Cleveland Guardians: 3 players to target in free agency this offseason

3 players the Cleveland Guardians should target in free agency

The 2021 season is coming to an end for the Cleveland Indians, with just three games remaining on the road in Arlington and the Tribe needing a sweep of the Rangers to avoid their first sub-.500 season since 2012. Frankly, it’s impressive they’re in this situation to begin with between the injuries, the injuries, the injuries and DeMarlo Hale’s questionable management in lieu of Terry Francona.

Despite all of the negatives to this season, several players and positions have their near-term future sorted out, and Paul Dolan has pledged to spend on payroll this offseason to make the first season as the Cleveland Guardians a competitive one.

Even then, the roster has more questions than answers, and a pledge to spend money on a team with an incredible amount of young talent still pre-arbitration could very well mean extensions for key stars Shane Bieber and Jose Ramirez while thrifting through free agency as has been the strategy for years.

Cal Quantrill and Triston McKenzie have shored up a rotation that could rejoin the ranks of the American League’s best in 2022, Myles Straw is the de facto center fielder and leadoff hitter of the future, but outside of that there are questions all across the outfield, in the bullpen and at first base.

The flood of young infield prospects in the farm system will be the story to watch come Spring Training, with Gabriel Arias, Andres Gimenez and Nolan Jones likely competing for roster spots in 2022. That still leaves positions to be filled externally, with some of the Guardians top prospects still to jump past Double-A. So who does that leave in the Plato’s Closet of free agents that Cleveland could reasonably target for 2022?

Cleveland Guardians Target #2: T.J. McFarland – Relief Pitcher

Likely the largest area of concern heading into the offseason is going to be Cleveland’s bullpen. Fortunately the team has their closer of the future figured out with the emergence of Rookie of the Year candidate Emmanuel Clase and his ridiculous 100+ MPH Cutters. Nick Wittgren suffered some regression this season, and James Karinchak fell off the face of the Earth, earning a one-way bus ticket back to Columbus to finish out the season. As big of a defender as I’ve been of Bryan Shaw during his time in Cleveland, it’s definitely time to let this ship sail as well.

The other thing Cleveland is nearly entirely devoid of is left-handed pitching out of the bullpen. Sam Hentges and Logan Allen are the only lefties with extended time at the big league level in 2021. So where do the Guardians look to add an affordable lefty with a solid track record? The answer here is current St. Louis Cardinal T.J. McFarland.

McFarland, 32, is in his ninth year in the league and has been an excellent option out of the bullpen for the Cardinals this year. In 38 appearances this season McFarland, the former Cleveland draft pick, has logged a 4-1 record, and a 2.41 ERA in 37.1 IP. He’s a pitch-to-contact sinker-baller with a Sinker/Slider/Changeup pitch mix that has resulted in a 63.4% ground ball rate in 2021.

Over the course of his career, McFarland is 24-15 with a career 3.94 ERA with mixed results from year-to-year, but put into a bullpen that would use him properly as the Cardinals have in 2021, this matchup dependent lefty could be a respectable add for the Guardians. Currently on a one-year $1M deal as well, McFarland definitely won’t be the most expensive free agent arm on the market this coming offseason. Another similar deal and mutual interest could bring him to the shores of Lake Erie.

Cleveland Guardians Target #3: Michael Conforto – Right Field

The outfield for the Guardians heading into 2022 isn’t as far off as it was entering 2021. Still, questions remain about pieces not named Myles Straw. Will Josh Naylor recover well enough from his injury to still roam right field? Will Harold Ramirez ever discover his glove? Will Oscar Mercado’s recent re-discovery of his ability to make hard contact roll over into 2022?

That last question in particular is the one I’ll be watching the closest this offseason, with top outfield prospect George Valera at least another season away from his debut and no concrete answers in the corner outfield spots for 2022 and beyond. Now, if Dolan’s pledge to spend in free agency is to be taken seriously, it means at least one Hail Mary free agent target, and what better target than an impact bat in the outfield who could help insulate Jose Ramirez in the middle of the lineup?

Michael Conforto, 28, is wrapping up his seventh, and possibly final season with the New York Mets. Conforto was an instant impact rookie for the Mets 2015 World Series run and an All Star during the 2017 campaign. He has been mostly healthy, playing at least two-thirds of possible games since his first full season in 2016, boasting a career slash line of .254/.356/.467. The 2021 season has been a bit of a disappointment for the Mets’ right fielder, slashing just .228/.342/.376 in 123 games with 13 home runs, 20 doubles and 53 runs driven in.

Disappointment is relative for Cleveland fans this season, who probably would have coveted this type of production from an outfield bat in 2021, but for Conforto who hit 29 doubles and 33 home runs just two seasons ago it’s a step back for a contract year. Despite the offensive numbers not being as flashy as they could be, Conforto still draws walks at an excellent clip (12.6% since 2017) and plays above-average defense in the outfield.

Conforto would be a free agent splash unlike any player for Cleveland since Edwin Encarnacion in 2017, and definitely won’t come cheap. This season being a down year helps a little, but a contract somewhat similar to Nick Castellanos’ is probably in order. Something in the four-year $12-14M per year range isn’t unreasonable for the 28-year-old currently making $12.25M in his last year of arbitration.