The Cleveland Guardians fell just short of an improbable run to the World Series in 2024 and are now facing a pivotal offseason where the front office needs to make a few splashes to nudge this team over the hump.
The bullpen was the strength of the team last season and will return its entire foundation, but one analyst recently named two of the team’s biggest needs outside of that which need to be solved this offseason.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic wrote an article recently highlighting each MLB team’s biggest offseason needs, saying the team needs to “improve starting pitching and add a bat, likely in the outfield.”
“Improve starting pitching and add a bat, likely in the outfield,” Bowden said.
Bieber, Boyd, Alex Cobb, and Carlos Carrasco are all free agents, so the team might need to add more than one starting pitcher in the offseason.
Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, Ben Lively, and Joey Cantillo is the entirety of the team’s starting pitching depth at the moment, which leaves little margin for error.
The entire 2024 lineup is under contract and returning for 2025 and beyond, but the postseason revealed a clear need for another impact bat in the heart of this lineup.
There is plenty of room in the outfield or at the designated hitter spot for another accomplished hitter, and the free agent market has plenty of options.
Someone like Tyler O’Neill, Teoscar Hernandez, Joc Pederson, or Anthony Santander would be a perfect addition to this team.
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