So far this offseason, the Guardians have focused on the bullpen by signing free agents Shawn Armstrong, Connor Brogdon, and Colin Holderman. On the offensive side, the only move of significance thus far has been re-signing catcher Austin Hedges. Going forward, the club may look to add a right-handed hitting outfielder, according to Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic. who adds that Cleveland was interested in a reunion with Lane Thomas before he signed with the Royals.
In 2025, the Guardians outfield was led by left-fielder Steven Kwan, who batted .272/.330/.374 with a 99 wRC+ with exceptional defense, including 22 Defensive Runs Saved. That was good for 3.2 WAR according to FanGraphs, but unfortunately for Cleveland, Kwan was the only solid performer among the team’s outfielders, with the rest posting replacement-level numbers on offense. Nolan Jones and Angel Martinez made 384 and 371 plate appearances, respectively, but both only posted a 73 wRC+ and got on base less than 30% of the time. Meanwhile, Kwan and Jones are both left-handed hitters, while Martinez is a switch-hitter who does better from the right side. He posted a 123 wRC+ in 169 PA when facing southpaws this year, compared to just a 48 wRC+ in 315 PA as a lefty facing right-handed pitchers.
At present, nearly every outfielder on the club’s 40-man roster bats from the left side. Apart from the switch-hitting Martinez, the only righty in the group is Johnathan Rodriguez, who batted .197/.260/.366 with a 74 wRC+ in a limited sample of 77 PA this year. He was ranked by MLB.com as the organization’s No. 18 prospect entering 2024 and has upside as a power hitter. He has one option year remaining, so the club may keep him around to see if he can carve out a larger role (or shuffle him to the minors if he can’t).
Still, the club received almost no production from right-handed hitting outfielders in 2025. Out of Martinez, Rodriguez, Thomas, and Jhonkensy Noel, only Martinez’s 123 wRC+ from the right side was above-average. Thomas posted a 48 wRC+ in 142 PA this year and missed significant time with three trips to the injured list. He now plays for the Royals. Noel was even worse with a 28 wRC+ in 153 PA. He struck out 34.0% of the time and walked at a mere 2.6% rate while spending most of the second half in the minors. Cleveland designated him for assignment last week.
As noted by Rosenthal, the club may want to give time to their younger outfielders. Chase DeLauter is the organization’s top outfield prospect and the league’s No. 58 prospect overall, according to MLB.com. He made his debut during the Wild Card Series against the Tigers and will play a larger role in 2026. DeLauter is a left-handed hitter, though, so while he may boost the team’s overall production, he wouldn’t help with the team’s pitfalls from the right side. Three outfield prospects on the Guardian’s Top 30 list – Jaison Chourio, Alfonsin Rosario, and Aaron Walton – are righty or switch-hitters, but they won’t be ready for a few years. The Guardians may simply roll the dice again with their current crop of outfielders, but barring a turnaround from Rodriguez (or more time as a righty hitter for Martinez), that doesn’t leave much room for optimism.
Unsurprisingly, the club may be limited in its options due to payroll considerations. RosterResource estimates their 2026 payroll at $79MM, compared to $102MM in 2025. After winning the AL Central but falling in the first round of the playoffs, the club surely wants to make improvements, though it won’t be a player in the top tier of the market. Harrison Bader is the top righty-hitting option, though he is projected for a two-year, $26MM deal that could be out of Cleveland’s price range. Other free agent options include Miguel Andujar, who had a 125 wRC+ in 341 PA in 2025, as well as Austin Hays and Rob Refsnyder.
Andujar would be perfect for them if they can afford him
If they feel Andujar is unaffordable, I don’t even know what to say. They’ll have Ortiz and Clase’s salaries come off the books, and they no doubt will get a decent chunk of revenue sharing. They can afford to sign any of those righty OF options, but still they talk about hoping the internal options improving at the plate. If that’s the case they should be sending these guys to DriveLine every winter…..if they can “afford” it.
A $79 million dollar payroll for 2026 is absolutely inexcusable and an embarrassment. Why even try? What’s the point? Fold up the franchise and go away. Absolutely pathetic.
Starling Marte on a One Year deal. He still has an arm, though he may not get to all the balls he used to.
He is streaky, no doubt, but hits the ball hard.
He won’t break the bank.
The Guardians and Rays are a problem. Other owners look at them and say “see, I don’t need to spend a lot to win.”
Marte isn’t a bad shout tbh.
Haha!! I was thinking along those lines as well.
Any player willing to sign a minor league contract with an invite to spring training is more than welcome.
Why would it matter if the guy catches the ball with the left or right hand in the outfield?
The title says right handed HITTING
@Erebus
They edited it after the fact. It said Right handed Outfielder at first.
Oh my bad then when I saw it, it already had right hitting. Carry on
Dominguez for Kwan
99Captain, I think you’re a little light on the offer. Try again please.
dewey- no problem, Dominguez and Warren for Kwan.
HAHAHAAHHAAH. Thanks Captain. That gave me the laugh I needed. Dominguez for Kwan? Classic…hahahhahaha
@SorryIGotATouchOfGaddis
I heard that Dominguez, like most Yankee prospects, will be a guaranteed HOFer. I can’t say the same for Kwan. Probably ends up an average player with a few more years left in the bigs… 🙂
I agree. Kwan is washed up. We might need to throw in Jose to make this work for the Yankees.
They should get lrj so the reds don’t have to, hays would probably be a good option not sure andujar is gonna do much outfield work at this point.
They might actually have to spend money for once to sign a decent bat
Castellanos
O.H.N.O.: Outfielder in name only
They can have Weston Wilson or Johan Rojas then
They can have Tyler O’Neill for free! Make it happen, ha!
They need outfielders that can hit period.
I’m seeking tasteful photos of molly ringwald
Bibee straight up for Jasson Dominguez… let’s go!
They’ll just wait for one of the free agents to get anxious & drop his price.
Austin Hays seems like a perfect fit and actually brings offense with him. Marcell Ozuna or Starling Marte make sense if they want a pure DH.
I was actually thinking that if they wanted a right handed hitter and can settle for an everyday DH then Ozuna could probably be signed fairly cheaply on a one year deal looking for a bounce back season.
Just make sure he drinks lots of water
This team has a smaller payroll than they did 25 years ago. What is going on here?
I think Hays would be a good fit. Andujar is an interesting one. I wanted him earlier in his career but not sure I like him defensively everyday in the OF. Bader is the probably the best of the bunch but he likes big cities.
I also think Hays is best fit. He can play LF when Kwan DH. DH also.
Keep Martinez as RH batter. Jones can go. Rodriguez to Columbus.
Decide (what ??!!??) either Rocchio or Arias at SS. Trade the other.
I am not high on Fry. Hayes is better.
Jays have some depth of impressive and affordable OFs and/or others the Tribe could trade for/with that could help them both teams now and later. Also, some decent prospects in the Jays farm. also pitching. Perhaps J Ram to the Jays finally, or others for ’26 and the Jays attempt to capture that WS! Plus the tribe can perhaps use his salary savings to a sign other younger more affordables/under control players or FA’s for their next run? I am also an old Tribe fan, my 2nd Fav. team next to the Jays of course, and Canadian! Jays ’26 WS, then the Tribe in ’27.
Dude. Jose is never leaving Cleveland. He signed to a team friendly deal to stay here. He will NOT be traded. People need to stop it. He is the top 3 player that has 0% chance of being trade in the MLB along with Ohtani and Judge, It will never happen
Team friendly isn’t the word. He left more on the table than he took…..
Yes, all true. I am well aware. He is also 33, and signex with hopes of a ring aswell, lijely for the gift salary. Yes, still clearly awesome! But, time only moves forward…his contract expires in ’28, he is making $20+mm annually, on his 7 year $141mm. So he is owed $60mm until ’28 and will likely be done at 36 or very close, perhaps also only as a DH by then. Let him go and get his well deserved Ring Cleveland! And Please..lol
Maybe they should have went to a cash advance place and so they could have re-signed Lane Thomas. Instead he walks and stays within the AL central with the Royals.
Nick Castellanos, Johan Rojas, Weston Wilson.
Please take your pick and send Bo, J Ramirez and Cooper Ingle back.
The Tigers just cut Justyn-Henry Malloy from the 40 ma roster. Move fast kids 😉