Can the Guardians win the AL Central if the team doesn’t sign another bat?
The stark contrast between how the New York Mets and Cleveland Guardians approach roster construction couldn’t be more evident than in this offseason’s moves — or lack thereof. While the Mets have been on a headline-grabbing spending spree, the Guardians have remained characteristically quiet, a topic that dominated a recent Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast featuring Joe Noga and Paul Hoynes. | https://www.cleveland.com/guardians/2026/01/mets-go-all-in-while-guardians-stand-pat-in-baseballs-tale-of-two-offseason-approaches.html
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17 comments
They can still win the AL Central.
The Guardians absolutely CAN win the AL Central because even though they have done nothing to improve themselves, neither have their divisional rivals done so either. Especially perplexing are the Tigers. Alex Bregman would have been perfect for them. And it is really looking like Tarik Skubal if he does not get traded is going to test free agency, which in all probability will mean that he is not coming back to Detroit once this season ends.
I get it. The Indians are a crap shoot. Folks are not as invested because they know the ownership is not invested.
No the wont
Why do people give this team credit their not that good
The good thing is that the AL Central has remained intact from last year. The bad news, every other team outside the Central has at least stepped up. Potential, patience, those words have now become the go to phrases. Let's get out there and purchase someone of note.
"You know how we do…" Truer words have never been spoken!
Did you notice that the one time they spent in the 2020s, that's the one year they didn't make the playoffs? Spending on free agent hitters has never moved the needle. Bell and Zunino, nope. Encarnacion, nope. Bourn, Swisher and Murphy, nope. Boone, Dellucci and Nixon, nope. We had some luck with marginal second basemen and one-year deals, but that's really it.
We're not the Mets, Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, Blue Jays, I think people get that. Two of them missed the playoffs anyway. Of the other 24 teams, who is actually contending based on free agents? Multi-year deals are a terrible deal over 90% of the time. Some teams can absorb a terrible deal or three — they sign the great majority of megadeals — most can't.
Dolan is cashing out. There is a good chance we have an extended lockout next season. And Blitzer has the option to become the majority owner in 28.
Let's hope they solve some of the competitive imbalance in the sport on the next CBA. If not Cleveland will remain in World Series purgatory for years to come.
Sure, but not anything more than that like a chip
There’s no reason why we can’t compete for a third straight AL Central title
They will no matter what be in the running for the division. The Guardians are more likely to be playing meaningful games at the end of September than the Browns will be.
But man we need a bat. Give us a bat. Sign that Suarez guy. 40 homers sounds great.
I want to hear more Guardians talk. I want to hear more Cavs talk. I don't need to hear anymore about which 7th rate coach the Browns will hire to go 6-11 next year.
Guardian fans have buckeye level frustration when the buckeyes go 10 years between natties
Sure, they won last year with the same team. Why overpay for a batt that just gets on the way of the kids?
9:40: but why tho bull? I think that’s the point G is trying to get to; why is it that we can’t somehow get more energy behind the guardians who are consistently a good team? And I think that’s where it comes down to the lack of ownership spending commitment;
We’re constantly good, but there’s never any further investment made in them, so therefore it’s almost impossible to get a fan base to rally behind that type of situation
Ceiling is .500
No they can't. Owners absolutely suck.