The Cleveland Guardians clearly needed a big bat this offseason, but the team decided to spend all of its offseason resources on upgrading the pitching staff instead.
Offensively, the team seems to be waiting for internal solutions to develop, and one analyst says no solution is being counted on more than 2024 No. 1 pick Travis Bazzana, who could join the team sooner rather than later.
MLB.com’s Jim Callis popped by MLB Network recently and said that he thinks Bazzana will be in the big leagues with the Guardians “by the end of the year” and thinks very highly of the recent first-overall pick.
"I think [Travis Bazzana] is up in the Big Leagues by the end of the year."@jimcallisMLB breaks down @MLBPipeline's No. 10 overall prospect ahead of his first full year in pro ball. pic.twitter.com/6XLcxVLNAK
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 1, 2025
Bazzana has done nothing but rake since the team drafted him, and perhaps it was a vote of endorsement when the Guardians traded Andres Gimenez to the Toronto Blue Jays earlier in the offseason to clear a path at second base for Bazzana’s impending arrival.
Gimenez’s bat had been declining over the past three years or so, and his glove was no longer enough to overcompensate for the declining offensive output.
The Guardians were also able to clear the cap of his contract, which will allow them to not only upgrade at the dish whenever Bazzana is ready but also reallocate that money elsewhere on the roster.
You never want to rush a prospect, but it’s hard not to get overly excited about Bazzana and what he can eventually bring to this lineup.
NEXT: Insider Believes 3 Guardians Players Could Soon Get Contract Extensions
