3 recently departed Guardians player who could break Cleveland’s heart in 2026

Every year it seems like there’s a variety of former Guardians players who show out while playing for a different team. Francisco Lindor becoming a perennial MVP candidate. Corey Kluber throwing a no-hitter for the Yankees in 2021. Ernie Clement’s breakout moment for the Blue Jays in the 2025 postseason. 

The 2026 season will be no exception given the mass exodus of players the Guardians have had from their roster in the past couple seasons. While that exodus can result in wins (the Guardians trade of Kluber for Emmanuel Clase used to be a clear win, for example), it can also result in some familiar faces doing well elsewhere. 

Here are three recently departed  Guardians who could end up succeeding elsewhere in 2026 

These former Guardians could have big seasons in 2026

OF Lane Thomas 

This is the one that really has a chance to sting. While Thomas provided some huge hits for the Guardians during the 2024 postseason, his time with the Guardians was largely disappointing.

Thomas hit just .189 in 92 regular season games with Cleveland after being acquired at the trade deadline, and only played in 39 games last season due to a wrist injury and plantar fasciitis.

The Guardians elected to let him walk in free agency (in large part due to those struggles), and he quickly found a new home with the division rival Royals, who signed him to a one-year, $5.25 million deal.

The Royals have a clear need to help in the outfield since their outfielders combined for a wRC+ of 70 (the lowest mark in baseball last season) and have two left-handed mainstays in the outfield in Kyle Isbel and Jac Caglianone. 

Thomas has a unique blend of power and speed that could allow for him to make an immediate impact (so long as he’s healthy), and he could get plenty of chances to do so given he’ll be playing for a division rival that’s clearly retooling for 2026. 

1B Josh Naylor 

Guardians fans already got a taste of Naylor as an enemy when he made his return to Cleveland last season while with the Mariners, and they’ll be seeing plenty more of that after he signed a five-year, $92.5 million deal with Seattle this offseason.

Naylor racked up 20 home runs, 92 RBI and 30 steals last year across his time with the Diamondbacks and Mariners, and nearly slugged Seattle to the World Series. 

Naylor was a fan favorite in Cleveland thanks to his prodigious power and on-field antics, and every majestic home run he hits into the Seattle night will sting, especially if the Guardians don’t address their lineup’s power outage. 

RHP Shane Bieber 

The Guardians made their big splash at the trade deadline by dealing Bieber to the trade deadline in exchange for pitching prospect Khal Stephen. 

While the Guardians could end up winning the trade long-term thanks to Stephen’s potential, Bieber looked good during his late season cameo for the Blue Jays and also threw 18 2/3 innings in the postseason. 

He had a chance to enter free agency this offseason but decided to pick up his $16 million player option, and now he’ll get a chance to continue to work with a Blue Jays team that’s renowned for their pitching development. 

The last time Bieber was fully healthy he had 2.88 ERA in 200 innings with the Guardians, and it seems like there’s a good chance he could have another ace-worthy season with the Blue Jays in 2026.