If there is an area that the Cleveland Guardians would love to improve, it’s definitely starting pitching.
The unit suffered injury blows, unexpected slumps, and other setbacks and issues throughout the season, and its depth was compromised in the playoffs.
They lost Shane Bieber, the staff ace, after just 12 innings.
The co-ace, Triston McKenzie, was inconsistent all year, as was 2023 standout Logan Allen.
Another 2023 standout, Xzavion Curry, was lost via waivers.
In the end, Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams (who opened the year on the injured list), Matthew Boyd and Alex Cobb, with the help of Joey Cantillo and Ben Lively, carried the load in the second half.
What will the unit look like in 2025?
The Guardians have the entire off-season to figure it out, but analyst Jensen Lewis took a deep look at how things could play out.
What should be the top priority for the Guardians?
"The rotation will be at the forefront."
–@JLEWFifty on what things could look like in 2025 👀
presented by @NEFDirect 🛋 pic.twitter.com/loMiW6VqtU
— BIGPLAY Cleveland Show (@BIGPLAYCLEshow) October 28, 2024
Lewis believes Bibee and Williams are going to be part of the rotation next year.
They are both promising and, in Bibee’s case, already has two solid seasons in a row to open his career.
Lewis thinks Cantillo will have an extended chance to earn a spot, and Lively will be around as pitching depth.
It will all come down to two things: one, the Guardians ability to sign or trade for a top young starter as a building block, and two, their ability to retain their three free agent pitchers: Bieber, Boyd and Cobb.
The last two are healthy and there should be mutual interest because they both pitched well in Cleveland.
Bieber is a more complex case because he will be rehabbing to open the year.
In any case, given how good this organization is at developing pitching, they are in good shape provided they add at least one solid external option to the group.
NEXT: MLB Insider Praises Guardians Star Fielder For His 'Maturity And Baseball IQ'
