The Cleveland Guardians beat the odds to make the playoffs last season. They arguably shouldn’t have gotten there with the offense they had.
That’s why they can’t afford to suffer through the same issues next season. They must bolster their lineup with proven hitters.
With that in mind, insider Paul Hoynes made a case for the Guardians to sign free agent outfielder Harrison Bader.
“CF Harrison Bader, 31: He played for the [Minnesota] Twins and [Philadelphia] Phillies last season, hitting .277 (124 for 448) with 17 homers and 54 RBIs. He’s a right-handed hitter with pop, who could help the Guardians add production in center field,” Hoynes wrote.
Bader is the type of player that fits what this team usually does. He’s not going to demand a huge salary, and he would provide an instant boost at the plate.
The 31-year-old comes with plenty of experience, and he’s been a consistent and reliable hitter for most of his career. Also, he’s a Gold Glove defensive player.
The Guardians still need to figure out what they’re going to do with Steven Kwan. The All-Star outfielder is expected to be heavily pursued by multiple teams looking to trade for him. Cleveland doesn’t necessarily have to trade him because he’s still under team control for the next two years, but if there aren’t any updates about a contract extension, that might be the case.
They also have three promising rookies in Chase DeLauter, C.J. Kayfus and George Valera, who should have a big role in their outfield next season. But whatever the case, going after a proven veteran like Bader could make the team significantly better.
NEXT: Key Guardians Unit Could Emerge As MLB’s Best Bargain
