The Cleveland Guardians haven’t made many big moves in the offseason. Unfortunately, that’s not much of a surprise at this point.
If anything, that has always been the way this front office has carried its business, and it’s not going to change any time soon. However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
The Guardians already have plenty of talent on their roster, and it’s just a matter of giving them enough opportunities. That’s especially the case with Kyle Manzardo.
The first baseman wasn’t given much of a long leash for most of last season. Even so, he finished the season strong, made the most of his chances, and played his way into the field when it mattered the most.
With that in mind, it’s not much of a surprise to hear that he might be the team’s everyday first baseman next season.
According to a report by Guardians insider Paul Hoynes, he’s putting in a lot of work in the gym to get stronger and get more playing time.
“He finished second on the team with 27 homers and 70 RBI in just his first full season in the big leagues. If the Guardians don’t add another everyday hitter, it’s going to be his job to protect Ramirez in the middle of the lineup. The Guardians asked him to get stronger over the winter so he can handle more work at first base,” Hoynes wrote.
Stephen Vogt didn’t seem to be too convinced about Manzardo last season. He gave Carlos Santana every chance to succeed until it became painfully evident that he didn’t have it anymore.
Manzardo added power to his swing without giving up contact, which is something that doesn’t happen very often. And while David Fry and C.J. Kayfus might also play some games at first, there’s no doubt that he’s their best option at the position, at least for the time being.
NEXT: Insider Names Best Free Agency Matches For Guardians
