias will be away from the club for the next 3-to-7 days. Angel Martinez will take his spot on the Guardians' roster.

Arias went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Marlins.

EDGE Analysis

Arias saw a run of playing time in late May and early June, but he's slipped back into a utility role over the last week. The infielder has gone a modest 6-for-28 (.214) over his last 10 contests, though he's recorded three extra-base hits in that span. Arias is slashing .215/.250/.339 with two homers, four stolen bases, 11 RBI, 12 runs scored, seven doubles and a triple over 128 plate appearances this season.