Only twice in the last decade-plus have the Guardians swung big in the free agent market.
In the winter of 2012 before the 2013 season, coming off 90 losses, Cleveland brought in outfielder/first baseman Nick Swisher and outfielder Michael Bourn. Both ended up being traded in 2015 after disappointing years.
Coming off the World Series in 2016, Cleveland landed the top free agent hitter on the market that winter — DH/first baseman Edwin Encarnacion.
Josh Bell and Mike Zunino were signed in 2022, off yet another division title, to add thump to the lineup. Zunino’s career ended before midseason, and Bell was traded to the Marlins.
Last offseason, the Guardians committed over $40 million to bring back a rehabbing Shane Bieber, a reunion with Carlos Santana and Austin Hedges, and two relievers, Jakob Junis and Paul Sewald. Only Junis finished the year with Cleveland, despite winning another division title.
Heading into this winter, the club has only committed salaries to Jose Ramirez, Tanner Bibee, Austin Hedges, and right now, Emmanuel Clase, until his situation in the betting scandal is cleared up. That’s $35.8 million (including Clase’s $6.4 million as of now). The rest of their salaries are held to arbitration with Steven Kwan and five others who may or may not be tendered contracts, and several of the pre-arbitration players on the roster.
So how will they wade into the free agent waters this winter with seemingly not a lot of committed salary and pretty clear holes to fill on the roster (a Hall of Fame-caliber closer for $6.4 million? — Probably not; and they have needed a bat for the past decade).
There is a good crop of free agent relievers on the market, but it’s an area that is often filled with a lot of risk (see past contracts to names like Boone Logan and Sewald).
Devin Williams, who has experience as a closer, is probably out of reach for Cleveland, but he is the reliever who could help the most and is as realistic as possible in this market to try to match Clase’s contributions. The former Brewers star has a wipeout changeup but struggled in New York, losing the Yankees’ closer’s role despite underlying metrics suggesting he had some bad luck (4.79 ERA/2.68 FIP/55.2 left on base rate). He could be a good bounceback type candidate, but his bad luck might be clear, and he will get a multiyear deal.
Former Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley has high-octane, swing-and-miss stuff. He also struggled in New York with the Mets after a midseason trade. Helsley believes his struggles were related to pitch tipping. But Helsley, Tyler Rogers and Gregory Soto all saw a dip in performance with the Mets after midseason trades. Helsley could be in the market for a bounceback contract.
Luke Weaver, who also split duties at closer for the Yankees the last couple of years, is also a free agent. The right-hander saw some declining numbers in 2025 but is still solid and could be an option for Cleveland depending on his market overall.
Other former Guardians relievers on the market could fit, including Sean Armstrong, who had a strong year as a part-time closer for the Rangers. Armstrong was once a part of the proposed trade in 2016 for catcher Jonathan Lucroy. Has bounced around to Tampa and Texas, among other clubs. Former Guardians reliever Phil Maton also had an impressive season and was traded this past July. He has good underlying metrics, doesn’t throw hard, but has a dominant curveball and cutter, and could be a cheaper depth option. Right-hander Cody Ponce was a former high draft pick and top prospect of the Pirates before going over to South Korea to improve his physique and arsenal. He now throws in the upper 90s with a deep pitch mix. Teams could target him as a starter this winter.
Other names who could be effective and potential market options for Cleveland include: Right-handed pitcher Hunter Harvey, coming off an injury-plagued year with the Royals, former Royals starter Brad Keller, who found a home in the Cubs’ bullpen this past year, but it was his first effective year doing so. Submariner Tyler Rogers is 35 but is coming off a strong half-year for the Giants before seeing numbers decrease with the Mets, and offers a very different look that the Guardians haven’t had out of the bullpen since Joe Smith or Adam Cimber. They could reunite with Junis, who was solid in 2025, but there is some thought that he might look for a starting role this winter.
As for bats, Trent Grisham had a breakout season in 2025 with the Yankees, actually hitting for more power and better away from Yankee Stadium, despite being a left-handed hitter. He got the qualifying offer from the Yankees, so even if Cleveland was playing in those waters before, that could put him out of range completely as he figures to get a multi-year deal. Many analysts are leery of his ability to repeat his 2025 success, and he’s really not a center fielder.
Mike Yastrzemski, grandson of Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski, had a bit of an inconsistent 2025 season, but has hit more homers each year for the last two seasons (18 in 2024 and 17 in 2025 than a single Guardians outfielder has hit in a single season since 2018 (Michael Brantley, 17).
Outfielders Austin Hays and Rob Refsnyder have been left-handed mashers for the last several years, something Cleveland could use. But Refsnyder is widely expected to re-sign with the Red Sox. Randall Grichuk has had a good career hitting left-handers and brings a good throwing arm to the outfield, but has poor range and a questionable approach coming off a down year at the end of his career. He and Lane Thomas could come back to Cleveland on lesser deals.
Jorge Polanco is coming off a good year and is a switch-hitter who would fit the Guardians’ lineup very well. He hits for power. Although he’s more of a first-based DH type, but could play second base. He could fall into their range on the free agent market.
Infielder Ha-Seong Kim, who is a defense, contact and speed specialist, had some good years and won Gold Gloves with the Padres, is coming off a down year where had a shoulder issue. Tampa Bay signed him last year and traded him to Atlanta. But he could be a rebound candidate, handling short and second for the Guardians and give them another on-base, speed and defensive option.
Ryan O’Hearn hit the free agent market at the right time off a good year, but metrics and age make it seem unlikely for him to repeat it. He plays first base and can play the outfield. The Guardians might not need another left-handed hitter, but they need a reliable outfielder who can hit to protect against injury-prone prospects Chase DeLauter and George Valera, who they may pencil in for opening day.