The Guardians managed to make a miracle run to not only squeak into the postseason, but pry the AL Central title away from the Tigers over the final weeks of the season. That wasn’t enough, however, to stop them from falling to their division rivals in the AL Wild Card series, sending them home just a few days into the postseason. Now that the offseason is upon them, Cleveland’s front office has turned its attention to the 2026 campaign. As Zack Meisel of The Athletic discussed earlier this week, president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti told reporters in the aftermath of the Guardians’ loss that improving production in right and center field would be a priority this offseason.
That’s not necessarily a surprise. GM Mike Chernoff noted to reporters (including Meisel) that the club ranked 28th in runs per game this year, and described the offense as a “clear area” in need of improvement next season. Getting more offense out of the outfield should be the easiest way to do that by far, seeing as the Guardians ranked 29th in the majors with a 77 wRC+ from their outfielders this year. Part of that is due to left fielder Steven Kwan’s down season, although he still posted a 99 wRC+ and seems to be a fairly safe bet to handle left for Cleveland again in 2026, barring a surprise trade.
While there’s little reason to worry about Kwan in left, the same can’t be said for the other two outfield spots. Angel Martinez, Nolan Jones, Lane Thomas, and Jhonkensy Noel handled most of the reps at those positions, and all four turned in negative WAR performances according to Fangraphs this season. Thomas will be hitting free agency after this year’s injury-marred campaign where he appeared in just 39 games. The other three will all remain under club control next year, but none inspires much confidence heading into next year.
Some opportunity for improvement could come from within. Chase DeLauter has not yet made his regular season debut but appeared in the Wild Card series, and Meisel relays that Antonetti expects him to compete for a roster spot in Spring Training next year. Rookie George Valera managed a 113 wRC+ in 16 games this year and could get an opportunity next year, as well. Perhaps an outfield of Kwan in left, DeLauter in center, and Valera in right could work out for the Guardians, but it seems fair to argue that at least one external addition will be necessary to offer some certainty, and perhaps help balance a trio of lefty-swinging outfielders with a right-handed hitter.
Reuniting with Thomas is at least plausible, but he’s hit just .189/.258/.340 in 92 games with the Guardians over the past two seasons and a change of scenery may be what’s best for both sides. Harrison Bader would be perhaps an ideal acquisition for the team, but it’s possible that his excellent work with the Phillies down the stretch (129 wRC+ in 50 games) may have put him out of Cleveland’s price range. Rob Refsnyder and Austin Hays are both also set to be available in free agency this winter. Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia and Astros outfielder Chas McCormick are both possible non-tender candidates who could help improve Cleveland’s outfield mix with a bounce-back season, as well.
Nick Castellanos would be perfect and cheap says every Phillies fan.
Maybe if they fail to sign Hays or 12 other FA alternatives. Much as Philly would like to get out from under Castellanos, they’d want some salary relief-more than the stingy Ian’s will offer.
I heard Kyle Tucker is a free agent.
Tanner Bibee and Cade Smith for Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman!
Keep dreaming
Put the crack pipe down pedro. Have your mommy put you some cookies and milk on your night stand. And make sure she tucks you in real tight !
As laughable as this trade is, Walker and Gorman would likely break out in the biggest way imaginable in such a scenario… What is crazy is how probable such a trade is with a much much much lighter return for STL.
Tend to agree look at all the cardinals that have excelled after departure from STL. Harrison bader being one mentioned in this article. A. Garcia also
It always hurts when this happens, Cleveland and St. Louis both have this problem it seems
Ozzie, Brock , Wainwright, Sutter, Carlton, McGwire, Edmonds, Holliday, Rolen, Arenado, Goldy.
Id say that Bader and Garcia dont even make the scale budge. STL has been on the right side of quite a few of the most lopsided trades in MLB history.
Arenado is most recent 2021 of those you listed, most of the others were decades ago. You calling Arenado trade a win is a stretch too. How’s that contract play today?
They gave up no talent so yes Arenado trade was a win. If they manage to trade him and his entire contract they wont b reinvesting that in 2026 roster, so the $ part s a moot point.
I feel like that headline could have been reused from any of the past 10 offseasons. Well substitute Indians for Guardians before 2022, but you get the gist.
Yeah, for real.
Today’s trivia: name the Cleveland Indian (not Guardian) who last started consecutive opening days in RF?
Choo? Remember Ben Francisco?
Traded by Cleveland Indians with Cliff Lee to Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Carlos Carrasco, Lou Marson, Jason Knapp and Jason Donald (July 29, 2009).
CO – that’s a good one. Lonnie?
The Rockies are just about as bad. Until this year when Brenton Doyle started in CF for the second consecutive year, the Rockies had different starters in both LF and CF for seven consecutive Opening Days. Going back to the three year OF run of Gerardo Parra, Charlie Blackmon, and Carlos Gonzalez. There is still an eight year run in LF, but I suspect (hope) Jordan Beck will break that streak next year..
Collin Cowgill
Shin Soo Choo
Garcia seems like a Cleveland kind of guy.
Would Adell for one of Williams or Bibee work?
Adell only has 2yrs of club control, whereas those SPs have a few more…..and cheap SPs have much higher value. Cleveland can flip them in a couple years after consuming their prime, especially Williams (Boras client).
For the Angels it would very well.
If Cleveland still has good young pitching Duran could be a fit
My thinking as well. Cleveland has 6 SPs that pitched well in the second half, and very well in the last 28 days. Duran is probably better in CF than LF, so the fit would be compelling.
Williams is likely off the board, and Allen is too light, but any one of Cantillo, Cecconi, Messick or Bibbee is a good opening bid, with some prospect(s) going back or forth.
I literally know nothing about those guys but I trust Cleveland to develop pitching. Could be a fit.
Michael Conforto on line 2…
While that is absolutely hilarious, he’s a lefty which they do not need
He’s a switch misser, so it’s ok.
Maybe give Kwan that extension before anything
I can tell you that list makes me want to cash in my retirement savings and buy season tickets! Bad enough ill have to cash in half my savings to watch on ESPN.
How about Kwan for Dominez and Jones?? Two for one.
Cleveland makes that trade. Yankees do not.
I want kwan but a decade of service time seems steep. Granted jones may not stick but Dominguez sure looks like a solid major league talent as a floor.
Cubs have a surplus of OF even if Tucker leaves. PCA is probably untouchable and Suzuki and Happ have no trade clauses. Alcantra and Cassie high end prospects could be had for a price I am sure. Especially with Carter Hawkins knowing the farm system a little from his time in Cleveland.
Though I think the cubs would be more inline for mlb talent, if there is a log jam sometimes it best to trade for young talent though. Like the dodgers did with Michael Busch.
The Guardians probably want MLB talent too.
The Guards have been looking for outfield upgrades for years.
And their attempts to address that need has been half hearted at best. If they acquire a consistently solid producer in the OF I’ll be surprised.
Cleveland will reward its fans like they did last year in trading Naylor and Giminiz by trading Kwan for a low quantity and seeing what they have in DeLauter and Velora. Any idea of them opening their wallets for a free agent is fantasy. Unless they can get Thomas on a bargain one year deal.
Atrocious attempts at spelling aside, yes, this is how my team operates and its pathetic how more likely than not this scenario is…again.
They can have yoshida….
What’s the o/u on when whomever they acquire will be dealt for money savings?
Guardians are the AL equivalent of the Brewers. Ironically, I think an oft injured and likely Arby decline in Garrett Mitchell might be a perfect fit for Cleveland. They follow the model of my favorite squad the Brewers. Feel like if he gets healthy could be a solid, cost effective answer.
It feels like Adolis Garcia or Cedric Mullins is the ceiling here. Cleveland isn’t going to sign Tucker, Grisham, or even Bader despite a lot of money coming off the books this offseason. The 20-homer-season-by-a-primary-outfielder drought will continue
The annual headline. Along with:
Rays looking for catcher
Angels looking for pitching
Rockies…
Dodgers sign top Japanese player
Make it happen, Cashman. Go get Kwan. Perfect lead off hitter.
What would Donovan or nootbar get in return. Both would be upgrades. Noot probably breaks out in Cleveland if he stays healthy.
You must not have watched Noel bat. He looked atrocious and would always swing at pitches a foot outside.
I hope the Mets get Bader back.
If mets got him at deadline , they would be in playoffs
Look at the free agent pool and outfielders available via trade. Figure out which had the down year, is old and/or broken down, and will sign for the least amount of money. That’s the guy Cleveland will sign.. The Dolan family is a bunch of cheap sons of a gun, and even though they are one of the wealthiest families in MLB, that is the Guardian way – they even sold off the team’s real name to pocket a few extra bucks, then came up with the safest and worst name in the league. The Dolans even hired a remedial 6th-grade art class to do all their graphic design.
Brandon Nimmo and $40 mil for Cade Smith
Nimmo is a solid bat but it is difficult to imagine CLE taking the back end of that contract, even at a discount, or giving up Smith right now.
Can’t wait to hear all of the free agent outfielders they’ll be “in on” but manage to “just miss on” at the last minute. Who the heck are they trying to kid? Instead they’ll bring to camp guys at the end of the road who are chasing one last contract.
They could sign Bellinger although he probably wants 6 years and he’s already had his 30th birthday, so maybe not.
Please take Ian Happ
I would suspect their ideal candidate is someone that can play CF or RF, hit LHP and has some pop.
If Adolis Garcia can be had cheap, he seems like the best option out of the bunch.
If Lane Thomas’ stock has sunk so low that he is available on a minors deal, that might be another move they can make. If he is healthy, I imagine he gets a major league deal though.
There shouldn’t be a comma before “as well.”