The Cleveland Guardians’ offense was a big reason why the team ultimately fell short in the postseason and failed to reach the World Series.
Many fans were frustrated this offseason about the lack of moves to improve in that area.
Cleveland mostly made ancillary moves to fortify the pitching staff while likely waiting for a few big prospects to surface on the offensive side of things, though one analyst believes one recently acquired player could have a drastic impact on the lineup this year.
Jack O’Rourke said on a recent episode of The BIG Factor that if Nolan Jones can return to his 2023 form, he could drastically change this lineup.
“This time last year, Nolan Jones was the breakout star of the NL, the Colorado Rockies budding franchise player. A year of injuries, and now the guy has turned to dust. You get a great chance now in Cleveland to take the guy back, you probably should have never traded him in the first place, now you get him back, finish the story.”
If Nolan Jones returns to form, the #Guardians lineup changes drastically. #GuardsBall
"This time last year, Nolan Jones was the breakout star of the NL, the Colorado Rockies franchise player. Now you get him back, finish the story."
– @JackORourke94 pic.twitter.com/gAaFQjG5JU
— The BIG Factor (@TheBIGFactor) March 24, 2025
Jones posted a .931 OPS in 2023 in 106 games and was looking like a young foundational star for Colorado, but last year, he struggled with injuries and had just a .641 OPS in 79 games.
This is a clear example of selling low, and it’s tough to fathom what the Rockies were thinking with this move, as all they got in return is Tyler Freeman, who has a .632 career OPS.
It’s a nice homecoming for Jones as well, who was drafted by Cleveland in 2016 and debuted with the team in 2022 before being traded to Colorado.
NEXT: Analyst Raves About Guardians' Recent Trade
