It is impossible to ignore the impact Jo Adell had on the Cleveland Guardians’ lineup after he arrived at the trade deadline this season. So, it also isn’t hard to imagine the void there would be if he did not return next year.
Fortunately, the Guardians retain Adell’s rights for at least one more season, via a contract tender and arbitration. But the franchise is known for taking a frugal approach when it comes to that process, and the outfielder is just one of 13 eligible players it has to deal with this offseason, plus a small group of free agents.
Yet, insider Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com is urging the Guardians to re-sign Adell, saying they should “just pay him,” whatever the cost will be.
“Right-handed power hitter. I know he had a rough [ALCS] against Tampa Bay, but you could just tell he’s exactly what the lineup needs. They have no one in the minors like him. They do not have a big-time power bat ready to go,” Pluto said.
According to MLB Trade Rumors, Adell is projected to receive a one-year contract worth $9.6 million. That would put him right behind franchise fixtures Jose Ramirez and Steven Kwan in the Guardians’ salary structure.
It can be argued that it is a lofty status for someone who has played only 48 games for the team. But after watching Adell help Cleveland win the AL Central with his seven home runs and 32 RBIs, when the offense was starving for that kind of production, it could turn out to be money well spent.
Depending on how the MLB labor negotiations work out, the Guardians will have to spend more going forward, with the potential for a salary floor to be instituted. But it is better to do so on players you have already seen up close and know how they fit on your team.
With Kwan and closer Cade Smith among the other Guardians who are arbitration-eligible, the team should have no trouble surpassing whatever the payroll requirement might be. However, that is not normally the way the franchise has done business, so there will be an adjustment period, and it will be interesting to see if they can remain competitive in the new landscape.
The Guardians can take a big step toward that by making sure Adell is back in the middle of their lineup in 2027.
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