Austin Hedges is back on the free-agent market, and the Cleveland Guardians have a familiar decision to make.
The veteran catcher has been one of the most important voices in the clubhouse, and the organization knows exactly what he brings. Chris Antonetti said Hedges has earned the right to test free agency, but that doesn’t mean Cleveland should walk away.
If it were up to Hedges, there wouldn’t be much of a debate. He has said multiple times, including immediately after the Fyarduabs were eliminated, that he wants to finish his career with the Guardians. Still, the final call belongs to the front office, not the player.
There’s a strong case for bringing him back. Stephen Vogt said at the end of the season that Hedges’ value reaches far beyond the box score, and that kind of presence matters for a team that has reached the playoffs four times in the last five years. The only exception was 2023, when Hedges was with the Texas Rangers and won the World Series.
Cleveland’s catcher situation also makes the case even more compelling. Patrick Bailey will get the bulk of the playing time behind the plate in 2027, but the depth behind him raises questions.
Cooper Ingle is still viewed as part of the future, yet there are defensive concerns with the 24-year-old, and his first big-league look didn’t go well at the plate. Kody Huff is another possibility, but he is not on the 40-man roster and has shifted more toward a utility infield role than a true catching job.
Bringing Hedges back would give the Guardians a steady option to open the 2027 season, and his connection with Parker Messick only adds to the appeal. Hedges essentially became Messick’s personal catcher last season, and Messick is now in the mix for both the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year in the American League.
That doesn’t mean Cleveland should overpay. Hedges had the best offensive season of his career last year, but that alone shouldn’t push the price into uncomfortable territory. The smarter play would be to bring him back around the start of next year and then revisit the situation as the season unfolds.
In Other News...
Guardians Take Another Pitching Flier With One Intriguing Bullpen Upside
The Guardians added another arm to their pitching mix this week, signing left-hander Antoine Kelly to a minor league contract for the 2027 season and bringing him into major league spring training as well. It is the kind of low-risk move Cleveland has long been willing to make, especially with pitchers who have bounced around the league and still offer a chance to be shaped into something useful.
Kelly has already reached the majors with the Cubs, and his path has taken him through the Brewers, Rangers, Rockies and Dodgers organizations. For Cleveland, the appeal is straightforward: more depth, more competition, and another bullpen option to evaluate without using a major league roster spot. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Deadline Moves Just Got The Recognition Cleveland Fans Wanted
The Guardians deadline shopping spree is getting the kind of after-the-fact validation Cleveland fans usually have to wait for. The Athletic ranked several of the teams moves among the top 30 deadline deals, with starting pitcher Foster Griffin, first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and outfielder Jo Adell all drawing notice for the ways they helped shape the 2026 season.
Griffins postseason work stood out on the mound, Lowe brought timely hitting and steady defense, and Adell gave the lineup a needed jolt with key offensive moments in October, including a pair of triples in the playoffs. For a front office that took real swings at the deadline, the recognition serves as a reminder that these were not just headline-grabbing additions, but moves that actually mattered when the games got bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Clevelands Two Breakout Pitchers Are Suddenly In National Award Spotlight
Cade Smith and Parker Messick gave Cleveland plenty to celebrate beyond the standings this season, and now both pitchers are drawing national attention for it. Smith was honored with the Bob Feller Man of the Year Award and has also emerged as a finalist for the inaugural BBWAA Reliever of the Year award, while Messick picked up the Frank Gibbons-Steve Olin Good Guy Award after earning a reputation not just for his work on the mound, but for the way he handled the media and the day-to-day demands that come with a breakout year.
For a club that has long valued pitching depth and professionalism, the recognition fits the profile of both players. Smiths rise has turned him into one of the more notable relief arms in the league, and Messicks strong season has put him in the conversation for AL Rookie of the Year. The awards underscore how quickly both have moved from promising pieces to names with real league-wide weight, even if the bigger question now is how far each can carry that momentum from here. [Read more 🡒]