Triston McKenzie, Cleveland Guardians (RHP)

A one-time top prospect in Cleveland's vaunted pitching factory, McKenzie looked like the real deal in 2022 when he recorded a 2.96 ERA in 191 1/3 innings on a Guardians team that surprised everyone in baseball by winning the American League Central.
Unfortunately for McKenzie, it's all gone downhill since then. After only managing to throw 16 innings in 2023 due to a teres major strain and a UCL sprain, he was ineffective last season with a 5.11 ERA in 75 2/3 innings.
14 Ks for @T_eazy24, a new career high. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/6Q3Jisb7JW
— MLB (@MLB) August 20, 2022
The Guardians have roster crunch in their starting rotation (thanks in large part to them flipping former Blue Jay Spencer Horwitz to the Pirates for Luriz Ortiz) and McKenzie could end up being the odd man out thanks to his lack of options.
While there's always the chance Cleveland elects to keep him in their bullpen, he's struggled so far this spring (four earned runs allowed in 2 2/3 innings), so Cleveland might just end up cutting bait with him.
