Media and fans have agreed, in the last few weeks, that the Cleveland Guardians’ biggest need for the 2025 campaign are starting pitchers.
They are mostly right: the team’s overall pitching depth as far as MLB is concerned was already a bit short to begin with, and free agency has left them even weaker at the position.
If the season started today, however, the Guardians would be able to field a somewhat decent rotation, albeit one without much upside.
Ideally, the Guards need one or two top-notch starters, but the existing talent is not bad at all if injuries weren’t in play.
A Guardians reporter took a look at every option available at the moment at every level of the organization, including the minor leagues.
“An “extremely early” look at possible 2025 potential rotation arms and placement to start the season across the entire Cleveland #Guardians organization down to the Arizona Complex League,” Guardians Prospective posted on X.
An "extremely early" look at possible 2025 potential rotation arms and placement to start the season across the entire Cleveland #Guardians organization down to the Arizona Complex League.
* Alphabetical listing at each level
* All players currently with organization as of… pic.twitter.com/2rqb8V5uXm— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) November 17, 2024
The players were listed alphabetically at every level according to the insider, and only players currently with organization as of November 16 are present (no Shane Bieber, Matthew Boyd or Alex Cobb, for example).
Keep in mind that the team might also lose a few talented arms in Double-A and Triple-A if they don’t add them to the 40-man roster and someone takes them in the Rule 5 Draft.
In order for this MLB rotation to be successful, it needs rebound campaigns from Gavin Williams, Logan Allen and especially Triston McKenzie, not to mention a step forward from Joey Cantillo.
The talent is there, though.
In any case, the expectation is that Cleveland will add at least one additional starter ahead of the 2025 campaign.
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