The Cleveland Guardians have not made the big offseason acquisitions many fans and analysts believe they need. Yet manager Stephen Vogt remains confident in the approach that improvement from within can get the job done.
Much of that has to do with the arrival of rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter and the potential debut of Travis Bazzana, two heralded prospects who are expected to add punch to the lineup. However, that means some returning players may be getting overlooked in that effort.
Analyst Tim Stebbins recently named infielder Kyle Manzardo as a “crucial piece” for the Guardians in 2026.
“Manzardo is set to be one of the Guardians’ most important position players in 2026. He’s the leading candidate to provide immediate protection behind Jose Ramirez in the lineup, which is a role he often filled in his first full big league season last year. Along the way, Manzardo ranked second on the team in home runs (27), RBIs (70) and OPS (.768), trailing only Ramirez in each of these categories. The Guardians have options at first base, and Manzardo will enter spring training as a crucial piece to the equation,” Stebbins wrote.
For his part, Manzardo is preparing to have more of an impact this season. Just 25 years old with one full season under his belt, he may have the potential to approach 40 homers, which would be an incredible boost to a Guardians’ offense that ranked among the worst in the game last season.
He could split time between first base and DH with C.J. Kayfus, who made his MLB debut late last season. Cleveland made room for the young players by letting go of longtime veteran Carlos Santana.
DeLauter later made Guardians history by making his first MLB appearance in a postseason game, and he’ll enter spring training as a possible contender for AL Rookie of the Year. Bazzana’s arrival has been delayed by injury, but as the No. 1 overall pick from the 2024 MLB Draft, he has encouraging potential as well.
The Guardians could still make a move to improve the lineup, with three-time batting champion Luiz Arraez on the market as a free agent. He could provide a good fit at the top of the order, especially if Steven Kwan winds up getting traded due to his lack of a long-term contract extension.
With perennial MVP candidate Ramirez anchoring the lineup as one of the best offensive players in baseball, the Guardians may finally be surrounding him with a fresh lineup that can maximize the team’s overall potential.
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