Thursday, October 22

Welcome back to the Guardians Beat newsletter. My name is Tim Stebbins, and this is my second season covering Cleveland for MLB.com.

CLEVELAND -- The pain behind the end of the Guardians' 2026 season is still fresh. The Rays eliminated Cleveland from the postseason in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Monday.

Nevertheless, the baseball calendar rolls along, and the Guards are now tasked with evaluating the season that was and what comes next.

Here are five questions facing the Guardians this offseason.

1. How can the Guardians bolster their lineup?

The Guardians had a quiet offseason last year while opting to give their young hitters opportunities in 2026. There were positive developments, such as rookies Travis Bazzana and Chase DeLauter, but Cleveland ultimately finished 24th in MLB with 678 runs scored.

The Guards' lineup was better after Jo Adell and Nathaniel Lowe joined the fold at the Trade Deadline, and José Ramírez’s injury-marred season and Steven Kwan’s poor first half had an impact. Still, Cleveland scored 11 runs across Games 2-6 of the ALCS. This is not a finished product.

The task this winter is balancing what the offense has and where it can be augmented to be productive more consistently over 162 games.

2. Who’s in the rotation?

The Guardians could fill their 2027 rotation internally with Parker Messick, Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee, Joey Cantillo and Slade Cecconi. But there is some uncertainty here. Messick, Williams and Foster Griffin (who's set to hit free agency) were the only rotation members to start in the postseason. 

Bibee made 33 starts and ranked sixth in the Majors in innings pitched (188). The Guardians’ trust in him seemed to dissipate after his up-and-down regular season (4.36 ERA). He made one postseason appearance, in relief.

Cantillo made 30 starts before command issues led to him pitching bulk relief innings in his final three regular-season outings. He pitched five innings over four postseason relief appearances. Cecconi made 21 starts before moving to the ‘pen after Griffin’s arrival at the Deadline. 

Whether the Guardians pursue a reunion with Griffin and how they approach their rotation needs this winter will be a storyline to follow.

3. What does the future hold for Kwan?

Kwan experienced a revival this summer after his poor first half. The 29-year-old hit .212 with a .575 OPS in 78 games through June, and .352 with an .886 OPS in 73 games afterward. He’s in an interesting position heading into the winter.

Kwan is entering his final season of club control, which is typically the point when teams face a long-term decision. The Guardians could hold on to him and even try to work out a contract extension. He's a valued member of the lineup, plus he fared well in adding center field to his tool kit this season. 

They also could explore a trade to recoup some value before his looming free agency next offseason.

4. Who’s on first?

This is really a question of Ralphy Velazquez’s timeline. The 21-year-old (who’s ranked as the Guardians’ No. 1 prospect and No. 29 overall by MLB Pipeline) had a stellar 2026, hitting .290 with 29 homers and a .927 OPS over 121 games between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus.

Velazquez will be part of the Guardians’ mix next season. The question is if the Guardians will have another first baseman hold things down initially, whether it’s an internal candidate or an external addition.

Lowe and Rhys Hoskins are set to hit free agency. Lowe is a potential reunion candidate; Hoskins seems unlikely to return. Incumbent David Fry has versatility to play first, corner outfield and catcher.

Don’t forget about Kyle Manzardo, who hit 27 homers in 2025, but had a down ‘26. He was demoted to Columbus after Lowe’s arrival at the Deadline.

5. How will the catching shake out?

Austin Hedges appeared emotional Monday night. The 34-year-old, who is a core part of Cleveland’s clubhouse culture, is set to become a free agent. He was asked about his future after the Guardians’ postseason elimination.

“I hope this isn't the last time I put a Cleveland jersey on,” Hedges said. “I love it here.”

The Guardians signed Hedges to a one-year deal the past three offseasons. Cleveland’s deep catching mix could affect the calculus this winter. Patrick Bailey is under club control through 2029. Cooper Ingle (No. 4 prospect) and Kody Huff (No. 27) are waiting in the wings.

Huff traveled with the Guardians during the postseason as part of their taxi squad. Ingle (the 2026 International League MVP) appeared in seven big league games this season, including his MLB debut. The Guards value Hedges’ leadership and game calling, but face a decision on what comes next.

• Despite a heartbreaking end to the season, young talent has the Guardians believing they’ll soon be back on the biggest stage. Read more >>

• The ALCS taught us a few things about the Guardians heading into the offseason. Read more >>

• The Guardians may have identified the way the Brewers should pitch to Rays star Junior Caminero during the World Series. Read more >>

“Obviously, it's disappointing. There's nothing really else to say about it. We gave it all we had, and we came up short. We didn’t get the job done. This group of guys has been something special and something that I'll never forget. Coming in at a time of uncertainty at the Trade Deadline and getting so close with all these guys, and everything that everyone brought to the table individually should be celebrated at this point.” -- Adell after Game 6 of the ALCS

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