The Guardians may be deep into a postseason run, but the offseason conversation is already circling one obvious question: how do they fix first base and designated hitter for good?
Bleacher Report analyst Kerry Miller put the spotlight there, calling it Cleveland’s “Biggest Roster Hole: First Base / Designated Hitter,” and making the case that the Guardians still need more certainty at both spots. He pointed to Ralphy Velazquez as the long-term answer at first base, while also noting the club could still use a right-handed bat at DH.
“Biggest Roster Hole: First Base / Designated Hitter,” Miller wrote. “They do have Ralphy Velazquez waiting in the wings.
He hit .326/.401/.761 with 18 home runs in his final 37 games at Triple-A Columbus this season, but they refused to call him up. Maybe he can bring the big lumber to first base in 2027?
Even if he does, they could still use a right-handed bat at DH.”
For now, Cleveland has patched the position with two trade-deadline additions. Nathaniel Lowe is handling first base, while Jo Adell has been the primary DH through the first five games of the postseason.
Lowe’s stay may be temporary. He can become a free agent after the season, which gives him a chance to test the market.
Adell’s situation is different. He remains under club control through next season via arbitration and won’t be eligible for free agency until 2028. Still, his future with the Guardians depends on how the front office values him, especially if he becomes more useful in the outfield if Steven Kwan is moved on from.
Velazquez is seen as Cleveland’s first baseman of the future, but the timing is still murky. The Guardians kept him in the minors this season partly because of concern about a possible work stoppage and the way that could affect his development. If he were added to the 40-man roster, he would not be able to continue playing in the minors during a lockout or strike.
That leaves DH as the cleaner offseason target, especially if Cleveland wants to finally add the right-handed power it has been chasing.
In Other News...
Guardians Fans Just Got A Deeper Look At The Clase Ortiz Case
Federal prosecutors have now laid out more of the FBI investigation surrounding former Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, giving fans a fuller sense of how the case against the ex-Cleveland relievers came together. Both men face federal charges that include wire fraud conspiracy and conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and both have pleaded not guilty as the case moves toward a November 2025 trial.
At the center of the allegations is a betting scheme in which gamblers placed large wagers on pitches thrown by the two pitchers, then reportedly cashed in on the results before money was allegedly funneled back to the players as bribes. For a franchise that spent years leaning on Clase in high-leverage spots, the latest filings only deepen the intrigue and the unease around a case that now has a clear legal timetable and plenty of unanswered questions. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Biggest ALCS Question Could Decide Everything Against The Rays
Cleveland got through the White Sox in five games to clinch the American League Division Series, and now the attention shifts to a far sharper test against a Tampa Bay club that swept the Yankees and arrives with plenty of momentum. The matchup sets up as a study in contrasting strengths, with both teams coming in after efficient October showings and a series that should be shaped as much by timely hitting as by the usual postseason pitching and defense.
The Guardians have reasons to feel good about where they stand, but the key question is whether their lineup can create enough pressure against a Rays team that already proved it can control a playoff series start to finish. Some of the clearest indicators point toward Cleveland needing certain bats to carry more weight than they did in the first round, while the pitching plan will matter just as much as the offense once the series gets back to Cleveland. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Made One ALCS Roster Choice Fans Will Be Watching
The Guardians made a notable tweak to their American League Championship Series roster ahead of facing the Rays, turning to Slade Cecconi for added pitching depth as the series moves to a best-of-seven stage. Cecconi spent the regular season in the rotation, making 21 starts, but he has recently shifted into a relief role, giving Cleveland another arm it can deploy in a potentially longer series where bullpen coverage matters.
Daniel Schneeman, meanwhile, was left off the ALCS roster after not appearing in the previous ALDS games. The move underscores how tightly Cleveland is managing its postseason bench and pitching mix, with every spot carrying extra weight now that the margin for error has shrunk and the roster decisions are becoming harder to read as the matchup with Tampa Bay unfolds. [Read more 🡒]