The Guardians are heading into a winter that could get busy in a hurry, and arbitration is right at the center of it. Cleveland usually avoids a long list of these decisions by moving players before they get expensive, but that’s not the setup this offseason. With a possible lockout looming and the arbitration system itself potentially in flux, the Guardians have a stack of calls to make on important pieces of the roster.
Steven Kwan sits at the top of the list at $11.3 million. He has been the heartbeat of the lineup since his debut in 2022, and the Guardians have already resisted trading him multiple times over the last 18 months.
Still, his rising price tag and his free-agent timeline after 2027 keep his name in the conversation. The prediction here is that Cleveland keeps him, even if the rumors don’t go away.
Jo Adell comes next at $9.6 million after giving the Guardians some needed power following the trade deadline deal. He produced 40 RBI in 59 games across the regular season and postseason, but the split against right-handers was rough, finishing with a .588 OPS in those matchups. The call is that Cleveland won’t non-tender him, but could move him after the lockout ends.
Cade Smith’s first arbitration trip projects at $5.5 million, and that’s the kind of number that only strengthens the case for a long-term deal. With Emmanuel Clase on leave, Smith piled up saves and established himself as a major bullpen piece. The prediction is a three-year, $32 million contract that covers all of his arbitration seasons.
Gavin Williams is projected at $4.8 million after showing ace potential in 2026. He’s another important arm, and another expensive one, but the expectation is that Cleveland simply lands on a salary close to the projection. A long-term extension doesn’t sound likely with Scott Boras representing him.
Brayan Rocchio’s $3.1 million figure reflects a career-best regular season, when he posted a .705 OPS and played solid defense. The issue is that his value came at the league minimum, and the Guardians’ infield is crowded. The prediction is that Cleveland settles the arbitration number and then trades him during 2027.
At catcher, Patrick Bailey’s $2.3 million projection looks like a bargain for the defense alone, and the postseason only helped his case. The Guardians have depth behind the plate, but Bailey is still the top option for now, so this one is expected to get done without drama.
Colin Holderman, also projected at $2.3 million, gave Cleveland a shutdown reliever after a rough 2025 with the Pirates. He missed the final month with a wrist injury, but he already had surgery and said his career “starts in 2027.”
The Guardians technically signed him to a one-year deal last winter, but that arrangement gave them control through arbitration in 2027 and 2028. The prediction is that he stays.
Hunter Gaddis checks in at $2.2 million, and while he isn’t on Smith’s level, he remains a useful bullpen arm who can take the ball on consecutive days. The postseason struggles are still a concern, but at that price he’d be a bargain. The forecast is another straightforward agreement.
Slade Cecconi is projected at $2 million after spending time in the bullpen once the Guardians acquired Foster Griffin. Griffin is now a free agent, but Cleveland could still add another arm or two, which leaves Cecconi vulnerable. The prediction is that the Guardians trade him to a pitching-needy club for a prospect.
David Fry’s $1.9 million projection comes after a stretch that hasn’t matched the impact of his postseason heroics. He hit one of the biggest home runs in Guardians postseason history, but he’s batted just .188 over the last two seasons. The prediction here is a non-tender, with the bench spot going to someone who brings more pop.
Matt Festa is projected at $1.5 million, and even with the frustration he’s drawn from fans, there’s still a role for him. He’s been available, and Stephen Vogt clearly likes him. The prediction is that he stays.
Tim Herrin rounds out the group at $1.3 million. He had another uneven season, but finished strong with a 1.20 ERA over his last 15 innings.
He’s been a useful high-leverage lefty, and even with the command issues, that salary would still look like a discount. The expectation is that he remains part of the bullpen mix in 2027.
In Other News...
Guardians Could Be Closing In On A High-Upside Infield Boost
The Guardians have spent the last few seasons leaning into youth, and it has helped push them into contention, including a recent trip to the ALCS. That approach has made Cleveland one of the more intriguing development stories in the league, with the front office continuing to look for the next wave of infield talent to add to the pipeline.
John Cruz appears to be the latest name to watch. The Dominican shortstop prospect is reportedly favored to sign with Cleveland, though he is not eligible to put pen to paper until the Jan. 15, 2027 international signing period. There is still plenty of time before anything becomes official, and details on Cruz remain limited, but the Guardians seem to be positioning themselves for another potentially high-upside addition. [Read more 🡒]
Two Guardians Arms Just Earned Serious October Respect
Postseason reputation can change fast, and two young Guardians arms just got a sizable boost from one of the games more familiar evaluators. Dan Plesacs list of the top 10 pitchers based on October impact included Cade Smith and Gavin Williams, a notable nod for a Cleveland staff that leaned heavily on both pitchers during its 2026 postseason run.
Williams checked in sixth after turning in a 2.16 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 16.2 innings, while Smith landed seventh with a 2.38 ERA across 11.1 innings and nine appearances. For a club that has spent plenty of time building around pitching depth, seeing both names land that high on a postseason list only reinforces how much those two mattered when the games tightened up. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Could Make Three Tough Roster Calls Before Deadline
With the non-tender deadline approaching, the Guardians are staring at a familiar kind of winter decision-making, the sort that can quietly reshape a roster before the real offseason even gets going. Three arbitration-eligible names sit in the middle of it all: Jo Adell, Slade Cecconi and David Fry, each bringing a different mix of recent performance, cost control and trade interest that could make them more useful as chips than as keepers.
For Cleveland, the question is not just who can help in 2025, but who fits the payroll and the long view. The article frames all three as possible trade candidates as the front office weighs whether to move on before the deadline rather than carry them deeper into arbitration talks, and the speculation alone says plenty about how tight these roster calls can get. Nothing is settled yet, but the Guardians appear to be weighing a few uncomfortable choices in the name of flexibility. [Read more 🡒]