GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Spring training is a time for teams to begin answering questions about themselves. They’ll spend six to seven weeks under the Arizona or Florida sun to get an inkling of whether the work they did in the offseason can lead to more wins during the regular season.
Here are eight questions facing the Guardians as they prepare for their first full-squad practice Tuesday. Three possible answers are provided for each question.
Guardians’ first baseman Kyle Manzardo hit 27 homers last season in his first full year in the big leagues.AP1. Will the Guardians’ offense improve after posting its lowest batting average in team history in 2025?
Best case scenario: The Guardians’ gamble to rely on their own players rather than acquire outside help in trades and free-agent signings pays off. Kyle Manzardo continues his emergence as a power hitter. Chase DeLauter and George Valera, slowed by injuries through most of their young careers, provide consistent production in the outfield. David Fry, no longer limited to DH and pinch-hitting duties by a surgically repaired right elbow, helps balance the lineup with his right-handed bat. Meanwhile, José Ramírez and Steven Kwan rock on.
Worst case scenario: DeLauter and Valera can’t escape their injury-riddled past. CJ Kayfus, Angel Martínez and Bo Naylor have growing pains at the plate. Brayan Rocchio starts slowly at second base and Travis Bazzana needs more time at Triple-A Columbus.
What will probably happen: The offense, which hit .226 as a team last year, will improve, but the Yankees and Dodgers have nothing to fear. One or two players will have breakout seasons, while others regress or tread water.
2. How will the rebuilt bullpen fare?
Best case scenario: Cade Smith, with a full offseason to prepare for the closer’s role, shines. Set-up men Hunter Gaddis, Tim Herrin and Matt Festa blend well with newcomers Shawn Armstrong, Colin Holderman, Connor Brogdon and others.
Worst case scenario: Smith and Gaddis, who have pitched a lot over the last two years, lose some effectiveness. The Guardians have trouble finding a replacement closer as the anticipated loss of Emmanuel Clase to an ongoing gambling scandal returns to haunt them.
What will probably happen: The Guardians have had one of the best bullpens in the big leagues over the last two years, and that’s not likely to change. The front office concentrated on the pen during the winter, signing big-league free agents and bringing back old friends Kolby Allard and Pedro Avila on minor league deals. If Smith struggles or needs a break from the ninth inning, that could be problematic.
The emergence of Gavin Williams helped solidify the Guardians’ rotation last season.David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com3. How good is the starting rotation?
Best case scenario: The starters found themselves last September when manager Stephen Vogt went with a six-man rotation to help win the AL Central on the last day of the season. They’re going to open the 2026 season with five starters, meaning someone will have to start the season in the bullpen or Triple-A Columbus. Tanner Bibee is still the ace, but the emergence of Gavin Williams and Slade Cecconi solidified the rotation. Lefties Logan Allen, Joey Cantillo and rookie Parker Messick did their part as well.
Worst case scenario: Nothing can stall a season faster than an injury to a front-line starter. The Guardians have the depth to cover one injury in the rotation, but things get dicey after that.
What will probably happen: Cleveland’s rotation, which led the AL with 888 innings pitched last year, should get better if it can avoid injury. Bibee and Allen are the oldest at 27. Williams, Cecconi, Cantillo and Messick are 26.
4. How many more MVP-type seasons does José Ramírez have left?
Best case scenario: Ramírez, who turned in his sixth top-five AL MVP finish last season, holds up his end of the bargain in the seven-year $175 million extension he signed in January and keeps churning out solid seasons. He’ll be 40 at the end of the deal in 2032.
Worst case scenario: The switch-hitting Ramírez, who will play this season at 33, goes into a late season decline. It happens to a lot of talented players.
What will probably happen: Ramírez will continue to be the engine that drives the Guardians. He’s played 11 seasons in the big leagues and been on the injured list once. But let’s face it, Ramírez is going to need some help from the players around him.
Angel Martínez made 87 starts in center field last year for the Guardians.John Kuntz, cleveland.com5. Is there a center fielder in the house?
Best case scenario: First things first, it’s not going to be one player. However, Vogt will knit together a solid combination of Chase DeLauter, Nolan Jones, Angel Martínez and Stuart Fairchild. They might not match the output of Cleveland legend Kenny Lofton, but they will outperform Cleveland’s five center fielders from last year, who hit .198 and posted a .574 OPS.
Worst case scenario: We already saw that last year.
What will probably happen: There should be incremental improvement, but the jury is still out. Jones has to hit better than what he did last year (.211). Martínez should get better after making 87 starts in center and DeLauter will help if he can stay on the field.
6. What about right field?
Best case scenario: George Valera, DeLauter or Kayfus will get most of the playing time, but it’s going to be another cast of thousands. Nine different players made starts in right field last year, and six of them are in big league camp this year. Jones made 72 starts, Kayfus 26 and Johnathan Rodríguez 20.
Worst case scenario: We already saw that last year when Cleveland’s occupants of right field combined to hit a combined .202 with a .605 OPS.
What will probably happen: DeLauter, Valera and Kayfus, all left-handed hitters, will spend a lot of time in right field. The right-handed hitting Fairchild could offer some balance if he makes the team.
Guardians’ left fielder Steven Kwan.John Kuntz, cleveland.com7. What about Steven Kwan?
Best case scenario: The Guardians and their Gold Glove left fielder Kwan reach a contract extension before the end of spring training to keep Ramírez and Kwan together for the foreseeable future.
Worst case scenario: The Guardians, after not reaching an extension with Kwan, get off to a slow start. At the trade deadline in early August, they deal Kwan to a contender, drawing an angry response from fans.
What will probably happen: The Guardians will make a business decision come Aug. 3 at the trade deadline (typically taking place on the last day of July over the previous decade, the deadline is a few days later than usual this year, pushing into early August). If they have momentum and a chance to win the AL Central, Kwan — presuming he did not sign an extension — will stay. If not, they will certainly trade him or wait until after the season to make a decision. Kwan will be a free agent after the 2027 season.
8. Will the Guardians’ catchers provide offense?
Best case scenario: The addition of Fry to the catching tandem of Bo Naylor and Austin Hedges makes the position more dangerous than it was last year when Naylor, Hedges and Dom Nunez hit a combined .187 with a .613 OPS.
Worst case scenario: Fry’s surgically repaired elbow acts up, preventing him from going behind the plate.
What will probably happen: Fry, Naylor and Hedges move the offensive needle in the right direction. Naylor’s 14 homers and .290 batting average in September are a good omen.