A few Cleveland Guardians names showed up on the American League MVP ballot, and it wasn’t just the usual Jose Ramirez conversation.
Ramirez’s injury kept him out of the MVP race, but Cleveland still landed three players with at least some recognition when the voting was revealed: Parker Messick, Steven Kwan and Cade Smith.
Messick’s rookie season kept piling up the honors. He was already a finalist for American League Rookie of the Year and finished among the top three in the Cy Young race, even though he didn’t take home either award.
The first-year pitcher also picked up MVP support, collecting one 8th-place vote, three 9th-place votes and one 10th-place vote for 10 total points. Alvarez won the award with 420 points.
For a pitcher to appear on an MVP ballot at all is notable, since the award usually tilts toward position players. That makes Messick’s showing stand out even more.
Kwan’s place in the voting might have seemed unlikely early in the year. He finished 15th overall after getting one 7th-place vote and one 10th-place vote, good for five points.
His first half was rough, as he hit .225/.332/.282 before the All-Star break. Then he flipped the script after the break, batting .353/.443/.432 in the second half.
He ended the season with a .731 OPS, which was actually better than 2025.
Smith also found his way onto the ballot. He didn’t win either reliever of the year award on Tuesday night, but he did receive Cy Young votes and a pair of 10th-place MVP votes as well. Cleveland’s closer led all American League relievers in strikeouts and was tied for the major league lead in saves with 46, and the voters clearly took that kind of impact into account.
In Other News...
Guardians Just Made A Quiet Hire With Real Defensive Upside
The Guardians have made a low-key addition to their staff with some real defensive value, bringing in Alex Burg as their new quality control coach. Burg arrives from San Francisco, where he served as the Giants field coordinator and catching coach, and his background gives Cleveland another experienced voice in a part of the game the organization has long treated as a priority.
His arrival also creates a familiar link for catcher Patrick Bailey, whom Burg previously coached with the Giants. For Cleveland, the hire is about more than one big-league backstop, though. It gives the club another resource for a catching group that includes prospects the organization wants to keep developing, with Cooper Ingle among the names in that mix as the Guardians continue building depth behind the plate. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Could Have A Buy Low Trade Chance Worth Watching
The trade market around Dylan Crews is starting to get some attention, and that is the kind of development the Guardians tend to monitor closely. According to The Athletics Spencer Nusbaum, multiple teams have shown interest in the Nationals infielder, who is still just 24 and coming off his first full season in Washington. The offensive production was modest, but the pedigree remains obvious, which is why a player like this can suddenly move from long-term project to buy-low target.
For Cleveland, the fit is easy to see on paper. The Guardians have built their roster around pitching depth and have been willing to explore creative ways to add talent without straying far from their usual approach. A player with Crews upside could make sense if the price is right, especially if Washington is open to listening, but there is no official trade or even confirmed negotiation yet. For now, it is more a name to track than a deal in motion, which is enough to keep it on the radar in Cleveland. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Shortstop Suddenly Has Real Pressure On His Future
Brayan Rocchio has spent most of the last three seasons as the Guardians starting shortstop, and the case for keeping him in that role has always started with the glove. He has shown strong defensive skills, while the offense has been more uneven, even if his 2026 numbers moved in the right direction and settled closer to league average.
This winter brings a different kind of pressure. Rocchio is now arbitration-eligible, and with other infield prospects pushing for opportunities on the roster, Cleveland has a decision to make about whether he still fits as part of the long-term picture or whether his name could come up in trade discussions. [Read more 🡒]