The Cleveland Guardians weren’t going to make the playoffs last season. They had one of the worst offenses in baseball, won just nine games in June, and trailed the Detroit Tigers by as many as 15.5 games at one point.
Manager Stephen Vogt kept the team focused and motivated until the end. It wasn’t easy, and it definitely wasn’t pretty, but they ultimately got the job done and returned to the postseason as AL Central champs.
That should be an encouraging sign for the future. It showed that the team has the right leader and foundational players to build around.
Most teams would then use the offseason to improve the roster. The Guardians, however, aren’t like most teams when it comes to pursuing free agents.
With that in mind, insider Zack Meisel urged the Guardians to address two key positions this offseason.
“It’s Cleveland, they don’t spend money. They have glaring holes. The outfield, the bullpen, those are the two primary targets. If you need a third, I would say the outfield again. It was the 30th-ranked outfield offensively in baseball, and that’s with Steven Kwan on the roster. It’s pretty obvious. They made the playoffs. They did so with one of the worst offenses a playoff team has ever fielded. They gotta improve that,” Meisel said.
Outfield, bullpen, and more outfield. 😂@ZackMeisel gives us his Guardians to-do list for the offseason. pic.twitter.com/Te7Jm9hGHJ
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) November 19, 2025
The Guardians might get more offensive production from their outfield next season, but not because of additions. Instead, they may give rookies Chase DeLauter, C.J. Kayfus and George Valera bigger roles. As for the bullpen, they might have their closer of the future in Cade Smith, but they need to add reliable arms.
Cleveland will most likely make a trade or two. As for signings, fans shouldn’t expect the Guardians to break the bank for anybody.
NEXT: Insider Reveals Guardians' Plan To Address Bullpen Issues
