The Cleveland Guardians are often criticized by their own fans because they don’t usually sign or compete for top free agents.
They run one of the lowest payrolls in the league year after year.
Supporters often feel that with a couple of big signings in a given season, their chances of winning the World Series would dramatically improve.
While that is certainly a fair point, there is no denying that the Guardians have remained highly competitive through the years with the current front office.
Former Colorado Rockies general manager and current analyst Dan O’Dowd ranked the best front offices in baseball.
In his view, the Guardians are second behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“Dan O’Dowd’s top 5 front offices in MLB: 1. Dodgers, 2. Guardians, 3. D-backs, 4. Braves, 5. Yankees,” MLB Now posted on X.
Dan O'Dowd's top 5 front offices in MLB:
1. Dodgers
2. Guardians
3. D-backs
4. Braves
5. Yankees pic.twitter.com/urWxG2rXeF— MLB Now (@MLBNow) April 16, 2025
The Dodgers are on top of every aspect of running a franchise, such as scouting, player development, roster management, and creativity, and are not afraid of spending when they have to.
The Guardians have many similarities, sans the spending part.
You could very well argue that Chris Antonetti, Mike Chernoff, and the Guardians, in general, have put together the best and most impressive system to develop pitchers.
They continually find pitching contributors from the most unexpected backgrounds and situations, and they are excellent at getting value via trades.
Antonetti has held Cleveland’s president of baseball operations title since 2015.
From 2016 to 2024, he has led the Guardians to the playoffs six times, making two AL Championship Series and achieving one Fall Classic appearance.
He has shown that small market teams can indeed compete and succeed.
For that, the Guardians’ front office is widely respected around the league.
NEXT: Guardians' Forgotten Outfielder Is Thriving In Triple-A
