AL Central Offseason Update: Guardians Reload the Bullpen While Rivals Make Big Moves
The Cleveland Guardians are coming off a gritty 88-win campaign that saw them clinch the AL Central title on the final day of the regular season. But even with that late surge and a division crown in hand, the front office isn’t standing still. With spring training still a few weeks out - pitchers, catchers, and injured players are set to report to Goodyear, Arizona on February 10 - Cleveland is already deep into reshaping its roster, particularly in the bullpen.
Guardians Double Down on the Pen
Let’s be clear: Cleveland’s bullpen wasn’t a problem last season. In fact, it was one of the best in baseball - tied for second in saves (47), third in ERA (3.44), and logged the second-fewest innings among all MLB bullpens.
That’s elite territory. But with closer Emmanuel Clase facing a May trial after being indicted for pitch-fixing, the Guardians couldn’t afford to assume everything would stay steady.
So, they got proactive.
Cleveland added a wave of arms: veterans Shawn Armstrong and Connor Brogdon, plus Colin Holderman, Justin Bruihl, and Rule 5 pick Peyton Pallette. These aren’t headline-grabbers, but they’re the kind of depth pieces that can stabilize a pen over a 162-game marathon. Chris Antonetti, the club’s president of baseball operations, made it clear - this group needed to be stronger, and they’ve made moves to ensure it is.
But the bullpen isn’t the only area on the radar. The offense was a weak spot last year - Cleveland finished near the bottom in runs scored - and that’s the next frontier. Expect the Guardians to start addressing that soon, all while making sure their top hitting prospects get the at-bats they need to prove they belong in The Show.
While Cleveland’s been fine-tuning the bullpen, the rest of the AL Central hasn’t exactly been quiet.
Tigers Focus on Arms and Continuity
Detroit’s 2024 season was a rollercoaster. They held a commanding 15.5-game lead over Cleveland at one point, only to watch it vanish down the stretch. Still, they bounced back in the postseason, knocking the Guardians out in the Wild Card round.
Now, they’re trying to build on that momentum - and they’re doing it with pitching.
The Tigers brought in right-hander Drew Anderson, who spent the last two seasons in Korea, to join a rotation that includes Tarik Skubal (assuming he’s not traded), Jack Flaherty, and Casey Mize. Flaherty clearly liked what he saw last season - he picked up his $20 million player option for 2026. Gleyber Torres did the same, accepting a $22.025 million qualifying offer to stay in Detroit.
In the bullpen, they added some serious late-inning experience. Kenley Jansen - 476 career saves and counting - signed a one-year deal with a club option. They also re-upped Kyle Finnegan, who joined the team at last year’s trade deadline.
Detroit’s not overhauling - they’re reinforcing. And after the way 2024 ended, they believe the core is strong enough to make another run.
Royals Rework the Lineup
Kansas City was in the playoff mix last season but ultimately missed out, finishing at 82-80. Their offense was part of the problem - they ranked 26th in runs scored, just two spots ahead of Cleveland.
GM J.J. Picollo has made it a priority to fix that.
He started by trading lefty Angel Zerpa to Milwaukee for outfielder Isaac Collins and right-hander Nick Means. Collins, a switch-hitter who can play both corners and even some infield, posted a .263/.368/.411 line last season - a solid contributor for a Brewers team that led the league in wins.
Next came a familiar face: Lane Thomas, who played 39 games for Cleveland last season before injuries ended his year. The Royals signed him to a one-year, $5.25 million deal, betting on a bounce-back from the outfielder after wrist and foot issues.
To replace Zerpa in the bullpen, Kansas City acquired lefty Matt Strahm from the Phillies in exchange for right-hander Jonathan Bowlan. And they locked in a key piece of their infield, giving All-Star third baseman Maikel Garcia a five-year, $57 million extension.
Kansas City isn’t blowing things up - they’re tweaking, and they’re doing it with a clear focus on run production.
Twins Playing Catch-Up After Ownership Shake-Up
The Twins were late to the offseason party, but for good reason. The Pohlad family, longtime owners of the franchise, brought in minority ownership this winter - and that meant some waiting around for clarity.
Now, Derek Falvey, president of baseball operations, has the green light to build - not tear down.
That’s a shift from last year, when Minnesota sold off most of its roster at the deadline to cut costs. But with fresh direction from ownership, Falvey is back in acquisition mode.
His first move? Signing switch-hitting free agent Josh Bell to a one-year, $7 million deal.
It’s unclear how much more money the Twins will spend this winter, but they did catch a break at the Winter Meetings, landing the third overall pick in the 2026 draft via the lottery.
It’s a new chapter in Minnesota - and one that could get interesting fast if the Twins keep adding.
White Sox Keep Stockpiling Arms
The White Sox have had a rough go of it - three straight 100-loss seasons - but there are signs of life. They landed the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft, marking the third straight year an AL Central team has won the top selection (Cleveland in 2024).
The rebuild is still in motion, but the rotation is starting to take shape.
Chicago brought back lefty Anthony Katz from Japan on a two-year, $12 million deal. They also made two picks in the Rule 5 Draft: Jedixson Paez and Alex Alberto.
It won’t be easy to keep both on the 26-man roster all season, but last year’s Rule 5 pick, Shane Smith, made 29 starts and became a rotation fixture. The Sox are hoping for similar lightning in a bottle.
Off the field, second-year manager Will Venable is putting his stamp on the staff. He’s added seven new coaches this offseason, signaling a fresh approach to player development and in-game strategy.
Final Word
The AL Central was one of the tightest and most unpredictable divisions in baseball last year, and this offseason is shaping up to be just as competitive. The Guardians are shoring up their bullpen.
The Tigers are doubling down on pitching. The Royals are retooling the offense.
The Twins are back in the mix after a reset. And the White Sox?
They’re still rebuilding, but the foundation is starting to take shape.
There’s still plenty of winter left, but one thing’s clear: the AL Central is far from settled.