The Guardians’ decision not to push Gavin Williams onto short rest in Game 6 of the ALCS is still bothering some fans, but the pitcher himself seemed ready to go when the season ended against the Rays.
In talking to Williams after the Guards were eliminated, he appeared willing to take the ball again. Still, the view from the other side is clear: that kind of move can be a dangerous gamble in October. Pitchers do it, but not often successfully, and there’s always the risk of putting a valuable arm in harm’s way.
Williams had already carried a heavy load in the postseason. He worked the ninth inning of Game 4 of the ALDS against the White Sox, then came back two days later and threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings in the Game 5 clincher.
He followed that with five innings in Game 3 of the ALCS, helping the Guardians to a 3-2 win. His velocity dipped in the fifth inning, and there was concern he might not have been available for Game 7 had the series reached that point.
Payroll remains another sore spot for Cleveland fans trying to compare the Guardians with bigger-spending clubs. The Brewers’ 26-man payroll at the start of the 2026 season was estimated at $146.2 million, while Cleveland’s sat at $74 million.
The Guardians still made MLB’s Final 3 this year, but the gap is wide enough to matter, and it’s a big reason small-market teams want a salary cap and salary floor in the next round of labor talks when the current agreement expires Dec. 1.
That labor fight is already looming over the league, and it’s not just the owners pushing for change. Younger players, especially pre-arbitration guys, have plenty at stake too.
Most of them haven’t locked in long-term money, which means they need to keep performing if they want to get paid. At the same time, the MLBPA has long shown it can keep its members aligned when ownership presses for a cap.
The owner side appears serious about that push. Yankees owner Hank Steinbrenner said at the end of the season that he helped craft one of the proposals in favor of a salary cap, even though the Yankees had the third highest payroll in 2026 at $308 million. That’s a pretty loud signal about where the negotiations may be headed.
As for the Guardians’ roster questions, left-hander Foster Griffin sounds like a player they’d like to have, but probably not at the price he’d command. Cleveland could use rotation help, but the more realistic fit may be a depth starter behind Gavin Williams, Parker Messick, Tanner Bibee, Joey Cantillo and perhaps Slade Cecconi.
There’s also been chatter about Steven Kwan, but moving him for a proven right-handed hitter with three or four years of control would be a tough ask. Kwan can be a free agent after 2027, and the Guardians already have internal leadoff options such as Jose Ramirez, Angel Martinez or Travis Bazanna.
And on the lighter side, one reader wondered how a pitch that’s high and out of the strike zone can be called a sinker. The answer: those are the infamous sinkers that don’t sink. They tend to get hit a long way.
In Other News...
Guardians Have One Prospect Who Could Change Their 2027 Lineup
The Guardians are heading into 2027 with the kind of young talent pipeline that can keep a contender from fading, and Ralphy Velazquez sits near the center of that conversation. After a strong 2026 season built in part on rookie production, Cleveland is looking at prospects who could help carry that momentum forward, and Velazquez has already put together the sort of minor league offensive showing that makes evaluators believe he can bring real power to the lineup.
Jaison Chourio and Khal Stephen are in the mix as well, giving the organization more than one avenue to keep refreshing the roster. Chourio could end up fighting for an outfield job, while Stephen is viewed as a pitching prospect with real upside, but Velazquez is the name that stands out as the one most likely to alter how the Guardians construct their everyday offense when 2027 arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Pitching Duo Just Earned Recognition For Clevelands October Run
Gavin Williams and Cade Smith just added another line to a postseason run that already put them in the spotlight, earning spots on MLBs All-Postseason team for their work in the 2026 playoffs. For Cleveland, it was a fitting nod to a pair of arms that carried a heavy load when the games mattered most, with Williams setting the pace as one of the most dominant starters in the field and Smith handling leverage innings out of the bullpen.
Williams led all postseason pitchers with 33 strikeouts while working to a 2.30 ERA over 15.2 innings, and Smith was nearly as sharp in relief with a 2.38 ERA and 14 strikeouts over 11.1 innings. The recognition underscores how much the Guardians leaned on both pitchers during October, and it also serves as a reminder that Clevelands playoff push was built as much on pitching depth as on any one breakout moment. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Offseason Push Could Hinge On One Contender-Making Trade
The Guardians offseason search for a lineup upgrade is already taking shape around a familiar front-office question: do they chase a proven name, or try to buy into a player whose best years still appear to be ahead? Several possible trade fits have surfaced, including Zach Neto, CJ Abrams, Jeremy Pea, Alec Burleson and Spencer Steer, each offering a different blend of upside, cost control and roster fit. For a club trying to improve for the seasons ahead, the appeal is obvious, especially when the goal is not just adding talent but finding someone who can grow with the core.
What makes the conversation more interesting is how those names line up with Clevelands needs. Some bring shortstop stability, others offer versatility or left-handed pop, and all come with contract situations that could make them more or less attainable. Nothing is close to official, and no deal has been made, but the fact that the Guardians are being linked to this kind of contender-making trade talk says plenty about the level of ambition being considered as the offseason unfolds. [Read more 🡒]