With the exciting 2024 Guardians season behind us, it’s time to take a quick look at which players might or might not return for the 2025 season.
Over the next few weeks on Covering the Corner, we’ll be diving into detailed analyses of each player’s performance. But for now, I want to offer some quick, off-the-cuff thoughts on whether players from the Guardians’ 40-man roster will be back in Cleveland next year. This article will be more “hot takey” than usual, with plenty of statistical breakdowns coming soon.
To clarify the terms I’ll use: “Buy” means “I want more of this player,” “Sell” means “I’ve seen enough,” and “Hold” means “let’s wait and see how things unfold.”
Buy:
Jose Ramirez: Until he is ten years into his retirement, I will continue to purchase Jose Ramirez stock.
The most obvious candidate for a player with whom the team should discuss an extension is Steven Kwan.
Andres Gimenez Even though Gimenez is only 25 years old and still the best defender in baseball, he needs to work this offseason to return to forgoing some contact in order to acquire more pop. Give me more.
I’m not arguing that David Fry is invincible; rather, if someone believes that Fry can serve as a middle-field anchor, they would deal him for a comparable return. If not, though, I want to see him for the next three to four years because he’s a very versatile component. This next season, we’ll see how his elbow is doing and whether he can be adaptable in his position-playing.
Bo Naylor I understand that Bo is causing a lot of frustration, but it is quite normal for a catcher to have trouble in his first year of playing the position and when asked to alter his swing. I am certain that the Guardians have a very valuable piece here, given some offseason time to relax, recuperate, and re-adjust. Since it would probably be a steal if they could complete that, I would honestly want to see the team look into an extension with Bo (buy out his ARB years and a year or two of free agency) to see if last year makes him more likely to desire some stability.
Kyle Manzardo – We saw the vision in September and at several points in October. Manzardo can put up a professional at-bat against anyone and he has great lift in his swing that can change a game. It’s time for him to start full-time in 2025, give him a chance to show he can beat lefties, too. Also, not opposed to exploring buying out his arb and early-free agent years, either. Lane Thomas – It’s probably unlikely the team extends Thomas, but I am happy with him playing center and crushing lefties for us in 2025. He displayed a very professional approach to the plate in the playoffs, which is why I’m not OPPOSED to checking on his asking price to stick around a little longer.
Jhonkensy At the age of 23, Noel is hitting one of the most significant home runs in the history of the team. In the field, he also appeared to get better every day. Baby, give me more Big Christmas.
Tanner Bibee: A fantastic start against baseball’s top lineup, spoiled by one misdirected pitch, marked the end of an extraordinary first complete season. The team should look at an extension with Bibee, who is my second choice (apart from Kwan).
Baseball’s top reliever, Emmanuel Clase, faltered during the postseason. I’m interested to watch his reaction, and I anticipate it will be fantastic. Of course, you would think about dealing him if someone offered you a middle-of-the-order hitter or a top-tier starting pitcher, just like you would in any other season. However, I’m purchasing him as a significant asset for 2025.
Gaddis, Hunter To be clear, no relief pitcher is invincible. All relievers are volatile and if you can get a proven starting pitcher or everyday player by moving one, you do it. With that said, give me more of Gaddis as a reliever. I wouldn’t even consider moving him back into the rotation.
Cade Smith – Now, Smith. Smith I would be interested to see if the team explores moving him into the rotation in a Reynaldo Lopez-type move. Either way, I don’t want him going anywhere. Tim Herrin – Unfortunately, I feel like we all forgot to mention how absolutely NAILS an exhuasted Herrin was in game five against the Yankees. Buy, buy, buy Herrin stock, folks. Erik Sabrowski – Is Sabrowski a potential candidate to start? I don’t know, but he definitely looks like a lights-out lefty/middle-reliever I want to see lots more of.
Pedro Avila: Could Avila be a starting option? I’m not sure, but I’d like him to embrace me. How delightful. And a man who took the Cleveland pitching factory’s modifications very well.
Eli Morgan – Morgan had his best season by far as a reliever and should be cemented into those sixth innings with guys like Sabrowski and Avila.
Andrew Walters – Time to give Walters some late-inning reps because I think we have another potential closer arm here. For every reliever listed above, again, I am not opposed to a trade if the right fit comes up. But, on each individual basis, I am excited to see more of them and buying their stock left and right.
Joey Cantillo During the playoffs, Cantillo had some brilliant moments and one major setback. I’m thrilled to see him have an opportunity to be a Cleveland rotation regular and get ready for that opportunity throughout the winter.
Ben Lively: People, trustworthy number five starters are hard to come by. We have one. purchasing stock so he can repeat the action.
Gavin Williams: Despite not pitching for about two weeks, Williams gave the squad an easy ride through the formidable Yankee lineup after a few early inning hiccups. I wouldn’t be shocked to see a huge improvement for him in 2025, but he still has some work to do to keep teams off his fastball. One of the most crucial players for the Guardians to advance significantly the following season is Big Rig, and I have faith in his ability to do so.
Matthew Boyd: I would definitely buy that if Matthew Boyd is happy enough to take into account any offer the Guardians might make. In terms of clutch and performance for the Cleveland baseball team, his 2024 postseason run was comparable to Chad Ogea’s 1997 run.
Shane Bieber Alright, I said a fib. I think Bieber is my top extension target. Even if he doesn’t return throwing 94 mph after Tommy John, he’s still an excellent investment because he has shown that he can be very good at reduced velocity. Whether it’s options or something else entirely, it makes so much sense to attempt to get him back on a two- to three-year contract that I’ll be disappointed if it doesn’t work out. It should be encouraging if Bieber is able to catch the ceremonial first pitch of a playoff game.
Sell:
Nick Sandlin – Sandlin is not bad. I suspect injuries played a role in him BEING bad for the second half this year. He is the kind of player you trade to Tampa Bay as a small part of a larger deal to acquire Brandon Lowe to play second-base as you move Gimenez to short… oh wait, that’s a different article. Alex Cobb – I think Cobb is washed. I also don’t think he’ll be interested in signing with a team not on the West Coast. It was well-worth a shot when the team struck out on guys like Flaherty, Crochet and Kikuchi… but it didn’t pan out and I don’t think a one-year deal here makes a ton of sense.
James Karinchak: Karinchak has to be DFA’d after his poor performance last season, after which he was thrashed in Triple-A.
Will Brennan: Brennan can’t be a platoon outfielder on a postseason club based on his lifetime 105 wRC+ vs RHP. For whatever reason, his defense also fell apart this year. Although I believe Brennan will play strong defense and hit 120 wRC+ against RHP some year, I don’t think it’s worth waiting for that to happen right now.
Daniel Schneemann: Schneemann’s initial 14 games in Cleveland and his amusing Linsanity run at Columbus were a mirage. Although I think he has a few more years to go as a major league utility player, I would much rather see the team upgrade at this position (ideally by moving Brayan Rocchio into there, but whatever…).
Gabriel Arias – I wanted to see Arias get first shot at being the everyday shortstop, and when that didn’t pan out, it became clear the team saw him more as a utility player. If he was going to make good on his potential (elite arm, elite exit velocities), he was going to have to do it in a part-time role. Arias profiles as a valuable utility player. But, I don’t think he is capable of handling that kind of playing rhythm. He’s still quite young, however, and if they give it another shot while other guys continue developing in Columbus, I am fine with it. I would prefer, however, that they trade him.
Tyler Freeman: Freeman is still my first pick to be on the team out of the three obvious utility players (Schneemann, Arias, and Freeman). And since you need these players’ types on a squad, I am aware that they will probably keep at least one of them. Freeman is a quick, capable fielder who consistently makes contact at the plate. However, he is only an interchangeable piece, and I do not see him as a major league regular.
George Valera: Despite not being traded following knee surgery, I don’t think Valera will be able to assist Cleveland in 2025.
Daniel Espino I wouldn’t mind if the Guardians made Espino subject to waivers. He is unlikely to ever assist a major league team. However, since the lottery ticket he now represents is unquestionably the best lottery ticket available, I won’t be upset if they keep him. But, if someone offered you something valuable for the lottery ticket you just purchased from the gas station, you’d sell it. Thus, Espino’s grouping here.
Logan Allen – I have seen enough of the most crushable fastball I’ve ever encountered. Maybe someone wants to have him in a trade for cash.
Hold:
Josh Naylor: Given that he is only under team control for another season, the Guardians should take a look at Josh Naylor if someone wants to give them value comparable to his ability to give you 120 wRC+ and 30+ home runs in the middle of the order while usually not embarrassing himself at first base. I am also aware that there is most likely a timer ticking on his rebuilt ankle.
But my heart is screaming, “EXTEND THE MAN! He will return next year in excellent form and will be extremely motivated to make amends for this postseason setback. I would be cautious not to let Naylor play out the string here unless you are getting some sort of piece that helps you fill the starting pitcher hole in a big way (perhaps as part of a three-team deal or subsequent trade). This is because, although I am aware that the team has Kyle Manzardo, Jhonkensy Noel, Juan Brito, C.J. Kayfus, and even possibly Chase DeLauter to compete for the first base and DH roles here.
This playoffs, Brayan Rocchio’s ability to take a deep breath and become a dependable batter was a much-needed improvement. Hearing spectators yell “ROCCH-EE-OOO” during game five was endearing. But in the ALCS, he also committed three rather egregious mistakes. Additionally, in 2024, he failed to defeat the slap-hitter who was accused of having no unresolved tools. His age is 23. His struggles in his first full season are not surprising, and because Travis Bazzana is unlikely to be ready in 2025 and Angel Genao won’t be either, there’s little reason to move away from him (though Bazzana might play center-field if necessary).
. But, if some team is very excited about acquiring a Gold-Glove finalist who displayed immense poise in the playoffs, I am very open to the conversation. Unless Rocchio can display the ability to fully lock in for big moments defensively as he did offensively and more consistently get to the pulled-fly-ball abilities he showed in Akron, he’s going to be a 2.5 WAR player, which is a league average big league regular. That’s incredible valuable at shortstop… but it isn’t something I’m going to be buying stock in longterm. So, it’s definitely a “wait and see” proposition, here.
Triston McKenzie It’s incredible to consider that the organization was negotiating an agreement with McKenzie before 2023. The thing that disappointed me the most about the 2024 season was his injury and his difficulties finding it. During the offseason and Spring Training, I want to give him an opportunity to discover who he is. It’s likely time for a DFA or a cash trade at the end of March if he is unable to do it. However, I’m holding onto him for the time being because it wouldn’t be worth trading him. Furthermore, it is clear that the Guardians require as many functional weapons as possible. Naturally, it will be intriguing to watch whether McKenzie decides to consider elbow surgery again this offseason.
Angel Martinez It’s not that Martinez isn’t an exciting player that I place him in this category. It’s thrilling to watch a 22-year-old switch-hitter emerge, display moments of brilliance at the plate, and compete at centerfield and third base. However, Martinez is the type of player who, if a team believes in his skill set, could be a very valuable trade component if the team keeps Rocchio (as I anticipate). I’d be happy to see him included in a big deal to help with pitching requirements, but I’d also be completely supportive if he makes the 2025 squad as a utility player or even if the team trades Rocchio and starts Martinez at second and Gime at short.
Connor Gillispie Interesting arm depth in terms of organization. Naturally, he is expendable, but I’m not in a haste to get rid of him.
As a reliever, Peter Strzelecki is even more intriguing than Connor. See the remarks about Gillispie above.
Hentges, Sam, and Trevor Stephan I hope they can carry him on the 40-man, but Hentges won’t pitch in 2025, and as a reliever, I’m not against DFAing him. For 2024, I hope Stephan regains his former self and helps prevent the inevitable bullpen downturn.
Juan Brito – I am very high on Juan Brito as a hitter, but it seems fairly clear the team has real doubts about his ability to play second-base. His 19 starts in right-field give me hope that he may be an option there, and a good one to guard against the possibility that Chase DeLauter remains perpetually injured. However, he is also a very valuable trade piece. If the Guardians pursue Brandon Lowe, Brent Rooker, a Marlins or Mariners starting pitcher, etc, Brito is the kind of player that can help push those kind of deals over the finish line. In any case, he should be ready to compete to make a major league roster out of Spring Training.
Jonathan Rodriguez The only reasons Johnny Rockets didn’t play for Cleveland in the playoffs were his incapacity to lift the ball and his defensive issues. You’d obviously trade him if the right deal came along, but it also makes sense to see how he comes into Spring Training and give him a chance to push Noel for that right-handed, corner outfielder platoon role.
Last but not least is Austin Hedges. I have never seen a worse major league hitter. But whoa, what a team clubhouse god and defensive whiz. I have nothing against Hedges returning as the backup catcher. IF it is evident that he will never again be included on a postseason roster. He must portray Carlos Carrasco in 2024. Assist us in reaching the end and then, in September, pass the torch to someone like Cooper Ingle, or whatever.
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