Although there are still a couple of big name MLB free agents who have yet to sign contracts, we’re at the part of the MLB calendar where teams truly begin to shift their attention toward 2026.
While the Guardians have had a largely quiet offseason outside of adding to their bullpen en masse, the rest of the division has been busy making moves that could make a huge impact on how the American League Central will shape up in 2026.
Here’s the biggest move every team made that should give Guardians fans pause.
The rest of the American League Central has been busy around the Guardians this offseason
Chicago White Sox: Signed Munetaka Murakami in free agency
The White Sox surprised all of baseball over the weekend by signing Munetaka Murakami to a two-year, $34 million deal. While the deal isn’t the kind of long-term commitment that Murakami was projected to sign at the start of free agency, it’ll provide him the kind of short-term runway to prove that he can handle MLB pitching.
It’ll also give him a chance to become public enemy No. 1 in Cleveland. Murakami racked up 246 home runs across eight seasons playing in Japan, and his 2022 season is the stuff of legend thanks to the fact he hit 56 home runs.
But there are also some legitimate concerns about his gaudy strikeout numbers and so-so defense, which is what led to him signing his “prove it” deal with the White Sox.
The Guardians have dominated the White Sox for most of the 2020s, but the addition of Murakami is a tangible example of a new day dawning on the south side of Chicago. Even if the White Sox aren’t going to stand in the way for the division title, they’re not going to the doormat they’ve been in seasons prior.
Detroit Tigers: Held onto Tarik Skubal
An easy one. While the Guardians were able to get past the Tigers last season in their quest to win the American League Central, Detroit is still built to win for the future thanks to the presence of a potent offense and ace Tarik Skubal.
And, after some trade buzz around Skubal at the start of the offseason, it looks like the Tigers are going to hold onto Skubal for the 2026 season (his last season of team control via arbitration).
While it seems like Skubal doesn’t have much of a long-term future in Detroit, he’s still the back-to-back American League Cy Young winner, so him staying in Detroit is bad news for Cleveland even if his stay is temporary.
Along with posting a 2.21 ERA in 195 1/3 innings last season, Skubal allowed just two earned runs in 28 innings against the Guardians in the regular season before striking out 14 in a sparkling start in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series.
Skubal may not be long for Detroit, but it looks like he’s going to be in the Guardians’ way in 2026.
Kansas City Royals: Signed Lane Thomas in free agency
While the Royals’ trade for Matt Strahm could end up hurting the Guardians, Kansas City signing Thomas stands out as a clear win for multiple reasons.
First off, Kansas City’s outfielders were horrible last year, as they combined for a .219 batting average that was the second-worst mark in baseball.
And they also will be able to provide Thomas with an opportunity to play every day and prove that last year’s injury-filled season was a fluke.
The Guardians reportedly had an interest in reuniting with Thomas but weren’t ready to give him everyday at-bats at the expense of the team’s young outfielders, so he understandably pivoted to signing with the Royals.
Expect Thomas to be a thorn in Cleveland’s side in 2026.
Twins: Held off on fire sale
For some teams, the best offseason moves are the ones you don’t make. This year’s iteration of the Minnesota Twins fall into that category, as the team elected to hold onto Byron Buxton, Joe Ryan and others after listening to calls on all of them earlier in the offseason.
Any trade based around the stars on their roster would have been purely financial, but the team announced last week that they’re bringing on three limited partners, which could bring an end to the franchise’s financial troubles.
While that likely won’t result in them making a ton of noise in 2026 (their big addition so far this offseason has been former Guardian Josh Bell), it looks like they won’t be dipping into as deep of a rebuild as we thought they would.