A Puzzling Non-Tender Decision Tied to the Guardians Could Become the First Domino in a Stunning 2026 Overhaul.NL
The Guardians didn’t have the most electric offense in 2025 – far from it. For long stretches, the lineup looked stuck in neutral, struggling to produce consistent run support.
But there’s reason to believe brighter days are ahead in 2026. José Ramírez is still the heartbeat of this club, and a crop of young, developing talent is starting to take shape around him.
One name that deserves more attention in that conversation? David Fry.
Yes, Fry flew under the radar last season, mostly because he wasn’t at full strength. After earning All-Star honors in 2024, Fry’s 2025 campaign was derailed before it even began. He underwent reconstructive elbow surgery in November 2024 to repair a torn UCL – the kind of injury that can zap a player’s versatility and limit their value, especially for someone who thrives on being a Swiss Army knife in the lineup.
That’s exactly what Fry is when healthy: a matchup weapon who can slot in all over the diamond. But in 2025, he was restricted to designated hitter duties, and the numbers reflected that limitation. In just 146 at-bats, he hit .171 – a far cry from the impact bat he was the year before.
Still, it’s hard to look at that stat line and not put an asterisk next to it. Fry wasn’t close to 100 percent, and his season ended in brutal fashion when he took a 99-mph fastball to the face in September.
He later underwent nasal surgery to repair a fractured nose and deviated septum. The good news?
He’s expected to be fully healthy for spring training.
Despite all that, Fry’s name popped up this week in a surprising place – a list of arbitration-eligible players who could be non-tendered ahead of the deadline. The projection: a $1.2 million salary in his first year of arbitration. Not exactly a budget-buster, especially for a player with Fry’s upside.
And calling him just a “designated hitter” doesn’t do him justice. Fry’s value lies in his versatility.
In 2024, before the elbow injury, he appeared at nearly every position on the field – catcher, first base, third base, left field, right field. The only spots he didn’t touch were second base, shortstop, and center field.
That kind of flexibility is rare, especially from a player who also provides legitimate pop at the plate.
Let’s not forget what he did during that All-Star season in 2024: a .263 average, 14 home runs, 51 RBIs, 18 doubles, and a pair of clutch postseason homers that helped spark the Guardians’ October run. When Fry is right, he’s not just a utility guy – he’s a difference-maker.
And that’s why the idea of moving on from him now feels like a misread. The Guardians have already brought back Austin Hedges, signaling they’re likely rolling with the same catching tandem as last year.
But Fry gives them something Hedges doesn’t – a bat that can change a game and the ability to slide behind the plate when needed. He won’t be the everyday catcher, but he can give you innings there, serve as a defensive sub, or give you a right-handed bat with pop off the bench.
That’s a valuable piece on any roster.
Heading into a pivotal offseason, Cleveland needs to find ways to inject more offense without sacrificing defensive flexibility. Fry, if healthy, checks both boxes.
And at $1.2 million? That’s a bargain for a player who’s already shown he can produce at an All-Star level.
Letting him go now would be a head-scratcher. Fry’s not just a bounce-back candidate – he’s a potential spark plug for a team looking to retool its offense.
The Guardians don’t need to overthink this one. Keep Fry in the fold, get him healthy, and let him do what he does best: create matchup nightmares all over the field.
