The Cleveland Guardians have some issues to address in the offseason. They made the playoffs and won the division this season, but after winning just one game in the Wild Card round, it became painfully evident that they needed to bring in some reinforcements.
This team has a solid foundation to build around. Then again, no team is perfect, and they could definitely use some help at the plate. With that in mind, MLB analyst Mike Petriello shared his honest thoughts on this roster, and it seems like the front office will have its hands full in the offseason:
“Biggest needs: Middle infield, center field, right field, first base, pitching depth,” Petriello wrote. “We could go on about how badly the Guardians need some thump in the lineup – outscoring only Colorado and Pittsburgh isn’t good enough – but really, we’ve been talking about this annually for about a decade now. There are, to be fair, several interesting young players who could make an impact now or in the near future, like Chase DeLauter, George Valera, Travis Bazzana, Jorge Brito, etc. There’s maybe some pitching depth questions, too, especially given the uncertainty surrounding the future of closer Emmanuel Clase.”
Just like he said, the team might lean on the young players in hopes of bolstering the offense. They’re inexperienced and raw, but they do have the talent and potential to be stars at the next level if given enough time and opportunities.
That’s not necessarily going to be the case with their pitching staff. They have plenty of talent and options, but they may not have enough depth to get by and keep up with some of the powerhouses in the league.
Cade Smith proved to be more than capable of holding down the fort as their closer. He should continue to have that role even in the unlikely event that Emmanuel Clase were to be cleared.
Whatever the case, this team needs to give Stephen Vogt the type of players and assets he needs to lead them to the mountaintop. He’s already earned the benefit of the doubt, and they must do right by him.
NEXT: Former Guardians Coach Raves About Stephen Vogt
