The Cleveland Guardians spent the 2026 season with a familiar issue hanging over them: the offense wasn’t strong enough when the games got tight, especially in Games 4, 5, and 6 of the American League Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
That problem showed up in the numbers, too. By wRC+, Cleveland’s lineup finished 22nd among the 30 MLB teams in the regular season, leaving plenty of room for a serious upgrade. The catch, as always, is that help won’t come cheap, whether the price is prospects or money.
One name that makes sense if the Guardians decide to swing big is outfielder Randy Arozarena. From a pure baseball standpoint, he checks a lot of boxes for a team looking to add impact in the middle of the order.
“Preaching that the Cleveland Guardians need an offensive lift is a yearly tradition. Be that as it may, Arozarena would be a terrific fit in Believeland.
Again, this was factually one of MLB’s worst offenses. The Guardians need a boost, and Arozarena is the best bat on the open market, a proven commodity, and his arrival would involve minimal defensive tweaks,” FOX Sports wrote.
Arozarena is coming off what looks like the best season of his career. He hit .281/.381/.484 with 26 home runs, 113 runs scored, 79 RBI, and 26 stolen bases, while also posting a career-best 151 wRC+. His 5.5 fWAR was the highest mark of his major league career as well.
At 31, Arozarena is no longer the young breakout story, but he’s still in his prime. He’s expected to command a hefty price, so Cleveland should not be viewed as the favorite to land him. Still, the market can surprise people, and the Guardians can’t be ruled out.
A player who can threaten 20-20 every year while bringing both power and on-base ability would give this lineup a different look. It’s easy to picture an outfield built around Chase DeLauter, Arozarena, and possibly Jo Adell and Steven Kwan.
There will be plenty of teams chasing Arozarena, but if Cleveland is willing to move away from its usual frugal approach, the Guardians could put together a dangerous outfield.
In Other News...
Guardians Trade Buzz Puts Clevelands Outfield Plans Under Pressure
The offseason has already put Cleveland in a familiar spot, with the front office expected to stay active as the market takes shape and the possibility of a lockout after December 1 hovering over everything. Coming off a strong season, the Guardians have reason to keep reworking the roster, and the outfield is one of the areas drawing the most attention as trade discussions begin to heat up.
Steven Kwan has emerged as the more prominent name in the chatter, giving Cleveland a high-value piece that could bring back real help if the club decides to move him. Blake Perkins is also in the mix as a defense-first option, and the fact that both names are being floated suggests the Guardians may be weighing more than one path as they try to balance short-term competitiveness with whatever comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Just Lost A Key Piece Of Their Pitching Pipeline
After 10 seasons in Cleveland, Joe Torres is moving on to join the Cincinnati Reds as their major league pitching coach, taking over the role vacated by Derek Johnson. Torres had become a familiar and important part of the Guardians pitching operation, working closely with the staff and helping guide a number of young arms through their development.
For the Guardians, the timing matters as much as the departure itself. They now have to find someone to step into that lane alongside pitching coach Carl Willis for the 2027 season, and replacing a longtime voice in the room is never a simple matter when a club has leaned on that continuity to shape its pipeline. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Lose Another Pitching Voice As Francona Reunites With Familiar Staffer
Another familiar pitching voice is leaving Clevelands staff, with Joe Torres set to take over as the Reds head pitching coach under Terry Francona. Torres has been with the Guardians organization since 2017, working his way through a series of minor league coaching roles before moving into his major league assistant pitching coach job in 2022.
For the Guardians, the move adds another layer of turnover to a pitching group that has leaned on continuity in recent seasons. There is no replacement announced yet, leaving one more opening for the club to sort out as it looks to keep its staff intact heading into the next phase of the offseason. [Read more 🡒]