With Cleveland’s playoff run concluding on Saturday night against the New York Yankees in the ALCS, several Guardians players may not be part of the roster in 2025.
The Cleveland Guardians, who claimed the AL Central title, had their thrilling playoff journey conclude on Saturday night with a defeat to the New York Yankees in five games during the ALCS.
In Game 3 of the ALCS, the Guardians showcased some late-game heroics when rookie Jhonkensy Noel launched a game-tying two-run homer in the ninth inning, followed by a game-winning two-run homer from David Fry in extra innings.
Despite Cleveland’s magic, the Yankees seized Game 4 and Game 5, with superstar outfielder Juan Soto hitting a three-run homer in the 10th inning to clinch the series.
For Guardians fans, the 2024 season marked a significant improvement from the previous year. In 2023, Cleveland finished with a 76-86 record, placing third in the AL Central. This year, under first-year manager Stephen Vogt, the Guardians achieved the second-best record in the American League at 92-69.
Now that the 2024 season has concluded, both the Guardians’ front office and fans will begin to shift their focus toward the 2025 season.
The Guardians have few free agents to re-sign this offseason, as their core is secure for next year. However, they need to determine if they should re-sign Shane Bieber, who managed just two starts this season before having Tommy John surgery.
With Tanner Bibee stepping up as the ace of the rotation, the Guardians may be wiser to seek another starting pitcher to complement him rather than bringing back Bieber. We’ll take a look at five players from this season’s roster who may not be at Progressive Field in 2025.
1. Shane Bieber
The former AL Cy Young Award winner had his 2024 season cut short by Tommy John surgery in April. Bieber aimed to improve upon his 2023 season, during which he made just 21 starts due to elbow problems
The two-time All-Star made two starts this season against the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics, racking up 20 strikeouts in 12 innings. As Bieber recovers from Tommy John surgery, his free agency status remains uncertain.
Spotrac.com estimates the 32-year-old pitcher’s market value at a six-year, $ 147.2 million contract, but it’s unlikely he’ll secure such a deal on the open market.
Given the nature of his injury and rehabilitation, Cleveland could opt to re-sign the veteran pitcher to a short-term contract, especially since Bieber won’t be ready to pitch until the summer. This could be beneficial, as a Bieber-Bibee 1-2 punch would strengthen the front of the rotation.
Additionally, the Guardians are hopeful that Triston McKenzie can address his pitching struggles after being sent down to the minors this season.
When healthy, Bieber is among the top pitchers in the American League and the entire league. However, the last time he made at least 30 starts was in 2022, which feels like a long time ago.
2. Alex Cobb
With the Guardians’ starting rotation struggling to deliver quality performances this summer, Cleveland acquired veteran Alex Cobb from the San Francisco Giants.
The 37-year-old didn’t make his regular-season debut until August due to hip surgery last year. He faced the Minnesota Twins on August 9 but only made two additional regular-season starts, spending time on the injured list twice for a fractured fingernail and a blister on his right hand.
Cobb struggled significantly in his two postseason appearances, posting a 7.94 ERA, and was removed from the ALCS roster after starting Game 1 due to an acute strain in his lower back.
Cleveland had hoped Cobb would build on his 2023 performance with the Giants, where he had a 7-7 record and a 3.87 ERA, earning an All-Star selection.
The veteran starter couldn’t shake off the injury issues. Spotrac estimates Cobb’s market value at a one-year, $ 11.9 million contract, which could be too steep for the Guardians. Cleveland will likely seek a more suitable option in free agency to replace Cobb in the starting rotation
3. Austin Hedges
With Bo Naylor and David Fry on the roster, the Guardians are unlikely to re-sign veteran catcher Austin Hedges in free agency.
The 32-year-old Hedges is reliable defensively but struggles offensively. This season, he posted a lackluster batting average of .152 with two home runs and 15 RBIs over 66 games with Cleveland.
His offensive performance didn’t improve in October, as he recorded a slash line of .083/.214/.167 in eight games (12 at-bats). Finding a reliable backup catcher in free agency may prove challenging, especially with Fry being versatile across the field.
Fortunately for Cleveland, several free-agent catchers like Danny Jansen, Kyle Higashioka, and Elias Diaz will be available. The Guardians’ front office isn’t overly concerned about losing Hedges, who has a career batting average of .186, especially with the promising young talent of Bo Naylor
4. Matthew Boyd
In acquiring Cobb in July, the Guardians signed 33-year-old Matt Boyd to a one-year contract. The left-hander missed the entire 2023 season due to reconstructive elbow surgery.
Prior to joining Cleveland, Boyd spent most of his career with the Detroit Tigers for eight seasons, along with stints with the Seattle Mariners and the Toronto Blue Jays.
The veteran pitcher strengthened Cleveland’s starting rotation, finishing the regular season with a 2-2 record and a 2.72 ERA over eight starts. In the postseason, Boyd made three appearances (two as a starter) and performed well, achieving a remarkable 0.77 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 11.2 innings.
With Bibee, Ben Lively, and Gavin Williams already in the mix, the Guardians might consider retaining Boyd as a reliable fourth starter given his limited but effective performance.
The 33-year-old could attract a more lucrative deal in free agency after demonstrating his health post-surgery to teams across the league
5. Carlos Carrasco
The right-handed pitcher faced significant challenges with the big-league team, finishing with a 3-10 record and a 5.64 ERA in 21 starts. Carrasco allowed 19 home runs and 112 hits in 103.2 innings, along with 89 strikeouts and a 4.93 FIP.
He was designated for assignment on September 17 and did not make any further starts for the Guardians in the regular season or playoffs. Given his struggles in 2024, it seems unlikely that Carrasco will return next season.
Cleveland took a chance on Carrasco by signing him to a minor league deal this past offseason. While the Guardians aren’t expected to make a major acquisition in free agency for a starting pitcher, any player they sign is likely to perform better than Carrasco did. This offseason, the Guardians have several free agents that are starting pitchers, and the 37-year-old Carrasco’s season was marred by injuries and poor performance
Be the first to comment