It is almost universally agreed that the Cleveland Guardians need to upgrade their offense. Unfortunately, it is also widely acknowledged that they have done little to improve the lineup so far this offseason.
The position seen as the ideal spot for a boost is the outfield. Currently, the plan appears to be to let rookies George Valera and Chase DeLauter prove if they can live up to the hype as offensive upgrades.
Meanwhile, the Guardians could add a veteran free agent who is better known for his fielding prowess, as they have been named as a possible fit for Gold Glove outfielder Harrison Bader.
“Bader is coming off the best offensive season of his career at age 31 after hitting .277/.347/.449 with a 117 OPS+ for the Minnesota Twins and [Philadelphia] Phillies in 2025, batting a career-high 501 times. He can still run and play center field and brings a lot of energy. On the other hand, that level of offense was likely a stone-cold fluke. He posted an 80 OPS+ from 2022 to 2024 and his Statcast expected metrics — .223 average, .364 slugging — are right in line with previous seasons,” David Schoenfield wrote.
As stated, Bader did have one of the best offensive seasons of his nine-year career in 2025. But he has not shown that consistently over time.
Instead, he is considered one of the best defensive center fielders in the game. That skill could come in handy for the Guardians this season, regardless of how he performs at the plate.
DeLauter is projected to be the starting center fielder in the Opening Day lineup. However, despite making his MLB debut in the AL Wild Card Round last season, that is a lot of pressure to put on someone who has yet to play a regular-season game in the big leagues.
So, Bader could either be the starter or be available should DeLauter falter, either in spring training or early in the season. The Guardians are well-known for their patience with prospects, so they would not have to rush DeLauter if he shows he isn’t quite ready yet.
There’s also the possibility that Cleveland will have an opening in the outfield if rumors surrounding Steven Kwan actually result in him being traded away. Though Kwan is a left fielder, he is also a Gold Glove winner, so Bader could replace that defense, albeit from center field, and DeLauter could move to the less-demanding corner spot.
Signing Bader likely won’t appease a fan base looking for a big bat, but he could prove to be a useful player for the Guardians in 2026 if he were to join them.
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