Analyst Recaps Guardians’ Offseason So Far

The Cleveland Guardians made another signing on Wednesday.

It came at a position that they already had plenty of talent: relief pitching.

They inked righty Paul Sewald to a one-year deal worth $7 million, with a mutual option for 2026.

As of Jan. 22, it’s safe to say Cleveland has enjoyed a very solid winter.

The additions will probably make the team better, and the subtractions can be managed as the team, in most cases, already has replacements lined up.

Guardians analyst and former pitcher Jensen Lewis offered a recap of the team’s off-season to this point.

“#ForTheLand offseason to date: IN: Paul Sewald, Carlos Santana, Slade Cecconi, Luis L. Ortiz, Shane Bieber, Austin Hedges. OUT: Myles Straw, Josh Naylor, Andres Gimenez, Nick Sandlin, Peter Strzelecki, Eli Morgan, James Karinchak, Matthew Boyd, Alex Cobb,” he posted on X.

#ForTheLand offseason to date:

IN:
Paul Sewald
Carlos Santana
Slade Cecconi
Luis L. Ortiz
Shane Bieber
Austin Hedges

OUT:
Myles Straw
Josh Naylor
Andres Gimenez
Nick Sandlin
Peter Strzelecki
Eli Morgan
James Karinchak
Matthew Boyd
Alex Cobb https://t.co/QFNeOcVkqK

— Jensen Lewis (@JLEWFifty) January 22, 2025

Bieber and Hedges were re-signed, but their returns, especially Bieber’s, should not be taken for granted.

Ortiz and Cecconi essentially replace Boyd and Cobb: they are both younger and have more upside.

Naylor’s departure will surely be felt in the lineup, but the Guards are expecting Santana and Kyle Manzardo to pick up the slack and produce similar, if not better, numbers and stats.

Giménez being traded definitely worsens the team’s defense but gives the Guardians a chance to replace him with a better bat.

Sandlin, Strzelecki, Morgan, and Karinchak are solid relievers, but the Guardians have plenty of depth in the bullpen, and each move served its specific purpose.

All things considered, the Guardians have gotten better and we are not even counting the money coming off the books (with the added flexibility that comes with it) and the fact that they also added some quality prospects in some of the trades.

There still might be moves on the horizon for Cleveland, as they seem determined to make things happen in 2025.