Cleveland Guardians: 3 positions that need to be addressed this offseason

3 positions that the Cleveland Guardians need to addressed this offseason

The 2021 season did not go as planned for Cleveland. Injuries derailed the club’s trajectory early in the season and the absence of Terry Francona just hurt the team’s chances even more. Now, the Cleveland Guardians will head into the 2022 season with hopes of not only turning a new page in the franchise’s history, but also aiming to improve upon the troubled 2021 campaign.

There’s been rumors that ownership in Cleveland is willing to pay a bit more to put a better product on the field for the Guardians’ inaugural season. I’ll believe that when I see it, but if it is true then there’s definitely a few places where a bigger investment would make sense. That money could be put towards extensions instead, which is what I would guess, but if it does go towards the open market there’s positions that could clearly need the upgrade.

For the Cleveland Guardians, the clear strength of the team will be starting pitching. Offensively, Jose Ramirez and Franmil Reyes should slot in to their expected roles while Amed Rosario and Myles Straw, as well as Emmanuel Clase in the bullpen, will need to prove that their 2021 success wasn’t a fluke. As for the rest of the roster, there’s a chance for an upgrade.

If there really is money to be spent this offseason by the front office, there are a trio of places on the roster that make a lot of sense to fill through free agency. For these positions, there aren’t enough immediate options in-house to fill the void, so addressing the problems externally seems to be the answer.

I’ll add an honorable mention before we get started. The outfield. The outfield is still a bit of a mess beyond Myles Straw. However, there’s enough guys within the system, whether it be in Cleveland or knocking on the door, that it isn’t an immediate must-fill. If there’s money left over after these upcoming three spots, then absolutely address the outfield. But the outfield has enough options as of now that the front office can look elsewhere first.