The Guardians just flipped the Winter Meetings script with a few daring moves, and now everyone’s trying to figure out what comes next.NL

Guardians Stay Quiet at Winter Meetings – But Is Silence Golden or a Missed Opportunity?

The 2026 Winter Meetings were anything but dull. Big names found new homes – Kyle Schwarber is heading back to the Phillies, Pete Alonso stunned Mets fans by jumping to the Orioles, and the Dodgers added firepower with the signing of Edwin Díaz. But while the headlines were loud, the Cleveland Guardians opted for a far quieter approach.

After being one of the more active teams at last year’s meetings – remember the Andrés Giménez trade to Toronto and the Luis Ortiz acquisition from Pittsburgh – Cleveland chose to sit back this time around. The only moves they made were signing reliever Connor Brogdon and selecting Peyton Pallatte in the Rule 5 Draft. That’s it.

Now, to be fair, sometimes the best move is the one you don’t make. But given the number of clear needs on this Guardians roster, it’s hard not to walk away from Orlando feeling like this was a missed opportunity.

The Holes Are Real – And So Are the Options

Let’s start with the obvious: this team has talent, but it also has gaps. And while the Guardians didn’t walk away with an Austin Hays, Harrison Bader, or Rhys Hoskins, those names – and others like them – are still on the board.

So, no, Cleveland didn’t lose out on a player who would’ve been a perfect fit. Yet.

The good news is that the market hasn’t passed them by. There’s still time to make a move that adds real value without breaking the bank. And that’s important for a franchise that’s long operated with a tight payroll and a focus on internal development.

Cleveland already has a strong foundation – José Ramírez is locked in long-term, and the roster is filled with young, controllable talent. But that can’t be an excuse to stand pat. This is a team that should be looking to supplement that core, not just rely on it.

Free Agency or Trade? The Guardians Have Options

Whether the Guardians decide to dip into free agency or swing a trade, they’ve got multiple paths to improvement.

Signing a player like Hays or Bader wouldn’t cost prospect capital, but it would likely come with a shorter-term commitment and less upside than a controllable trade target. That’s where someone like Brendan Donovan comes into play.

Donovan, currently with the Cardinals, checks a lot of boxes for Cleveland. He’s versatile – we’re talking every position on the diamond outside of center field and catcher – and he excels at second base and right field, two areas where the Guardians could use help.

If Cleveland really wanted to get aggressive, they could try to package a deal that also brings in Lars Nootbaar. That would be a legitimate splash.

The Winter Meetings might’ve been the perfect stage to pull off that kind of deal, but just because it didn’t happen there doesn’t mean it’s off the table. The offseason is far from over.

The Prospect Pipeline Is Ready – But At What Cost?

One of the biggest reasons the Guardians may have stayed quiet? Their belief in the next wave of young talent.

Top prospect Travis Bazzana is knocking on the door. Khal Stephen, Angel Genao, and Kahlil Watson aren’t far behind. While Bazzana might be the only untouchable in that group, there’s a case to be made that all four could contribute in 2026.

President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti made it clear at the start of the Winter Meetings that he didn’t want to block the path for the team’s young players. And true to his word, the Guardians didn’t bring in any veterans who would do that – a stark contrast to past offseasons that saw stopgap signings like Hanley Ramírez, Carlos Santana, or Carlos Gonzalez.

That’s a philosophical shift. And if these prospects hit, it could pay off in a big way.

But it’s still a gamble. Because while internal development is great, relying solely on it – especially when upgrades are available – can be a dangerous game.

Final Word

The Guardians had a chance to make noise this week. Instead, they chose restraint.

There’s a logic to that approach, especially with a strong farm system and a roster built around cost-controlled talent. But there’s also risk in doing nothing when the opportunity to get better is right in front of you.

The offseason isn’t over. There’s still time for Cleveland to make the kind of move that turns a quiet winter into a productive one.

But for now, the Guardians are betting on patience – and on their kids. Time will tell if that bet pays off.