Guardians Insider Suggests Team Should Add More Starting Pitching

The Cleveland Guardians rotation depth took a hit at the end of the season when Shane Bieber, Alex Cobb and Matthew Boyd all reached free agency, not to mention the uncertainty surrounding Triston McKenzie and Logan Allen.

Everybody agreed that Cleveland needed to add more starting pitching, and so far, they have re-signed Bieber (who will be available in the second half, barring any setbacks) and traded for Luis L. Ortiz and Slade Cecconi.

Is that enough, or do the Guardians need more?

Team insider Mandy Bell feels the Guardians could use another impactful starting pitching add.

“Are Bieber and Ortiz enough? If Bieber would be in the rotation on Opening Day, then it’d be easier to say yes. However, the team’s ace probably won’t be back until June or July after having Tommy John surgery last April. That means Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, Ben Lively and Ortiz will have to carry the team to the All-Star break, while also relying on Triston McKenzie or Logan Allen — both of whom struggled in ’24 — or even No. 15 prospect Joey Cantillo to make some contributions,” she recently wrote.

She also mentioned lefty Doug Nikhazy as a potential option to start games in the upcoming season.

She then cited former Guardians skipper Terry Francona to suggest Cleveland could add more arms.

“But as a certain former Guardians manager (and now Reds skipper) always said: If you think you have enough pitching, get more. So maybe the organization will feel the need to add more arms before Spring Training,” she explained.