The Cleveland Guardians gave fans plenty to cheer about in 2025. A late-season surge pushed them into the playoff picture, and their resilience was on full display.
But when it came time to face the Detroit Tigers, the bats just didn’t have enough pop. The loss was a gut punch-not because the Guardians didn’t fight, but because it exposed a glaring need that’s been simmering under the surface all season: power hitting.
Let’s be clear. José Ramírez, Steven Kwan, and Kyle Manzardo carried a heavy load at the plate.
Ramírez remains the engine of this offense, Kwan’s contact skills are elite, and Manzardo showed flashes of being a long-term fixture. But even with that trio producing, the Guardians struggled to consistently generate the kind of game-changing power that separates contenders from champions.
It’s not about effort-it’s about firepower.
If Cleveland wants to not just return to the playoffs in 2026 but make a deeper run, they need to add thump to the lineup. That’s easier said than done, especially for a team that doesn’t operate with the financial muscle of the Dodgers, Yankees, or Phillies.
Those clubs are already circling the free-agent market like sharks, ready to throw big money at big names. The Guardians don’t have that luxury.
But what they do have is a clear identity, a smart front office, and a manager in Stephen Vogt who’s hungry to win.
The key now is finding value-players who can provide power without breaking the bank. And while the Guardians haven’t been linked to the headline-grabbing names like Alex Bregman, Pete Alonso, Cody Bellinger, Kyle Tucker, or Bo Bichette, there are still quality bats available that could make a real difference.
Enter Jorge Polanco.
Polanco might not be the flashiest name on the market, but he fits the Guardians’ mold. He’s a switch-hitting infielder with pop-26 home runs in 2025-and he’s coming off a postseason run where he delivered one of the year’s most clutch moments: a walk-off homer in the 15th inning to send the Mariners to the ALCS. That’s the kind of bat that changes games-and seasons.
He’s also likely to come at a more manageable price point, which matters for a team like Cleveland. Polanco brings versatility, postseason experience, and the kind of pop that could slot in nicely behind Ramírez in the lineup.
Another name to watch is Ryan O’Hearn. The first baseman quietly put together a strong 2025 campaign, hitting .281 and showing he can be a steady presence at the plate.
He’s not a prototypical slugger, but he brings enough offensive upside to complement what Cleveland already has. With the market heating up, O’Hearn won’t stay available for long, and the Guardians would be wise to move quickly if they see him as a fit.
The Guardians have made a habit of doing more with less. They develop well, they scout smart, and they compete with a chip on their shoulder.
But if 2025 taught them anything, it’s that they need more muscle in the middle of the order. The pieces are there-Ramírez, Kwan, Manzardo-they just need a few more bats to round it out.
In a winter where the big names will dominate headlines, Cleveland’s path forward is clear: find the right fits, not just the biggest contracts. And if they can land a couple of power bats like Polanco or O’Hearn, 2026 might just be the year they break through.