🔥 HOT NEWS: Cleveland re-signs an important veteran and slips in a surprise reliever addition, sparking speculation about what move comes next ⚡.NL
The Guardians have eased into the offseason with their usual quiet approach, sticking to the margins rather than making any splashy moves. So far, the only major league additions are the re-signing of veteran backup catcher Austin Hedges and the acquisition of middle reliever Connor Brogdon.
That’s par for the course in Cleveland, where free agency is more of a window-shopping exercise than a spending spree. And based on early signals, don’t expect a flurry of trades either-at least not the kind that reshapes the roster.
One name that did generate some buzz over the summer was Steven Kwan. The Guardians listened to offers at the trade deadline but ultimately held firm.
That decision looks even more locked-in now after a late-season surge helped Cleveland capture another AL Central crown. According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Guardians aren’t shutting the door completely on trade talks, but the current mindset is to keep Kwan heading into 2026.
And there’s logic behind that. Trading Kwan this winter would be selling at a relative low point.
After a strong April, his bat cooled off considerably-he posted a sub-.700 OPS in each of the final four months. His season slash line of .272/.330/.374 was league average, but that was largely buoyed by his hot start.
The underlying dip was tied to a drop in his batting average on balls in play (BABIP), which isn’t shocking for a player who doesn’t generate much hard contact. Still, Kwan remains one of the elite contact hitters in the game, and he brings steady defense in left field.
Both FanGraphs and Baseball Reference pegged him around 3 wins above replacement-a solid contributor even in a down year.
Financially, there’s no urgency to move him. Kwan is projected to earn $8.8 million next season and remains under team control for two more years.
With JosĂ© RamĂrez locked into a below-market deal and little else clogging the payroll, Cleveland isn’t in a position where they need to shed salary. More importantly, trading Kwan would leave a major void in an already thin outfield.
Rookies Chase DeLauter, Petey Halpin, and George Valera are expected to compete for time in center and right field, and Nolan Jones-who’s out of minor league options-is also in the mix. That’s a lot of unproven talent. Removing Kwan from the equation would only deepen the need for outfield reinforcements, not solve it.
Meanwhile, the bullpen is another area in need of reinforcements. Manager Stephen Vogt made that clear during the Winter Meetings, telling reporters, “We need depth in the bullpen.
We have four, maybe five guys in our bullpen, and we need eight.” That’s a pretty direct assessment.
With Emmanuel Clase not expected to return, Cade Smith is penciled in as the closer. Hunter Gaddis looks like a reliable setup option from the right side.
But beyond that, things are murky. Brogdon and Matt Festa are both out of options and seem likely to open the year in middle relief, though neither profiles as a high-leverage arm.
From the left side, Tim Herrin and Erik Sabrowski have flashed potential but struggled with command. Even if someone like Joey Cantillo or Doug Nikhazy ends up in a long relief role, the Guardians still need more arms they can trust late in games.
There was some good news on the roster flexibility front: Cleveland was granted a fourth option year on both George Valera and second base prospect Juan Brito. Normally, players can only be optioned to the minors in three separate seasons after joining the 40-man roster.
But exceptions are made for players who haven’t logged five full pro seasons (defined as 90+ days on an active MLB or MiLB roster). Valera and Brito both qualify due to delayed development-Valera didn’t play a full minor league season until 2021 and missed most of this past year recovering from knee surgery, while Brito didn’t have a full season under his belt until 2022 and lost much of 2025 to thumb and hamstring injuries.
That extra option year gives Cleveland some breathing room. Both players are in the mix for Opening Day roster spots, with right field and second base wide open. But now the Guardians can afford to send them to Triple-A Columbus if needed without risking a waiver claim.
That flexibility could be especially important for Brito. While he’s still a promising young infielder, the presence of top prospect Travis Bazzana looms large.
Bazzana has already hit his way to Triple-A and is widely seen as the second baseman of the future. That puts some pressure on Brito to make an early impression-his window to secure a long-term role might not stay open for long.
As for the rest of the infield, Vogt told reporters that Brayan Rocchio will get plenty of reps at shortstop during Spring Training. Gabriel Arias is expected to move into a utility role, opening the door for Brito or Bazzana to make a push at second base.
Rocchio split time between short and second this past season, but he played mostly at the keystone down the stretch. He’s out of options, so he’s not going anywhere, but his bat (.222/.293/.327 across three seasons) hasn’t exactly locked down a starting job.
At 25, he’s entering a critical year-either he takes the next step, or the Guardians may have to reevaluate his role.
So, while Cleveland’s offseason has been quiet on the surface, there’s a lot bubbling underneath. The outfield needs help.
The bullpen needs bodies. And the infield is filled with young players trying to stake their claim before the next wave arrives.
The Guardians may not be loud in December, but make no mistake-this roster is far from settled.
