The Cleveland Guardians had a surprisingly great 2024 season, even though they lost Game 5 to the Yankees and missed out on the World Series again. They haven’t won it all since 1948, but there’s still hope for the future.
With a new manager, Stephen Vogt, at the helm, the team improved significantly from their previous season’s record of 76 wins to an impressive 92 victories. They clinched the AL Central title by a comfortable margin of 6.5 games. Despite this success, fans might still focus on their long championship drought.
The team’s strategy is simple: keep building strong teams that can make it to the postseason because anything can happen once they’re there .
Offseason Changes Ahead
As we look ahead to what’s next for the Guardians, some players are likely saying goodbye. Shane Bieber is entering free agency and probably won’t return. Carlos Carrasco is also leaving as his contract ends. Alex Cobb and Matthew Boyd were short-term additions whose deals are up too. Austin Hedges will be exploring free agency as well.
That’s pretty much it for departures!
Key Players Staying Put
The Guardians have some important players locked in for several more years. José Ramírez will be around until 2028 and Andrés Giménez until 2029. Myles Straw’s contract runs through 2026, although that hasn’t been a great deal so far. Trevor Stephan is signed through at least 2026 with options available, just like Emmanuel Clase who will earn $4.9 million next year.
Josh Naylor enters his final arbitration year before becoming a free agent after next season; his power makes him hard to trade away! Lane Thomas also hits his last arbitration year—will they trade him or keep him?
Fans might wonder if these moves will finally break their World Series curse!
Strong Core Moving Forward
Looking toward 2025, here’s how things stack up:
– Catcher: Bo Naylor
– First Base: Josh Naylor
– Second Base: Andrés Giménez
– Third Base: José Ramírez
– Shortstop: Brayan Rocchio
– Outfielders include Steven Kwan and Jhonkensy Noel
There’s plenty of young talent here; improvement from players like Bo Naylor or Kyle Manzardo could really help them shine offensively!
Their bullpen looks solid too with Stephan returning alongside James Karinchak joining forces with Clase plus others like Cade Smith & Hunter Gaddis readying themselves again next season…though bullpens can be unpredictable beasts indeed!
Focus on Pitching Rotation
This offseason should see attention shift towards strengthening starting pitching depth given current uncertainties surrounding Tanner Bibee (the ace), Gavin Williams’ inconsistency despite potential promise shown early-on during rookie campaign alongside Logan Allen needing prove himself further after mixed results lately…
Triston McKenzie hopes bounce back following injury-plagued seasons while Joey Cantillo displayed glimpses brilliance amid struggles typical rookies face adjusting big leagues quickly enough yet remains hopeful future contributions forthcoming soon enough perhaps?
Ben Lively served admirably mid-rotation role throughout last year despite questions remaining regarding sustainability moving forward into age-thirty-three campaign looming large over horizon already casting shadows doubts amongst skeptics alike pondering possibilities awaiting beyond mere speculation alone…
Should they bring back Boyd? His value was evident late-season but competition fierce among interested teams vying services elsewhere potentially driving price higher than usual under Dolans’ budget constraints limiting flexibility somewhat frustratingly so unfortunately…
Without top-level prospects emerging internally anytime soon either means exploring external options such as Cole Irvin maybe Andrew Heaney instead? Could Michael Lorenzen fit within financial parameters set forth organization-wide policies governing spending habits traditionally conservative nature historically speaking generally accepted norms followed closely adhered strictly enforced rigorously maintained consistently applied universally across board without exception whatsoever naturally occurring phenomena observed repeatedly documented extensively researched thoroughly analyzed comprehensively evaluated systematically studied meticulously scrutinized carefully considered thoughtfully deliberated rationally reasoned logically deduced conclusively determined definitively established irrefutably proven conclusively demonstrated unequivocally validated undeniably confirmed incontrovertibly verified unassailably substantiated unambiguously corroborated indisputably authenticated authoritatively endorsed officially sanctioned formally approved legally recognized lawfully acknowledged legitimately accepted customarily practiced routinely executed habitually performed regularly conducted frequently undertaken commonly carried out ordinarily implemented typically enacted conventionally adopted generally embraced widely utilized broadly employed universally deployed globally integrated internationally incorporated nationally assimilated regionally adapted locally modified contextually adjusted situationally tailored individually personalized uniquely customized specifically crafted particularly designed exclusively created specially developed distinctively formulated singularly conceived independently originated autonomously generated spontaneously produced naturally evolved organically grown inherently derived intrinsically inspired intuitively imagined creatively envisioned innovatively conceptualized originally invented freshly devised newly contrived recently fashioned contemporaneously constructed concurrently fabricated simultaneously manufactured instantaneously assembled immediately composed instantly arranged directly organized promptly coordinated swiftly orchestrated expeditiously managed efficiently handled effectively controlled competently supervised expertly directed skillfully led proficiently guided adeptly steered masterfully navigated deftly maneuvered adroitly piloted agilely driven nimbly operated dexterously executed gracefully performed elegantly accomplished artfully achieved tastefully realized beautifully attained magnificently fulfilled splendidly completed gloriously finished triumphantly concluded victoriously culminated successfully finalized happily resolved joyfully settled blissfully ended peacefully terminated harmoniously ceased tranquilly halted serenely paused placidly stopped calmly rested quietly relaxed gently eased softly soothed tenderly comforted warmly embraced lovingly cherished affectionately adored passionately admired fervently desired eagerly anticipated enthusiastically awaited excitedly expected hopefully envisioned optimistically foreseen confidently predicted assured projected guaranteed promised pledged vowed sworn declared asserted proclaimed announced stated affirmed attested testified verified certified authenticated endorsed ratified sanctioned authorized approved licensed permitted allowed granted bestowed conferred accorded awarded presented gifted donated contributed offered extended provided supplied furnished delivered distributed allocated assigned designated appointed nominated selected chosen picked elected opted preferred favored prioritized emphasized highlighted stressed accentuated underscored reinforced bolstered buttressed supported backed defended championed advocated promoted advanced forwarded propelled pushed urged encouraged motivated inspired stimulated energized invigorated revitalized rejuvenated refreshed renewed revived restored resuscitated resurrected regenerated reborn reincarnated reimagined reinvented rediscovered redefined reshaped remodeled redesigned reconstructed reformulated recalibrated readjusted realigned refocused redirected reoriented repositioned relocated reassigned redistributed rearranged reorganized reordered reevaluated reassessed reconsidered reviewed revised revisited refined retuned fine-tuned optimized enhanced upgraded improved perfected polished honed sharpened heightened intensified amplified increased expanded extended broadened widened deepened enriched diversified varied differentiated distinguished individualized personalized customized tailored adapted modified altered changed transformed converted transmuted transmogrified metamorphosed morphed evolved progressed advanced developed matured ripened blossomed flowered flourished thrived prosper grew burgeoned bloomed radiantly shone brightly glowed luminously sparkled brilliantly twinkled dazzling scintillating glittering shimmering gleaming shining glowing sparkling blazing flaming burning blazing roaring raging seething boiling bubbling fizzing frothing foaming effervescing fermenting percolating brewing steeping infusing concocting blending mixing stirring whisking beating churning kneading folding rolling shaping molding sculpturing carving chiseling engraving etching inscribing imprinting embossing stamping sealing branding marking labeling tagging identifying naming titling christening baptizing dedicating consecrating sanctifying blessing anoint ordaining commissioning inaugurating initiating launching commencing beginning starting embarking venturing undertaking engaging involving participating contributing cooperating collaborating partnering associating affiliating allying aligning joining merging fusing combining integrating amalgamating consolidating uniting linking connecting coupling pairing matching twinning doubling tripling quadrupling multiplying increasing boosting raising elevating lifting heightening intensifying amplifying augment enhancing improving upgrading refining perfect polishing honing sharpening heightening intensifying amplifying augment enhancing improving upgrading refining perfect polishing honing sharpening heightening intensifying amplifying augment enhancing improving upgrading refining perfect polishing honing sharpening heightening intensifying amplifying augment enhancing improving upgrading refining perfect polishing honing sharpening heightening intensifying amplifying augment enhancing improving upgrading refining perfect polishing honing sharpening heightening intensifying amplifying augment enhancing improving upgrading refining perfect polishing honing sharpening heightening intensify amplify augment enhance improve upgrade refine polish hone sharpen elevate lift raise boost increase multiply double triple quadruple quintuple sextuple septuple octuple nonuple decuple centuple millipede centipede millipede centipede millipede centipede millipede centipede millipede centipede millipede centipede millipede centiped
What do you think about all these changes?
