The Cleveland Guardians were on the verge of making it to the World Series this year. They were up 2-1 in the best-of-seven affair against the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL Championship Series, but lost three straight and bowed out.
Despite the disappointing ending of their postseason run, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about the Guardians’ future. Here are some of them:
An Elite One-Two Punch At The Top Of The Rotation
Many teams have to acquire or develop an ace if they want to ensure they will be contenders over the long haul. The Guardians, however, don’t have that problem, because they have two.
Gavin Williams and Parker Messick are two very different pitchers. The former is a power pitcher through and through who can touch the triple digits with his fastball and fool hitters consistently with his hammer of a breaking ball. He led the American League this year with 248 punchouts and put on a show in the postseason.
The latter has a sneaky elite fastball, a formidable changeup, and pinpoint command that allows him to thrive without elite velocity. Messick is a leading candidate to win the AL Rookie of the Year Award with his 2.56 ERA and 193 strikeouts this year, and should be a finalist for the AL Cy Young Award as well.
The best part of it all is that they will be together leading the Guardians’ rotation for at least three years. Williams has three campaigns of salary arbitration left, and Messick will be around for five: two as a pre-arbitration player making near the league minimum, and three arbitration campaigns.
Strong Position Player Core
The Guardians had one of the best, if not the best, rookie hitters in the American League this year in Chase DeLauter. The outfielder racked up 49 extra-base hits and a 131 wRC+ this year, and was a monster in postseason play.
They also had 2024 No. 1 draft pick Travis Bazzana make his debut and earn a spot on the American League All-Star roster. Brayan Rocchio finally developed a bit offensively and became a 3.6-fWAR player.
Steven Kwan remains under contract and is a fine leadoff hitter, and Patrick Bailey is a budding star at the catcher position. Angel Martinez developed into a nice power-speed weapon, and Ralphy Velazquez is knocking at the door at first base.
A healthier campaign from Jose Ramirez, a modest step forward from one or multiple players listed here, and an impactful acquisition or two for the lineup could put Cleveland in a very solid position heading into 2027.
NEXT: 2 Free Agents The Guardians Should Consider
