The Guardians will have to wait on Kahlil Watson’s return after the outfielder underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a bilateral core muscle injury, also known as a sports hernia.
Cleveland did not put an exact timetable on his recovery, but the club noted that cases like this usually come with an eight- to 12-week return window.
Watson, 23, is expected to enter the 2027 season as a depth piece in Cleveland. He came into pro ball with plenty of hype after the Marlins took him in the first round in 2021, but his performance dipped early in his minor league career. Miami sent him to Cleveland in the 2023 deal that moved the unwanted contracts of Jean Segura and Josh Bell.
He spent parts of four seasons in the Guardians’ system before getting his first major league call this year. Cleveland brought him up in mid-June and kept him on the big league roster until late May.
In 91 plate appearances, Watson hit just .239/.264/.341 with one homer and nine steals in 10 tries. He also struck out 32 times and drew only three walks.
His Triple-A work told a different story. There, he hit .247/.361/.455 with 19 homers, 24 steals, a 13.3% walk rate and a 26.7% strikeout rate across 442 plate appearances. He posted similar production at Double-A and Triple-A in 2025.
Watson will still have two minor league options left going into 2027, but he is not considered a leading candidate for an early-season role or a spot on Opening Day. Cleveland’s current outfield picture includes Jo Adell, Steven Kwan, Chase DeLauter and Angel Martinez as the main options. Petey Halpin is there as a defense-first reserve, while the 40-man roster also includes Cooper Ingle, CJ Kayfus and Blake Perkins, who can cover all three outfield spots.
That group may look different by 2027. Kwan and Adell are both headed for significant arbitration raises before their final seasons under club control, and Cleveland has a history of entertaining trade talks at this stage of a player’s service time, including with Josh Naylor, Francisco Lindor and Corey Kluber.
That doesn’t mean either outfielder is certain to move, only that rival teams are likely to call. Perkins, too, could be in danger of being non-tendered.
The Guardians could also add a free agent, though that route has rarely been a big one for them. Over the past five offseasons, Cleveland has signed just six free-agent position players to guaranteed deals, with Austin Hedges twice, Luke Maile, Mike Zunino and Carlos Santana making up the list. A major free-agent splash would be a surprise.
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Guardians Face Tough Free Agency Calls With Key Veterans Up Next
The Guardians are heading toward another familiar offseason crossroads, with several veterans set to hit free agency and each one carrying a different kind of value to the roster. Shawn Armstrong, Foster Griffin, Austin Hedges, and Rhys Hoskins all fit into that category of players who helped fill needs during the season, even if their futures now look increasingly uncertain as Cleveland weighs fit, performance, and long-term planning.
Armstrong appears to be the likeliest departure, while the rest of the group is drawing varying levels of outside interest as clubs look for short-term help or depth. Griffin is projected to land with the Braves, Hedges with the Rockies, and Hoskins on a minor league deal with the Athletics, leaving Cleveland with more work to do if it wants to keep any of that experience in-house. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Make Their Stephen Vogt Stance Clear Amid Seattle Buzz
Stephen Vogts name surfaced in the Seattle managerial conversation, but Cleveland moved quickly to make its position clear. Vogt confirmed he will remain with the Guardians, and team president Chris Antonetti said the club views him as under contract beyond 2027, a sign the organization is treating this as a long-term arrangement rather than a short-term stop along the way.
The bigger takeaway for Cleveland is stability. The Guardians expect continuity not just in the dugout but throughout the staff, with pitching coach Carl Willis also slated to return in 2027. For a team that has leaned on consistency to stay competitive, keeping the current structure intact matters almost as much as any offseason move. [Read more 🡒]
Steven Kwan Puts Cleveland At A Tough Offseason Crossroads
Steven Kwans status gives Cleveland one of its most interesting offseason questions, because the Guardians are staring at the final year of his club control while also weighing a future that could get expensive fast. He is projected to earn more than $11 million through arbitration in 2027, and after a strong second half in 2026, he again showed why he remains a valuable piece, even earning Gold Glove finalist recognition in center field.
For a team still trying to add more power to the lineup, the calculus is not simple. Cleveland can keep Kwan and explore an extension, or it can listen to trade interest before he gets any closer to free agency, and the speculation around him has not gone away even with his recent surge. That leaves the front office trying to balance present value, payroll concerns and the possibility that one of its most reliable players could become the centerpiece of a bigger offseason decision. [Read more 🡒]