The Cleveland Guardians have spent this offseason upgrading an already impressive pitching staff, doubling down on the strength that helped lead them to the ALCS last season.
Even after re-signing their ace, Shane Bieber, and executing a clever trade for Luis Ortiz from the Pittsburgh Pirates, one analyst believes there are still two free agents the team should consider signing to strengthen the starting rotation.
Bleacher Report’s Zachary Rymer recently wrote an article outlining each team’s wish list for Spring Training.
For the Guardians, he hopes to see them continue to strengthen a rotation that finished second-to-last in MLB in rWAR last season.
“The Guardians have re-signed Shane Bieber and traded for Luis L. Ortiz, but their rotation needs more. It was second-to-last in MLB in rWAR last season. There are slim pickings within Cleveland’s price range, but an innings eater should be doable. To name a couple, Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson are still out there in free agency,” Rymer said.
While Bieber and Ortiz are both talented, they are not entirely reliable.
Bieber is still recovering from Tommy John surgery, and Ortiz has made only 15 starts in each of the last two years as he enters his age-26 season.
In the playoffs, Cleveland’s starting rotation contributed heavily to overworking an already overworked bullpen, as Tanner Bibee’s 5.2 innings in Game 5 of the ALCS, the team’s final game of the season, was the only time a starter completed five innings in the playoffs for the Guardians.
The team needs depth from the rotation, and innings eaters such as Lance Lynn or Kyle Gibson could significantly help maintain the league’s best bullpen.
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