Chris Antonetti, the President of Baseball Operations for the Cleveland Guardians, recently said that his job is to “try to find a way to win a World Series…because ultimately that’s what matters.”
I totally agree.
But as Spring Training begins, I have to ask: Is the front office really pushing to win in 2026? Are they all-in? They talk about improving the offense. They admit the outfield needs help. Yet all we’ve seen are minor league deals and, frankly, a lot of wishful thinking.
Actions speak louder than words, right? And right now, Cleveland’s actions are a whisper at best.
At the end of last season, Antonetti told reporters that improving production in right and center field would be a priority this offseason. GM Mike Chernoff said that the club ranked 28th in runs per game and described the offense as a “clear area” for improvement. The numbers don’t lie: the Guardians outfield ranked 29th in the majors with a 77 wRC+ in 2025. 100 is league average.
So, what’s changed?
Unless you count Stuart Fairchild—a 30-year-old outfielder with a career slash line of .223/.305/.384—not much. This is the plan for a team that claims to be chasing a World Series title? Really?
Yes, they did sign Nolan Jones to a 1-year, $2 million contract and also inked Carter Kieboom, a third baseman, to a minor league deal. David Fry will also be back. But if we’re honest, these guys aren’t going to move the needle much in the AL Central. I’m sure Tarik Skubal is licking his chops, along with new teammate Framber Valdez. Heck, I bet 42-year-old Justin Verlander is circling the Cleveland games on his calendar.
So why haven’t the Guardians done more?
The easy answer is money. Cleveland is a small market club. They don’t have the budget of the Dodgers, Blue Jays, or even the Tigers. But here’s the thing: according to Spotrac, the Guardians’ current payroll ranks dead last at $83.7 million, which is down almost $35 million from last season. And that amount will drop even further when Emmanuel Clase’s salary comes off the books.
Maybe the looming CBA negotiations have the ownership nervous. Maybe the shrinking TV revenue is tightening the purse strings. But if the front office truly wanted to spend, they could. Antonetti himself has said they have some flexibility.
So, what’s the holdup?
Answer: Faith in their young core.
And while I admire that faith, if winning a World Series is the goal, shouldn’t you do more than hope for multiple players to break out?
Now, don’t misunderstand, I hope the young players produce; I’m cheering for them. It might work. But the other AL Central teams are clearly getting better. The Tigers, Royals, and even the White Sox have made some solid moves. Meanwhile, Cleveland’s plan seems to be “wait and see.”
Am I missing something?
Part of the problem is that the Guardians’ commitment to their young players makes it hard to sign free agents for anything more than a part-time role. Take Lane Thomas, for example. He wanted regular playing time, but Cleveland could only promise 200-300 at-bats. So, he signed elsewhere and he probably wasn’t the only one.
To be fair, the Guardians did address their bullpen this offseason. Former Indians draft pick, Shawn Armstrong, was a strong signing. But beyond him there remain question marks. Rule 5 draft pick Peyton Pallette has yet to make his MLB debut. Connor Brogdon put up a 5.55 ERA over 47 innings with the Angels last year. Colin Holderman battled injuries most of last season, only pitching 25.2 innings for the Pirates. All of these signees have good stuff under the hood, but it’s far from a sure thing. With Carl Willis and the Guardians pitching factory, they should be more than serviceable, but again, it’s the offense that has me concerned. We’ve got to score runs and take some of the pressure off our pitching staff. Cleveland’s offense managed just 3.96 runs per game in 2025. That’s not going to cut it, no matter how good the pitching is.
Here’s what Roster Resource projects as the Guardians’ starting lineup against righties:
LF – Steven Kwan
RF – George Valera
3B – Jose Ramirez
1B – Kyle Manzardo
CF – Chase DeLauter
2B – Gabriel Arias
DH – CJ Kayfus
C – Bo Naylor
SS – Bryan Rocchio
Bench: Austin Hedges, Angel Martinez, Nolan Jones, and Johnathan Rodriguez.
Does that lineup strike fear into anyone? Other than DeLauter, this is the same lineup that finished the regular season last year. And now there are reports that DeLauter is likely to start the season in the minors. If that happens, it could be Martinez and Jones roaming CF again as Fry gets added to the mix. It’s a lot of familiar faces and not much new firepower.
Someone remind me: What is the definition of insanity?
When I hear Antonetti say he’s trying to win a World Series, but then the offense looks almost identical to last year’s, I have to wonder: Is that really the goal in 2026? Maybe they’re waiting for a better window of opportunity? Maybe there’s a grander plan somewhere down the line? I don’t know, but here’s what I do know: Jose Ramirez isn’t getting any younger. The clock is ticking. We need to move. Take a risk. Go all-in, even if the budget is tight. And yes, keep developing the young guys, but doggone it, make a splash. Do something that feels like you really want to play October baseball and bring a World Series to the great city of Cleveland.
Let’s not forget over the past 13 years, only the Dodgers and Yankees have more wins than the Guardians. In a small market, that’s truly remarkable and a testament to Antonetti and his team.
So, what do I know? Maybe not much. But I know the city of Cleveland and fans like me deserve a real shot.
I guess only time will tell.
Go Guardians!
J.W. Mulpas resides in Northeast Ohio and is a lifelong Cleveland sports fan. His favorite baseball player of all-time is Indians legend and 2018 Hall of Fame inductee, Jim Thome. He enjoys playing Fantasy Baseball, especially dynasty leagues. J.W. is the creator of CLEBoxscoreBeat.com and is also a contributor at Prospects1500.com. You can follow him on X @CLEBoxscoreBeat.
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