Guardians Executive Says What Fans Have Waited Years To Hear

For years, Cleveland Guardians fans have watched the front office build winners on a shoestring budget and wondered when ownership would finally spend more. The team just won a third straight AL Central title and reached the ALCS with the lowest payroll in baseball, and the frustration of falling short again has only grown louder. Now the man in charge of the roster has offered a promise that could change the tone of this offseason. Speaking with The Athletic, president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti made it clear the payroll is heading in a new direction.

“We’ll go up [the payroll],” Antonetti told The Athletic. “We have to.”

There is plenty of room to grow.  Cleveland’s 2026 payroll was about $74.5 million, the lowest in Major League Baseball.  Either way, the Guardians spent far less than every contender, including the Milwaukee Brewers, who just won the World Series with a payroll roughly $60 million higher.

It is worth keeping expectations in check. Some of the increase will happen on its own. Steven Kwan and Jo Adell are both projected to earn more than $9 million in their final year of arbitration, and Cade Smith and Brayan Rocchio are entering arbitration for the first time. Those raises alone will push the number up before the front office adds a single new player.

Antonetti’s comments suggest that at least some new money will go toward improving the roster, and the story itself points to starting pitching as an area of focus. That makes sense with Foster Griffin, who threw 172 2/3 innings, expected to sign elsewhere. Cleveland also needs help at first base, with Nathaniel Lowe and Rhys Hoskins hitting free agency, and the bullpen needs depth after Smith carried a heavy load all season.

There are bigger forces at play, too. MLB’s latest labor proposal includes a salary floor of $180.2 million beginning in 2028, which would require Cleveland to more than double its payroll. Minority owner David Blitzer has an option to become the majority owner after the 2027 season. Whether it comes from new rules, new ownership or both, the Guardians may not be able to operate on such a tight budget much longer.

The timing could get tricky. The collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1, and a lockout is widely expected, which could freeze free agency for weeks or months. If Cleveland plans to add a significant piece, it may need to move quickly.

For now, Antonetti’s words are a welcome change for a fan base that has heard “small market” as an explanation for years. The Guardians have proven they can win without spending. If they finally back that up with more money, this team could become a real threat to end the longest championship drought in baseball.