📢 TOP STORY: The Guardians stayed surprisingly quiet on offense, but targeting a key outfield bat could be the move that flips their entire 2026 outlook ⚡.NL

The Guardians have been busy fortifying their bullpen this offseason, bringing in Shawn Armstrong, Connor Brogdon, and Colin Holderman to bolster a relief corps that needed fresh arms. But when it comes to the offense-specifically the outfield-the moves have been minimal.

So far, the only notable addition is a familiar face: catcher Austin Hedges is back in the fold. That’s it.

And with the winter ticking along, Cleveland is reportedly still in the market for a right-handed hitting outfielder, per Ken Rosenthal. The team had eyes on a reunion with Lane Thomas, but he’s now off the board after signing with the Royals.

Let’s talk about why that right-handed bat is such a pressing need.

In 2025, Steven Kwan once again anchored the outfield, doing what he does best: getting on base, playing elite defense, and providing consistency at the top of the lineup. He slashed .272/.330/.374 with a 99 wRC+-right around league average offensively-but his glove was the real difference-maker.

Kwan racked up 22 Defensive Runs Saved, turning routine plays into outs and tough chances into web gems. That defensive value helped him post a 3.2 WAR season, per FanGraphs.

But beyond Kwan? It was a steep drop-off.

Nolan Jones and Angel Martinez both got plenty of reps-384 and 371 plate appearances, respectively-but neither made much of an impact with the bat. Each finished with a 73 wRC+, and both struggled to get on base, failing to crack the .300 OBP mark.

And while Martinez is a switch-hitter, his splits tell a clear story: he’s far more dangerous from the right side. Against lefties, he posted a 123 wRC+ in 169 plate appearances.

Against righties? Just a 48 wRC+ in 315 trips to the plate.

That’s a massive gap and one that underscores the Guardians’ imbalance at the plate.

The problem is, the outfield is overwhelmingly left-handed. Aside from Martinez, the only right-handed hitting outfielder on the 40-man roster is Johnathan Rodriguez.

And while Rodriguez has some intriguing power upside-he was ranked as the team’s No. 18 prospect entering 2024-his production in limited big-league action didn’t exactly inspire confidence. He slashed just .197/.260/.366 with a 74 wRC+ over 77 plate appearances.

He still has one option year left, so the Guardians might give him more time to develop, but he’s far from a sure thing.

The numbers don’t lie: Cleveland got almost no production from its right-handed hitting outfielders in 2025. Martinez was the lone bright spot, and even that came in a part-time role.

Lane Thomas, now with Kansas City, managed a 48 wRC+ in 142 plate appearances and was hampered by injuries all year. Jhonkensy Noel had a rough go as well-his 28 wRC+ across 153 plate appearances came with a sky-high 34% strikeout rate and a walk rate under 3%.

He spent most of the second half in Triple-A and was designated for assignment last week.

So where does that leave the Guardians?

They’ve got some talent coming through the pipeline. Chase DeLauter, the club’s top outfield prospect and MLB.com’s No. 58 overall, made his debut in the Wild Card Series against Detroit and is expected to play a bigger role in 2026. He’s a lefty, though, so while he could help boost the overall offense, he doesn’t address the team’s need for right-handed balance.

Further down the farm, there are some righty and switch-hitting outfielders to keep an eye on-Jaison Chourio, Alfonsin Rosario, and Aaron Walton are all on the Guardians’ Top 30 list-but they’re still a few years away from contributing at the big-league level.

Realistically, the Guardians may have to ride with what they have, at least for now. Unless Johnathan Rodriguez takes a leap or Martinez earns more time as a righty bat, the options are thin. And that’s before we even get to the financial side of things.

Payroll is always a consideration in Cleveland. After a $102 million payroll in 2025, they’re currently projected at $79 million for 2026, per RosterResource.

That gives them some room to maneuver, but they’re unlikely to dive into the deep end of free agency. Harrison Bader is probably the top right-handed hitting outfielder still available, but his projected two-year, $26 million price tag might be too rich for the Guardians’ taste.

There are still some names on the market who could make sense. Miguel Andujar had a quietly productive 2025 with a 125 wRC+ in 341 plate appearances.

Austin Hays and Rob Refsnyder could also be fits, depending on price and role. But unless the Guardians make a move soon, they’re looking at another season of trying to patch together production from a lefty-heavy outfield that struggled to generate offense in 2025.

Bottom line: If Cleveland wants to build on last season’s AL Central title and avoid another early playoff exit, they’ll need more balance in the lineup-and that starts with finding a right-handed bat who can contribute now, not two years down the road.