With this offseason set to kick off, here are five free agents who fit the mold that Antonetti has targeted or acquired since taking over.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Guardians have acquired plenty of free agents who fit a mold under Chris Antonetti\u00a0<\/p>\n
5. OF Michael Conforto
.240\/.331\/.469, 15 HR, 45 RBI in 113 games with Cubs\u00a0<\/p>\n
While the Guardians\u2019 outfield picture is currently full, we\u2019d be remiss not to mention Conforto given he fits the archetype Antonetti and the Guardians\u2019 front office has gone after before.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They\u2019ve largely been asked to fill holes with duct tape and old players because of the team\u2019s budget constraints, and Conforto seems destined to play for a contract under $10 million. Signing him would be the outfield version of the Guardians signing Carlos Santana two years ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Conforto has hit lefties well in his career and has a .414 batting average in nine career games at Progressive Field, but there\u2019s no room in the inn for him in the Guardians\u2019 outfield. That should save Antonetti from needing to dip into this pool to fortify Cleveland\u2019s roster.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Michael Conforto makes the @Cubs<\/a> the first team in 2026 to 200 homers! pic.twitter.com\/VOpXrUUEED<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 MLB (@MLB) September 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 4. Dustin May May started his career as a breakout starter for the Dodgers, but his career took a huge hit in 2023 when he underwent Tommy John surgery that kept him out for nearly two years. He was a bit better this season and pitched in a swingman role for the Brewers, and now is a free agent after he declined his part of his mutual option.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Guardians aren\u2019t known for going out of their organization to add to their rotation, but May is a bit different since he\u2019s seen some time as a swingman option. The Guardians have turned fixing injured pitchers into a cottage injury, and May would fit into that.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dustin May finishes the first complete game AND shutout of his career \ud83d\ude24 pic.twitter.com\/tXWltetICr<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 MLB (@MLB) June 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 3. Paul Goldschmidt You don\u2019t need to look far to find evidence the Guardians would sign someone like Goldschmidt, as they essentially did the same thing last offseason with Rhys Hoskins. Hoskins may not have had the same kind of r\u00e9sum\u00e9 as Goldschmidt, but this version of Goldschmidt <\/a>is on the same level as Hoskins.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sure, Goldschmidt would theoretically help solve the Guardians\u2019 problems against left-handed pitching, but he\u2019d also stand in the way of top prospect Ralphy Velazquez. Another budget signing that shouldn\u2019t happen.\u00a0<\/p>\n Paul Goldschmidt launches his second homer of the game!<\/p>\n This one traveled 427 FEET \ud83d\udcaa pic.twitter.com\/lYTMYXerwl<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 MLB (@MLB) June 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 2. RHP Nick Pivetta The Guardians made a hard push for Pivetta<\/a> after the 2024 season, and they have a golden chance to do so again after the Padres declined Pivetta\u2019s team option for 2027.\u00a0<\/p>\n That said, the biggest reason the Padres let Pivetta become a free agent is because he only made eight starts last season due to a right elbow flexor strain, which converted his player option for 2027 <\/a>into that team option.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Padres clearly think highlight of Pivetta (they signed a four-year, $55 million contract with the Padres in the same offseason the Guardians pursued him), but they also got spooked enough to let him walk at a time when they desperately need pitchers. Now the Guardians could get him a discount.\u00a0<\/p>\n Nick Pivetta’s 2Ks in the 1st. pic.twitter.com\/WYqyj7dXLf<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 1. RHP Paul Blackburn Blackburn was the only player connected to the Guardians in MLB Trade Rumors\u2019 free agent predictions,<\/a> and there\u2019s a good reason for that. Blackburn has the swingman potential of May while not having any of the durability concerns of him or Pivetta while also being a budget option. It\u2019s like he was built for the Guardians\u2019 pitching lab.\u00a0<\/p>\n He doesn\u2019t generate a ton of swing and miss, but he finished last season in the 86th percentile in ground ball rate and was largely able to keep the ball off the barrel. Bringing Blackburn in wouldn\u2019t be a flashy move, but it would be the classic kind of Guardians move. <\/p>\n
4.70 ERA, 144 strikeouts, 50 walks in 145 2\/3 innings with Cardinals and Brewers\u00a0<\/p>\n
.252\/.313\/.452, 18 HR, 52 RBI in 105 games with Yankees\u00a0<\/p>\n
2.86 ERA, 42 strikeouts, 8 walks in 34 2\/3 innings with Padres\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.59 ERA, 69 strikeouts, 33 walks, 1 save in 85 innings with Yankees\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/assets.minutemediacdn.com\/platform\/google_discover_icon.svg\"){kind=icon}
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