Despite a quiet offseason, the Guardians returned to contention in 2024. They won 92 games and the AL Central crown before falling to the Yankees in the ALCS. As November approaches, two related questions loom large for this team: Will the surprising success of their rivals in Detroit and Kansas City convince the Guardians to do more this winter to defend their division title? Or will the potential loss of local media revenue lead to another slow offseason?
Guaranteed Contracts
- José Ramírez, 3B: $88MM through 2028
- Andrés Giménez, 2B: $96.86MM through 2029 ($23MM club option for 2030 with $2.5MM buyout)
- Myles Straw, CF: $13.8MM through 2026 ($8MM club option for 2027 with $1.75MM buyout and $8.5MM club option for ‘28 with a $500K buyout)
- Emmanuel Clase, RHP: $11.3MM through 2026 ($10MM club options for 2027 and ‘28 with $2MM buyout for ‘27 and $1MM buyout for ‘28)
- Trevor Stephan, RHP: $5.8MM through 2026 ($7.25MM club option for 2027 with $1.25MM buyout and $7.5 club option for ‘28 with no buyout)
Additional Financial Commitments
- Jean Segura, INF: $2MM buyout owed on $10MM club option for 2025
Total 2025 commitments: $45.17MM
Total future commitments: $225.26MM
Arbitration-Eligible Players (service time in parentheses; salary projections via MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)
- Josh Naylor (5.127): $12MM
- Lane Thomas (5.014): $8.3MM
- James Karinchak (4.099): $1.9MM
- Triston McKenzie (4.002): $2.4MM
- Sam Hentges (3.157): $1.4MM
- Nick Sandlin (3.157): $1.6MM
- Eli Morgan (3.091): $1MM
- Steven Kwan (3.000): $4.3MM
- Ben Lively (2.133): $3.2MM
Non-tender candidates: Karinchak, McKenzie, Hentges
Free Agents
The top teams are often the most well-rounded, but the 2024 Guardians were defined by their strengths and weaknesses. Their bullpen was the best in baseball, but their starters were unreliable for most of the year. Meanwhile, their offense was excellent against left-handed pitching but struggled to score against righties. They were also one of the better defensive teams in the league by almost every metric, but their baserunning numbers were surprisingly mediocre. First and foremost, the Guardians need to focus on their scoring, and not run prevention, this winter. That said, they could badly use a couple more reliable options for the rotation.
All-Stars José Ramírez and Steven Kwan led the offense in 2024, and they’ll be back at the top of the order again next year. Even the notoriously stingy and trade-happy Guardians wouldn’t possibly part with their star third baseman, who continues to look like an absolute bargain on the seven-year, $141MM extension he signed in 2022. As for Kwan, the left fielder is a strong extension candidate himself after another terrific season.
Additional veterans in the lineup include the slugging Josh Naylor at first base, defensive stalwart Andrés Giménez at second, and trade deadline acquisition Lane Thomas in center field. Youngsters Kyle Manzardo (DH), Bo Naylor (C), and Brayan Rocchio (SS) should have spots in next year’s starting nine as well. All three had up-and-down seasons, but considering their recent top prospect status, there’s little reason to think they won’t get to continue their development with the big league club in 2025. Indeed, the best way for Cleveland to improve its offense next year will be to get more production out of Manzardo, Bo Naylor, and Rocchio.
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I get Karinchak, although I don’t agree. But, McKenzie and Hentges??
I’d just put Lively. Thats lightning in a bottle, be glad you got the best of it and wish him well.
Hentges is an interesting case.. he definitely has a lot of talent but it seems like a strong candidate to be non-tendered. He is scheduled to miss all of 2025 and then he is a FA after 2026. So you end up paying him 2 seasons and there is one less prospect you can protect from the Rule 5 draft for the next two seasons. That’s a lofty price for one season of a reliever that has a long injury history.. especially when you already have a stacked bullpen. Perhaps they can work out some deal with him though.
Very solid points about Hentges. Maybe a reasonable two year deal with a third team option year would be the best approach.
Hentges is still controlled through arbitration through the 2027 season. So after he returns from injury he’d have 2 more seasons of control. Definitely worth keeping around for $1.4M
Ramirez needs a serious raise
Should reallocate from Gimenez’s salary, which is looking more like it was based on a career year. Who knows though, hes still young.
Risk of small market teams. Paying early for a defense first, good offensive player and watching him regress and hamstring you, or let him go and be a star elsewhere. Reminds me of Ke’Bryan Hayes but at a lesser extent so far.
Yeah, similar, though hes at least shown a little more offensive upside
All the underlying data told you that Gimenez was not the hitter he was that year.
I’d be shocked if he ever approached those numbers again. He’s a great defender but I’d bet they’ll look to deal him before the salary bump gets too severe.
But if they want to do that it probably needs to be soon. He’s not a $23MM/yr player and that’s what it ramps up to in 2027.
He’ll likely have surplus value for the next 2 years.
I think his results will get better. He provides great defense at 2B and SS and probably 3B sometimes .CLE needs more offense but you don’t want him to change his batting approach by pulling the ball too often or bulking up too much. Overall fitness and strength is important but flexibility/agility is VERY important to his overall game. I am a NYM fan and I’d glady take him off CLE hands but they would be dumb to do that.
Go Andres! An Indispensable part of CLE core. Win the WS Next year! Sign 1 FA SP. One BP piece. Sign 2 FAs or trade for (OR an AAA prospect makes the leap!)
They could Re Sign Bieber but he is more of a 2.5/3 starter now and probably won’t be ready till July 2025. He should be in CLE budget (1 year contract for $9M+ plus incentives and maybe a 2026 option) IIF generally he likes CLE (the area/his teammates etc.) that may give ownership an edge to RE-Sign him. Many other teams will be interested and will pay more.
Some kind of Closure with playoff ready team on the Rise.
Just one opinion FWIW. I’ve been wrong before.
Bieber is a lock for a 2 year deal. 1 year deal is too much downside for a team. You might get half a year.
Those guys typically go the 2/25-30 route.
I thought and still think that contract structure was both exorbitant and strange. Then (I hoped) the secret plan was Dolan was selling by 2026 so he approved it. Cleveland is stuck with it and while Giminez is a terrific player, that is too much when it peaks. Especially as a slap to Jose’ who gave hometown discount and will be making less.
Curious to see if DeLauter can stay healthy long enough to carry a productive ST campaign in to the reg season.
Same. Hoping he’ll force their hand, cause he’s certainly ticketed to start next year in AAA. Can’t wait to see if CJ Kayfus can rebound after his AA callup. He could be useful as a 1B/COF
Bieber gets a two year deal with a 3rd year option from Cleveland, id predict. TJS used to be 1.3 years to come back from. Now its closer to two to be up to major league form.
The “Cleveland Pitching Factory” that is routinely referred to is running a skeleton crew. As many factories in Cleveland, it is nearly out of business. They were thin in starting pitching and chose NOT to capitalize on magical 2024 first half season and fortify starters for a Pennant run. Got Boyd (C+) and Cobb (D) off scrap heap to prop up rotation.
Quit pretending. start contending. Do you still have all those SS prospects?
.
They traded Jose Tena who was a shortstop. May be they will move rocchio in a trade and move gimmez back to short . They went after Horner to play second base at trade deadline. David Blitzer taking over majority ownership in 2026. Blitzer buying land around and near progressive field. Wants to be like braves with shops and like Jerry Jones of Dallas cowboys.
“Blitzer buying land around and near progressive field. Wants to be like braves with shops and like Jerry Jones of Dallas cowboys.”
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All team sports owners are heading that way. Cable revenue is going away to be replaced by streaming which will net a fraction of what pro teams used to get. A prime reason Mark Cuban sold his stock in the Mavs.
Everybody in the business knows, and has known for years.
That would be a huge bummer if McKenzie was non-tendered. The fact that he is out of options though makes it really tough.
Cleveland doesn’t have a ton of depth. I’d be surprised they NT’d him unless they feel there’s so fixing.
Change the name back to Indians. Maybe then they’ll do half decent.
There doing fine under the guardians name. Go jump off a short pier.
Guessing you’re a liberal. They jump at every opportunity to attack someone else
We just get tired of constant nonsense
okay but now the Indians will be based on India. The ballpark will have a great food options!
Trades Josh Naylor and Gimenez to Mariners for Bryce Miller and Celesten, lol
As stingy as the Guardians are, Antonetti wasted any free space he had with contracts the last few years. Myles Straw and Trevor Stephan? No way Straw should have been anything but a defensive replacement for half a season. At this point, might as well cut Karinchuk, McKenzie, Hentges, and Lively. Weren’t used in the playoffs so no need having them during the season. Would rather take their arb raises and Hedges’ salary off the books to get a bat.
If they get rid of their pitching depth, they won’t be able to make the playoffs next year.
This young team made it to the ALCS in a year when they weren’t expected to make the playoffs, and yet the Dolans might cut payroll and force trades of productive offensive players.
Let’s face it. Cleveland fans have a lot more emotion invested than Owner Dolan. Dolan is in for the profits, and they do turn a profit. Larger and larger crowds came to the home games as the season wore on. They had remarkable good fortune and played well as well. Still, the ownership and his Antonetti/Chernoff chose to do minimal to capitalize at the deadline.
The refrain of we can’t afford better has gotten very old.