The Cleveland Guardians shocked the world by making the playoffs last season. They had one of the worst offenses in all of baseball, and they didn’t make any big moves to get better on offense.
If anything, they traded Shane Bieber before he was healthy enough to play, and they lost both Luis L. Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase to a sports gambling scheme. Now, the months have gone by, and they have yet to make a splash in the market.
That’s why it’s not much of a surprise to hear that some fans might be worried.
Per SleeperGuardians, the team will be among the lowest spenders in all of baseball next season:
“Following back-to-back divisional titles, the Guardians are projected to have the second lowest payroll in 2026,” SleeperGuardians posted on X.
Following back-to-back divisional titles, the Guardians are projected to have the second lowest payroll in 2026 😬 #GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/pCRy3AYqZC
— SleeperGuardians (@SleeperGuards) December 23, 2025
Of course, this isn’t necessarily bad. The Guardians will probably lean on developing their young players, and some of those prospects already showcased their skills last season.
They’re clearly banking all hopes on the likes of George Valera, Chase DeLauter, and C.J. Kayfus. They also probably expect Joey Cantillo and Parker Messick to make a big impact on the mound. That makes perfect sense, and if you add other promising players like Travis Bazzana, Juan Brito, and maybe even Angel Genao, you realize that this team should be all set for years to come.
Granted, this approach also comes with some risks. As talented as these players are, they’re inexperienced nonetheless.
If they turn out to be as good as advertised, this team can be very good for years to come.
If not, they’re unwillingness to spend will probably doom them when it matters the most.
NEXT: Stats Show How Dominant Jose Ramirez Was Last Season
