The Cleveland Guardians reached the American League Championship Series, but that still left plenty of room for a roster that needs a real bump. If they want to close the gap with the league’s best, they’re going to have to upgrade in a few spots - and two of the cleanest fits happen to be on the same team.
One of them is Zach Neto.
If Steven Kwan stays put - and the source leaves open the possibility that he might not - the Guardians still have a path to fill out the lineup. Patrick Bailey is locked in behind the plate, Austin Hedges has a strong chance to come back, and Ralphy Velazquez could be next year’s everyday first baseman. Second and third base also look spoken for with Travis Bazzana and Jose Ramirez.
That leaves Cleveland looking at the outfield, designated hitter, and shortstop as the places to make a move. Kwan, Chase DeLauter, and Angel Martinez are all lined up for the three outfield spots, so shortstop becomes one of the obvious pressure points. Brayan Rocchio was solid and took a real step forward offensively in 2026, but Neto would be the better bat.
The catch, of course, is cost. Neto is 25, productive, and under team control, which makes him exactly the kind of player teams don’t move easily. Cleveland might have to put Rocchio in the conversation, or keep him and use him in a flexible role while Travis Bazzana chips in at DH.
What makes Neto so appealing is the full package. He defends well enough, but the real draw is the power-speed blend.
The Guardians need more over-the-fence punch, and Neto delivered 27 home runs with a 116 wRC+ this year. Over the last three seasons, he’s piled up 76 homers and 80 stolen bases.
The other Angel who fits Cleveland’s needs is Reid Detmers.
The Guardians have Gavin Williams and Parker Messick at the front of the rotation, but the 2026 postseason showed that wasn’t enough. Detmers could change that and give them a true three-man playoff look.
He’s 27 and still has two more years of team control, and his 2026 season was outstanding. Detmers finished with a 3.36 ERA over 185 innings, struck out 211 batters, and walked only 48. The source notes that BB/K ratio is the best measure of a pitcher’s dominance, and Detmers stood out in that category.
Like Neto, he wouldn’t come cheap. The Angels have plenty of interested suitors and enough quality young talent to put themselves in control of the asking price. Cleveland would have to make a package strong enough to get their attention.
That likely means the Guardians would need to be willing to part with some of their best farm talent, including Velazquez, catcher/outfielder Cooper Ingle, pitcher Braylon Doughty, and outfielders Juneiker Caceres and Jaison Chourio. Rocchio, who is still just 25 and posted a 3.6 fWAR, could also end up in the deal.
The Guardians would probably prefer to keep Rocchio after his breakout season, but there’s also the possibility that his offensive ceiling is already close to reached and his trade value is at its peak. If Cleveland wants impact talent back, it may need to move real talent out.
In Other News...
Guardians Bullpen Depth Just Got Murkier Heading Into Next Season
Clevelands bullpen picture for next season already had plenty of moving parts, and now two more names are back on the open market. Connor Brogdon and Carlos Hernandez have elected free agency after each was designated for assignment and spent time in the minors, leaving the Guardians with a little less certainty as they sort through relief options for the winter.
Brogdon logged 16 innings for Cleveland with a 5.06 ERA, while Hernandez worked three innings and posted a 6.00 ERA. Neither stint changed the broader conversation much, but both remain the kind of depth arms teams often keep in the pipeline, and there is still a chance the Guardians could bring one or both back on minor league deals depending on how the market develops. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians ALCS Exit Exposed A Problem Cleveland Cant Ignore
The Guardians ALCS loss to the Tampa Bay Rays left the same uncomfortable truth hanging over their winter plans: the offense simply did not do enough when the stage got bigger. Cleveland had trouble scoring consistently throughout the series, and the final three games underscored how quickly the lineup could stall when pressure mounted.
Several hitters finished the matchup with low averages, a reminder that the margin for error was thin once the pitching matchups tightened. If Cleveland wants to turn that October trip into something more lasting, the front office is staring at a clear to-do list that goes beyond one area, with the club expected to look for more help in the lineup, the bullpen and the rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Young Outfielder Faces An Offseason Question Cleveland Cant Ignore
Khalil Watsons offseason took a turn after he underwent surgery for a bilateral core muscle injury, a setback that now puts his recovery squarely in the spotlight for Cleveland. The young outfielder is expected to need 8-12 weeks to get back on track, and with the offseason ahead, the Guardians can at least hope the timing gives him a clean runway to rehab and reset for 2027.
The question hanging over the situation is what happens if labor tensions spill into December and trigger a lockout. If that comes to pass, Watson could face limited communication and reduced access to team facilities, which would complicate an already delicate recovery process for a player Cleveland is counting on to keep developing. [Read more 🡒]