Notable Additions: Estevan Florial, Scott Barlow, Austin Hedges
Notable Losses: Cal Quantrill, Lucus Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez
The Guardians playoff run was exciting until it was cut short by the Yankees in 2022. In 2023, the Guardians underperformed, finished 76-86, and missed the postseason. Now entering 2024, I fear the Guardians may be entering a rebuilding/retooling stage.
Projected Starters
C: Bo Naylor
1B: Kyle Manzardo
2B: Andres Gimenez
3B: Jose Ramirez
SS: Brayan Rocchio
LF: Steven Kwan
CF: Myles Straw
RF: Ramon Laureano
DH: Josh Naylor
Hitting for Cleveland was a huge problem in 2023. They ranked 27th in OPS and 30th in home runs as a team. They had significantly fewer home runs than the team ranked 29th. The Guardians had 124 home runs as a team, and the Washington Nationals had 151 in the next spot. Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor were the only two qualified players with an OPS above .800. Jose Ramirez was the only player with more than 20 home runs. The Guardians made zero moves to improve their hitting in 2024. If it wasn’t for Jose Ramirez, I’d give them a 1/10 for hitting, but because of him, I give them a 3/10.
Projected Starting Rotation
Shane Bieber
Tanner Bibee
Tristan McKenzie
Gavin Williams
Logan Allen
The Guardians’ strength is their pitching, starting with their rotation. As a team, they were 9th in ERA and 6th in saves. Of the starters mentioned above, Tristan McKenzie was the only one with an ERA above 4.00, and he only pitched 4 games. A healthy Tristan McKenzie makes this rotation one of the most underrated pitching staffs in the league. It would not surprise me if this pitching staff wills this team to a playoff birth. I give their pitching staff a 6/10.
The Guardians also have an outstanding bullpen. Emmanuel Clase is a top-five closer in baseball, and he is backed up by some solid relievers. Scott Barlow, Sam Hentges, Eli Morgan, and others make up a bullpen I would trust to close out a game. I give their bullpen a 6/10.
Sock’s 2 X-Factors
Jose Ramirez: One of the best players in baseball, JRam is an excellent value signing at 7 years/141 Million. He has a WRC+ of 100 or better every year since 2016. In five of the last eight years, it has been above 140. He has finished in the top 10 in MVP voting 6 times and has 4 silver sluggers with those nominations. 2016 and 2020 were the only years where he didn’t have 20 or more home runs. His career slash line is .279/.355/.499. He is one of the best and gives Cleveland a chance any year he plays.
Emmanuel Clase: Since joining the Guardians in 2021, Clase has a 2.00 ERA with 215 strikeouts and 110 saves. Last year, he had a 3.22 ERA with 64 strikeouts and 44 saves. That is a down year for him. He has a filthy cutter and slider combo that makes him super elite. His groundball and walk % are in the 93rd and 90th percentile, respectively. At 25 years old, he will be favored for years in Cleveland.
Sleeper: Gavin Williams: Making his debut last year, Gavin Williams was a great addition to this Guardians bullpen. In 16 games started, Williams had a 3.26 ERA with 81 strikeouts. Standing 6’6″, Williams has an electric fastball and great breaking pitches. He can develop into an elite starter for a Guardians team that develops pitchers extremely well.
Prospects to Look Forward To
Chase DeLauter: Drafted in 2022 and standing 6’4″, Chase DeLauter absolutely tore up the minor leagues last season. He hit .355/.417/.528 with 5 home runs. Do not let those 5 home runs fool you; he has raw power, and once he taps into it, the rest of the league is going to be in serious trouble.
Kyle Manzardo: The Guardians will likely look to Kyle Manzardo for power. Acquired in the Aaron Civale trade, Manzardo provides great power at the dish, hitting 41 home runs in his minor league career so far. He will likely be the starting first baseman for the Guardians in 2024 to help boost the offense.
GM For a Day
This team desperately needs hitting. The Guardians can not rely on Jose Ramirez, the Naylors, and a rookie to provide some pop. Much like my suggestion for the Tigers, I would target a power bat—in this case, specifically, Adam Duvall. They could make a trade, but I would wait until the deadline to make a move like that.
Projected Finish: 72-90, 3rd in the AL Central, 10th in the AL
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