by With the Guardians coming up short in the ALCS, their offseason has officially started. While having a very successful season, there are always things to improve. Here are my top 5 things the Cleveland Guardians need to do in the offseason.
1. Figure out 1st Base
With Josh Naylor heading into a contract year, the Guards have to make a very tough decision regarding 1st base. Naylor is coming off back to back All-Star appearances and his best season posting 31 homers and 108 RBI. That type of production is going to warrant a hefty contract, which historically Cleveland has never been willing to pay. While the Guardians could change the script and pay Naylor, they also have young star Kyle Manzardo, who could be the perfect replacement for Naylor. If they go with Manzardo, they can deal Naylor at the deadline for help in other areas, while also freeing up money to bring back guys like Steven Kwan and Lane Thomas. Both sticking with Naylor or moving onto Manzardo could work out well, but the front office has to start thinking about this problem sooner than later.
2. Keep Shane Bieber
Bieber is Cleveland’s biggest free agent this offseason and he’s coming off Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow. Due to this and other injury history, Bieber will probably only attract cheap one year deals and then if all goes well, he’ll get bigger multi year offers. A cheap one year deal has Cleveland written all over it, especially for a player that has done so much for their franchise. Keeping the former Cy Young winner around for next year, with the team maintaining its good play, would be a recipe for success. What happens with Bieber after that would be up in the air, but in 2025, Shane needs to stay in Cleveland.
3. Sign a shortstop until Bazzana is ready
The Guardians are super high on the 1st overall selection out of Oregon State, Travis Bazzana, and for good reason. Bazzana has the hitting ability to quickly move through the minors and become the everyday second baseman for the Guards as soon as the all star break next year, which would move Platinum glover Andrès Gimènez over to short. In the meantime, despite his solid playoff performance, it’s hard to justify Brayan Rocchio as the guy at short. While he’s elite on defense, the hitting numbers are just not good enough for a team that just won 92 games. My top pick for the Guards to pick up at shortstop is free agent Paul Dejong. In his time with the White Sox and Royals in 2024 Dejong hit 24 homers along with 56 RBI, which would bring some much needed pop at the end of the order. With this change Rocchio would make the ultimate utility guy and still make his presence known on this squad.
4. Go and get another starter
Assuming Biber stays, the Guardians would still need another guy to eat up innings next year, especially if Bieber can’t stay healthy. While Stephen Vogt did a great job managing the starter situation he was dealt this year, we need to go out and make his job easier next year. My top free agent pick for the Guards is Michael Lorenzen. In 24 starts with the Rangers and Royals in 2024 Lorenzen put up a career year with a 3.31 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 130 innings. Bringing that type of arm to the rotation next year would go such a long way, especially when there’s question marks with almost everyone here right now aside from Tanner Bibee.
5. Solidify a corner outfielder to pair with Kwan
Lane Thomas has worked out to be a great pick up for center field and now the Guards have fill that last outfield spot. While players like Jhonkensy Noel, Will Brennan and Angel Martinez have stepped up this year, and top prospect Chase DeLauter aims to be up next year, I would love to see Cleveland go and get a proven player at the position that could share time with the younger guys I just mentioned. My top pick is Brent Rooker of the soon to be Las Vegas A’s, and the Guards would have to acquire him via trade. Rooker is coming off the best year of his young career where he posted 39 homers, 112 RBI and hit for a .293 average. That’s a bat that would desperately help this lineup and you could platoon him at DH and right field. Another guy the Guards can look at is Cody Bellinger. The former NL MVP is coming off another lackluster year and might not fetch as big of a contract as many were expecting. Bellinger would provide you with around 15-25 homers and 70-90 RBI, which would fit perfectly into the lineup as a 5, 6 or 7 hitter.
The Guardians always seem to figure a way to win, and I don’t see why the 2025 off season will be any different. With the right mix of off-season acquisitions, strong farm system call ups, and a great core, we could be set up for another fun summer at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario.
