The Cleveland Guardians have had a quiet offseason-maybe too quiet for a team with one of the game’s elite talents still in his prime. Three free agent signings.
One trade. And that trade?
Strictly for cash considerations, not to bolster the roster. It’s the kind of winter that raises eyebrows and, frankly, some serious concerns.
Yes, the Guardians did lock in José Ramírez with a seven-year, $175 million extension. That’s a win.
He’s a perennial MVP candidate, and getting him at that number is a bargain in today’s market. But the bigger question looms: What’s the plan around him?
Because right now, it’s fair to ask-are the Guardians wasting Ramírez’s prime?
That’s the fear voiced by longtime MLB executive and analyst Jim Bowden, who handed Cleveland a “D” grade for its offseason approach. His critique is pointed: the Guardians need more offense, especially a legitimate middle-of-the-order bat to give Ramírez some protection. Instead, the only additions have been low-cost bullpen arms-not exactly the kind of moves that signal urgency or ambition.
And with spring training just around the corner, it’s not as if there’s a long list of impact bats still available. The market has thinned, and the Guardians don’t appear to be in hot pursuit of anyone who could dramatically shift the lineup dynamic.
That leaves Ramírez, once again, as the centerpiece of an offense filled with potential-but not proven star power. Kyle Manzardo, Chase DeLauter, Travis Bazzana, C.J.
Kayfus, Steven Kwan, Bo Naylor, and George Valera all bring intrigue. There’s talent there, no doubt.
But none of them, at least not yet, are the kind of bat that forces opposing pitchers to change their game plan.
And that’s the issue. Ramírez is still elite at 33, but how many more years will he be this dominant?
He’s the kind of player you build around aggressively, not passively. And this winter, the Guardians’ front office has been anything but aggressive.
It’s not about mortgaging the future or making reckless moves. It’s about maximizing the window you have when a player like Ramírez is still capable of carrying a team deep into October. Right now, it feels like that window is being left half-open.
The Guardians have built a reputation on developing talent and operating efficiently within their budget. But there’s a difference between being smart and being stagnant. And if they don’t find a way to add a real offensive threat soon, they risk letting one of the best players in franchise history go under-supported in the years that matter most.
Ramírez deserves better. And so do Guardians fans.