Guardians Enter Key Offseason With A Full 40-Man Roster

After the Los Angeles Dodgers World Series victory over the New York Yankees on Wednesday night, the 2024 MLB season is officially over.

That means the off-season is underway for every team, including the Cleveland Guardians.

As we head into what’s likely to be a key winter for the Guards to take that next step they need, it’s time to take a look at who is leaving the roster and who is being welcomed back.

Guardians reporter @JL_baseball provided a look at the team’s 40-man roster heading into not only free agency, but also trade season, options deadline, qualifying offer decisions, Rule 5 Draft protection, non-tender decisions and other key developments and dates.

“Reminder there is no IL in the offseason. So the Guardians ended the year with 40 on the 40. Subtract: Austin Hedges, Matthew Boyd, Alex Cobb. Re-add: Trevor Stephan, Sam Hentges, James Karinchak. Obviously other decisions will be made, but as of now, they would go right back to 40,” he posted on X.

Reminder there is no IL in the offseason.

So the Guardians ended the year with 40 on the 40

Subtract:
Austin Hedges
Matthew Boyd
Alex Cobb

Re-add:
Trevor Stephan
Sam Hentges
James Karinchak

Obviously other decisions will be made, but as of now, they would go right back to 40

— Justin L. (@JL_Baseball) October 31, 2024

Three key players are departing the roster and heading into free agency: a valued backup catcher and two members of the postseason rotation.

You can expect the team try and bring back all of them, likely succeeding with Hedges.

The two pitchers will have a broader market and all will depend on which kind of offers they get on the open market.

Three injured pitchers re-enter the roster.

The off-season is where president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti shows the most creativity.

Fans sure hope that skill delivers a few starters, a backup catcher and a solution for right field, at the very least.