The Cleveland Guardians certainly have some things to address this offseason.
For starters, they need to figure out what they’re going to do about Steven Kwan.
The All-Star outfielder is under club control through the 2027 season, but with a lack of progress in his pursuit of a contract extension, some believe he’s a candidate to be traded.
However, as important as Kwan is to this team, analyst Tommy Wild believes the Guardians have a bigger item to address: the future of manager Stephen Vogt.
“Looking ahead to this winter, yes, it would be nice if the team invested a little more in its big-league roster next season, whether through a free-agent signing or by extending contracts for players such as Gavin Williams or Steven Kwan. While all of that is important, there is one contract the Guardians must also consider this offseason, and that’s Vogt’s current deal. Cleveland has some bright spots on their roster, but it’s not the most talented in MLB. Vogt’s presence and impact are clearly among the key reasons the team has been competitive and overachieved over the last two years,” Wild wrote.
Vogt is about to enter the final season of the three-year contract he signed when he was hired.
He led the team to the ALCS in 2024, then, when it seemed like they weren’t going to be playing meaningful games down the stretch this season, he coaxed them back to the top of the AL Central and into the postseason.
That’s even more impressive when you consider that the team produced little offense for most of the campaign.
The Guardians had to deal with some other tough breaks throughout the course of the season.
They won just nine games in June and trailed the Detroit Tigers by 11 games in September, yet Vogt kept his group together and focused on winning the AL Central.
He’s already done more than enough to prove that he’s worth keeping around for many more years to come, and the Guardians need to get that deal done soon.
NEXT: Guardians Urged To Sign Veteran Outfielder In Free Agency
