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

Cleveland Guardians Need #1: Catcher

It’s slightly scary to think that Austin Hedges might be Cleveland’s best offensive option behind the plate. It’s terrifying that it very well could be true. Not disrespect to Hedges, he’s had a few flashes recently, but the Guardians need to explore an upgrade behind the plate ASAP.

As a position, Cleveland’s catchers this season have batted a combined .189/.245/.331 with just 16 doubles, 20 home runs and 177 strikeouts to only 39 walks. That also includes a rather strong offensive output, albeit brief, from Wilson Ramos.

With Ramos out for an extended period of time due to his injury and Roberto Perez with a hefty club option for 2022, Cleveland has the opportunity to wipe the slate clean behind the plate. Hedges could return on a cheap arbitration deal to keep some continuity with the pitching staff, but adding a better offensive option behind the plate would be well worth the investment.

Catchers that can hit and field are hard to come by, especially on the open market. If Cleveland can find one, it could cost a pretty penny. However, a top tier catcher can be a huge difference maker in any lineup. If there’s a position to spend a bit more on, this is definitely one of the best places to do so.