CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians always approach free agency with caution, like a truck driver backing an 18-wheeler into a narrow loading dock to deliver three tons of eggs.

The approach is not expected to change this winter. It doesn’t mean they’ll be idle because they know how fortunate they were this past season when they overcame a 15 1/2 game deficit to win the AL Central with one of the worst offenses in franchise history.

To get an idea how they may operate this offseason, a review of the offseason following the 2024 season maybe helpful.

It started with catcher Austin Hedges signing a one-year, $4 million deal in November. If that sounds familiar it should, because Hedges signed the same one-year $4 million deal on Oct. 15 following the end of the 2025 season.

On Dec. 11, they re-signed right-hander Shane Bieber to a two-year $26 million deal even though he was still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Bieber never threw a big-league pitch for the Guardians as he was traded to Toronto at the July 31st deadline.

Bieber, of course, helped pitch the Blue Jays win the AL pennant and reach the World Series.

Before Christmas, they signed first baseman Carlos Santana to a one-year $12 million deal after trading Josh Naylor to Arizona. There was nothing wrong with Santana’s glove, but his bat had lost some thump and he was released in late August.

In January, they signed right-hander Paul Sewald to a one-year deal worth $7 million with a mutual option for 2026. Sewald, injured for much of the season, made only 18 appearances for the Guards before they traded him to Detroit at the deadline.

In February, they signed right-hander Jakob Junis to a one-year $4.5 million deal. Junis turned out to be one of those deals that keep the deep thinkers in the front office employed. He went 4-1 with a 2.97 ERA over 57 appearances and 66 2/3 innings.

He’s currently a free agent. If the Guardians re-sign him, there would be few complaints.

In another February free-agent move, they signed left-hander John Means to a one year $1 million deal with a $6 million club option for 2026. Means, like Bieber, was still rehabbing his left elbow following Tommy John surgery. He never threw a big-league pitch for the Guardians and Thursday, they did not exercise his option, which made him a free agent.

While the Guardians and Means say he’s healthy, it’s believed the team did not want to commit $6 million this early in the free agent process. It’s especially true because the organization feels it’s made strides with its starting pitching.

The Guardians at the moment have $40.3 million committed to six players for 2026. That includes the $6.4 million they owe Emmanuel Clase, who is currently being investigated by MLB over gambling allegations. If Clase is found in violation of MLB’s rules, it’s likely an arbitrator would decide if the Guardians were still responsible for all or part of that salary.

Cot’s Baseball Contracts is projecting a 26-man opening day payroll of just over $70 million for Cleveland, but that’s without knowing the exact salaries of Steven Kwan, David Fry, Matt Festa, Will Brennan, Sam Hentges and Nolan Jones who are eligible for arbitration.

Cot’s $70 milllion projection is based on filling in the empty spots on the 26-man roster by players making at or slightly above the Major League minimum salary of $780,000 for 2026.

When the Guardians opened the 2025 season, their 26-man roster, including players on the injured list, was an estimated $100,000 million. At the end of last season, Chris Antonetti, president of baseball operations, said he expected things to stay about the same from a payroll standpoint.

What that means is top-shelf free agents Pete Alonso, Kyle Tucker or Kyle Schwarber won’t be in manager Stephen Vogt’s lineup in 2026 to help an offense in need. But there are other hitters out there who may fit the Guardians’ budget such as Ryan O’Hearn, Mike Yastrzemski, Harrison Bader and Austin Hays.

The Guardians aren’t afraid to make a trade either. So it may not be a five-alarm offseason like 2017 when they signed Edwin Encarnacion to a three-year $60 million deal. But it should be interesting.

Names to rememberVictor Rodriguez, former Guardians’ assistant hitting coach, has been hired as Houston’s hitting coach after filling the same role for the Padres for the last two years.RHP Scott Barlow, who made 63 appearances for the Guardians in 2024, didn’t have his $6.5 million option exercised by the Reds for 2026.OF Daniel Johnson, who spent parts of the 2020 and 2021 seasons with Cleveland, was designated for assignment by the Orioles.Tony Mansolino, longtime Cleveland minor league manager, is Atlanta’s new third base coach after being Baltimore’s interim manager in 2025.LHP Kyle Nelson, Cleveland’s 17th round pick in 2017, is a free agent after being outrighted by Arizona.SS Bobby Witt Jr., not Kwan, won the Platinum Glove on Friday night as the best overall defender in the AL for 2025. Kansas City’s Witt, with two Gold Gloves, posted a +24 for Outs Above Average, tying for the MLB lead, according to Statcast. Kwan, who has won four straight Gold Gloves, had a +5 OAA.RHP Carlos Carrasco, former Guardians’ right-hander, has signed a minor league deal with Atlanta.

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