A lockout is hanging over MLB, and that reality is already shaping how teams think about the future. With a new Collective Bargaining Agreement not yet in place by December, owners could lock out players, and the start of the 2027 season could be pushed back. That kind of uncertainty makes clubs cautious about handing out long-term money, especially when those deals stretch four, five, or six years.
Even so, the Cincinnati Reds already went ahead and struck an extension with young pitching standout Chase Burns. That opens the door for the Cleveland Guardians to consider whether they should do something similar with a couple of their own young players.
There are obvious names in the mix, but each comes with a catch. Brayan Rocchio may need more time to prove he can keep producing at this level.
Parker Messick might be too early. Cade Smith could fit, but relievers always carry extra risk.
Chase DeLauter has the talent, but the Guardians may want to see him make it through a full season healthy before committing.
Two players stand out as more interesting possibilities: Gavin Williams and Travis Bazzana.
Williams is only 26, younger than many people realize, and he is heading toward his prime. He could also get pricey once arbitration gets rolling after 2027. A five-year extension that begins next year would cover three arbitration seasons and two years of free agency, giving Williams a meaningful bump in pay during the arbitration years while still keeping Cleveland’s long-term costs below what they might be if he reached the open market.
That kind of structure could work for both sides. Williams would get paid earlier and better than he would on the usual year-to-year track, and the Guardians would lock in a pitcher they believe in at a more manageable cost. In that setup, Williams would reach free agency in his age-31 season, still young enough to land another strong contract if the deal doesn’t include options.
On the field, Williams has posted a 3.81 ERA in 113.1 innings this year, with a 29.1 percent strikeout rate against the hitters he has faced.
Bazzana is a different case, but one that could also make sense if the Guardians are willing to think big. He has been inconsistent, which makes any extension conversation more complicated, but he is also an All-Star with a 103 wRC+ in 2026, along with seven home runs and 13 steals.
A deal for Bazzana would likely need to be longer, probably seven or eight years, and it would probably buy out several pre-arbitration seasons. That would give him a chance to cash in early, while Cleveland would be banking on a discount later in his arbitration years and into free agency.
For now, though, that remains speculation. Bazzana would need to finish the season strong before the Guardians would feel comfortable making that kind of investment.
In Other News...
Guardians Get One Huge Injury Boost As Another Setback Stings
The Guardians got a welcome dose of good news on the injury front with Jos Ramrez and Angel Martnez both moving in the right direction. Ramrez, coming back from hamate fracture surgery, is trending toward a return that could come without a minor league rehab stop, while Martnez has started his own rehab assignment as he works back from a left foot fracture. For a club trying to keep its lineup and depth chart intact, any progress involving a core bat and a useful role player matters.
Still, the day was not all encouraging. First baseman CJ Kayfus had to undergo ankle surgery after suffering a fibular fracture and ligament injury in a minor league game, a setback that hits both the player and the organizations depth planning. The Guardians are now left balancing the optimism around two recoveries with the more sobering reality of another long road back, and the next question is how quickly the roster can absorb both kinds of news at once. [Read more 🡒]
Four Former Guardians Could Suddenly Put Cleveland Back In Deadline Talk
A month out from the Aug. 3 trade deadline, four familiar names could wind up back in the rumor mill for reasons that matter to Cleveland. Josh Bell, Tyler Freeman, Sam Hentges and Lane Thomas all have different paths, different contract situations and different kinds of appeal, which is exactly why they have surfaced as possible pieces in other clubs deadline calculations. For a Guardians team that knows how quickly the market can shift, the intrigue is less about nostalgia than about whether any of these former players become useful leverage for someone else.
Bells one-year deal and Freemans years of control give them very different kinds of value, while Hentges has rebuilt enough stock after arm injuries to draw attention again. Thomas is the wild card, especially with Kansas City sliding hard and every roster decision getting harder to justify as the deadline nears. None of it guarantees movement, but it does leave Cleveland watching a corner of the market where old friends could suddenly become relevant again. [Read more 🡒]
Cade Smith Opens Up About His Proudest Guardians All-Star Moment
Cade Smiths first All-Star experience gave the Guardians right-hander a little bit of everything, from the rush of the weekend to the chance to pitch on one of baseballs biggest stages. He handled his inning well in the 2024 MLB All-Star Game, working a scoreless frame with two strikeouts, but what stood out most for him was the chance to be around the game in a different way than he usually is during the season.
Smith said the best part was getting to talk with players from other teams in a normal, non-competitive setting, a rare break from the usual grind. He also appreciated sharing the moment with teammates and taking pride in representing both Cleveland and the American League, a reminder that even in an event built around stars, the experience can mean as much off the field as it does on it. [Read more 🡒]