The Cleveland Guardians’ roster entered the offseason with clear holes and weaknesses that needed to be addressed.
To the front office’s credit, they did go out and make some savvy moves to improve the bullpen, including some free agency signings. Still, the lineup needs work, and the Guardians should be able to make some moves in the free-agent market or take back more money in a trade, given where the organization stands in overall payroll.
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Right now, Cleveland’s payroll (per Spotrac) is at $93,359,625, which is on track to be the second-lowest in all of MLB and the lowest in the American League.
Those titles aren’t necessarily ones that an organization that has won the American League Central three out of the last four years should be boasting about.
Nov 10, 2023; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti, middle, talks to the media during an introductory press conference for new manager Stephen Vogt at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The highest-paid player on Cleveland’s roster is Jose Ramirez with an AAV of about $20 million a year. Tanner Bibee is the second-highest player on the Guardians with a yearly salary of $9.6 million. Steven Kwan has yet to agree to a new deal with Cleveland for the 2026 season, but is projected to make about $8.5 million, which would make him the third-highest player on the roster.
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The Guardians have actually given out $11.9 million in contracts in free agency, so it’s not like they haven’t done anything this offseason. The most likely relief pitcher is Shawn Armstrong, who signed a $5.5 million deal a week ago. Still, there is room for Cleveland to spend more and address the rest of the voids on the roster.
No one is asking, or expecting, Cleveland to spend like the Dodgers and carry a payroll of over $300 million. However, the Guardians have consistently been a playoff team, with their shortcoming clear.
Some free agents on the market that would make plenty of sense for the Guardians include Austin Hays, Harrison Bader, and Randal Grichuk. Even veterans such as Migueal Andujar, who wouldn’t cost as much as the previous trio, would make sense for next season.
Hopefully, the Guardians still have a few moves up their sleeve this winter, which will improve the lineup and increase the team’s overall payroll ahead of the 2026 season.