The Cleveland Guardians are facing some tough critiques for their offseason strategy, or lack thereof. ESPN recently assigned them a D+ in their final offseason grades, highlighting concerns about the team's minimal roster changes and whether they’ve done enough to bolster an offense that struggled significantly in 2025.
The Guardians wrapped up last season with a team batting average of .226, the lowest in the American League. Despite this, they didn’t bring in any new major league hitters during the offseason.
For a team with tight purse strings, fans and analysts alike hoped for a creative approach to revamp the lineup. Instead, the roster remains largely unchanged as we head into 2026.
One bright spot was the contract extension for Jose Ramirez, the cornerstone of the franchise and one of the league's standout players. While keeping Ramirez in Cleveland is a positive move, the extension is essentially an addition of four years to his existing deal, rather than a groundbreaking offseason maneuver. This move, while important for the long-term, doesn’t address the immediate offensive woes that hindered the team last year.
The Guardians’ notable offseason addition was right-handed pitcher Shawn Armstrong, but they also saw the departures of key players Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz. This has left many questioning if the team has effectively strengthened its roster.
Manager Stephen Vogt has been vocal about the team’s championship aspirations, especially for a franchise that last tasted World Series glory in 1948 and came agonizingly close in 2016. However, given the current roster, outside observers remain skeptical about Cleveland’s ability to make significant strides this season.
In the end, the D+ grade reflects a broader uncertainty about whether the Guardians have done enough to seize their competitive window. With a strong pitching foundation and a superstar like Ramirez, the potential is there, but the offensive questions loom large as spring training approaches.