Offseason Recap: Four Key Guardians Moves Thus Far

As Spring Training looms around the corner, the Guardians questionable offseason is nearing an end. Which moves will have the biggest impact in 2025?

Photo Courtesy: Cleveland.com

The 2024 Cleveland Guardians season ended in heartbreaking fashion at the hands of a familiar foe, the New York Yankees. As the cold of winter set in, baseball faded into the background, replaced by fandom for your favorite basketball, football, or hockey team (to those who suffered through the 2024 Cleveland Browns experience, I am truly sorry).

Now, as the calendar turns to February, baseball’s time back in the spotlight is quickly approaching. Guardians pitchers and catchers will report to Goodyear, AZ, in less than two weeks, on Feb. 13.

What has happened in the 107 days since the Guardians season ended? Let’s take a look at four key offseason moves that will shape the 2025 season.

1. Re-signing Shane Bieber (Dec. 6, 2024)

In early December, the Guardians made their first — and arguably only — splash of the winter. The club re-signed the former Cy Young Award-winning starter to a one-year, $14 million deal with a player option — worth $16 million — for the 2026 season.

Bieber had been viewed as a potential trade candidate for the better part of the last two years, which, considering the club’s precedent of trading away homegrown stars, was no surprise.

Bieber's elite start in 2024 — 12 IP, 0 ER — was pure dominance; however, we all know what happened next. Bieber underwent Tommy John surgery in early April, which lines him up for a potential return to the rotation in June.

It’s unclear what kind of value Bieber had on the open market; however, it was reported that the California native turned down bigger offers to return to Cleveland for at least one more season.

Pending any hiccups in his recovery process, expect to see Bieber return to the top of the Guardians’ rotation by midsummer. His return will be an enormous addition for a Cleveland rotation that was horrid in 2024.

2. Trades of Andrés Giménez and Josh Naylor (Dec. 10 & Dec. 21, 2024)

These two trades have been grouped together because they had similar motives: to save money and clear the path for younger players within the organization.

Giménez was traded alongside reliever Nick Sandlin to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for first baseman Spencer Horwitz and a prospect. Just hours later, Horwitz was flipped to the Pittsburgh Pirates for starting pitcher Luis Ortiz and two prospects.

As the dust settled on the Giménez trade, just 11 days later, Cleveland struck again. This time, they traded All-Star first baseman Josh Naylor to the Arizona Diamondbacks for another starter, right-hander Slade Cecconi.

Heading into the offseason, Naylor and Giménez seemed like they were both firmly part of the Guardians’ core, making their subsequent departures a hard pill to swallow for many fans.

Giménez finished the season as the fourth most valuable player on the team based on Wins Above Replacement (WAR), while Naylor ranked 10th. However, both players did have holes in their games.

2024 was a second consecutive year of offensive decline for Giménez, who has been unable to replicate the success he enjoyed during his 2022 All-Star campaign. His OPS during that 2022 season was 41% above league average. In 2024, he measured 18% below average.

Naylor’s struggles took the form of poor defense and a slow second half. Rumors also swirled alleging that Naylor displayed a disinterest in managing his weight, leading to strife between him and the organization.

While those rumors are not quantifiable, his -6 defensive runs saved and nearly 100-point decline in OPS from the first half of the season to the second half certainly are.

The departure of Giménez opens the door for second baseman Travis Bazzana, the organization's No. 1 prospect and 2024 first overall pick. The void left by Naylor is expected to be filled by first baseman Kyle Manzardo in the long run.

Additionally, Cleveland reunited with old friend Carlos Santana on a one-year, $12 million deal — his third stint with the organization — to platoon with Manzardo.

3. Promotion of Grant Fink (Nov. 13, 2024)

Guardians hitting coach Chris Valaika departed Cleveland early in the offseason to join former Cleveland manager Terry Francona in Cincinnati. Former Cleveland minor-league player and the organization’s minor-league hitting coordinator for the past three seasons, Grant Fink was quickly promoted to fill the vacant hitting coach position.

During Valaika’s time as hitting coach, the offense improved compared to the last few seasons under his much-maligned predecessor, Ty Van Burkleo. However, the team finished no higher than 14th in runs per game under Valaika in his three seasons.

Fink was a 23rd-round draft pick of Cleveland back in 2013. Following the end of his playing career in 2016, he began his coaching career in the Cleveland farm system.

This will be Fink’s first crack at a major league coaching position. At 34 years old, Fink is the latest example of the Guardians turning to younger options within their coaching ranks.

Whether Fink is able to extract greater potential from this projected mediocre Cleveland lineup will be an intriguing storyline to follow.

4. Bullpen Reinforcements

Just last week, the Guardians signed free-agent reliever Paul Sewald to a one-year, $7 million deal with a mutual option for the 2026 season.

Sewald is coming off a down year in 2024 due to oblique and neck injuries that landed him on the 15-day injured list twice. However, Cleveland is hoping the veteran can return to his elite form. Between 2022 and 2023, in 124 IP, Sewald posted a 2.89 ERA with 152 strikeouts and was one of the most dominant arms in the sport.

Another reinforcement joining the Cleveland bullpen will be Trevor Stephan. The once-eighth-inning man for the Guardians underwent Tommy John surgery in March 2024 and is expected to return to the bullpen in the first half of the season. Stephan signed a four-year, $10 million extension with Cleveland in 2023.

The 2024 Guardians exceeded expectations, blowing past their projected win total of 79 games—and doing so with over a month to go in the regular season.

Fans hoped the team would build upon this success in the offseason by signing higher-profile free agents and making impactful trades. However, the team stuck to its status quo, shedding payroll and steering clear of all marquee free agents.

Following a disappointing offseason, Vegas projects a win total in the low 80s for the Guardians. Can manager Stephen Vogt guide the club to another successful season? Only time will tell.