4 budget pitchers who could to fortify the Guardians' contention window

​While the focus of the Guardians offseason is rightly going to based around finding a solution to fix their anemic offense, a championship contender never stops fortifying its biggest strength. In the case of the Guardians, that's elite pitching depth.

The Guardians’ homegrown staff is sensational, but the length of a Major League season (along with the the inherent volatility of young arms) means the front office would be smart to nab a reliable, cost-effective safety net or two.

​These four pitchers are exactly the kind of shrewd, value-driven acquisitions that president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti could use to buffer the staff and even create valuable mid-season trade chips.

The Guardians could fortify their pitching staff with these four acquisitions

​The Starting Rotation: Trade value innings eaters

​The Guardians have top prospects like Khal Stephen and Daniel Espino waiting in the wings, but veteran innings are essential until they are fully polished.

​1. Zach Eflin: The proven bridge to prospects

​Eflin is the ideal high-floor, buy-low target. He is a proven starter in the league whose value dropped significantly due to injury in the latter half of his 2025 season. That opens the door for a team like Cleveland.

​The Value Proposition: Eflin signed a three-year $40 million contract with the Rays after the 2022 season and initially made that contract look like a bargin by posting a 3.54 ERA across its first two seasons before his 2025 struggles. He is now expected to settle for a single-year "pillow contract" as he attempts to rebuild his value coming off a season-ending back surgery he underwent last August.

​The Guardians' Play: Eflin can be immediately slotted into the rotation to eat innings and stabilize the staff. If he's able to stay healthy and return to form he'd instantly become one of the most attractive trade pieces on the market by the 2026 deadline and could allow the Guardians to fetch some top-tier prospects.

​2. Germán Márquez: High-upside injury flier

Márquez is the ultimate risk-reward signing. He is coming off a final, injury-plagued season with the Rockies that saw his ERA balloon to 6.70, but his career numbers outside of the high altitude of Colorado are tantalizing.

​The Value Proposition: Márquez's contract is up, and his recent injury history will likely lower his free-agent price. However, he has a career 3.83 ERA and 1.19 WHIP on the road, which suggests he still has elite stuff when pitching outside of Coors Field.

​The Guardians' Play: If he can be acquired on a low-cost, incentive-laden deal, he would offer the flexibility to be a swingman or bulk reliever while he works to get his command back. If the old Márquez emerges in Cleveland's pitcher-friendly environment, he too would become a high-value trade chip for a contender looking for a mid-rotation starter.

 The Bullpen: Adding gas and length

​Even the Guardians' elite bullpen can be improved, particularly by adding high-octane arms or versatile relievers who can handle multi-inning work.

​3. Hunter Harvey: The flamethrowing dominator

​Harvey is a high-octane flamethrower who would seamlessly integrate into Cleveland's powerhouse bullpen culture. Known for his elite fastball velocity, he is exactly the kind of dominant arm the front office loves to acquire.

​The Value Proposition: Harvey just finished a solid contract year and is now set to hit free agency for the first time in his career. His history of high strikeout rates (over 10.0 K/9 in his career) fits perfectly with the Guardians' pitching philosophy. He's a proven high-leverage arm who can thrive in a set-up role, taking pressure off closer Cade Smith.

​4. Brad Keller: The talented, versatile length

​Keller is the definition of a talented reliever who can provide multiple innings when needed. Formerly a reliable starter, he transitioned well to the bullpen in 2025.

​The Value Proposition: Keller is a high-volume reliever who has the length and durability to eat innings and potentially give manager Stephen Vogt some priceless flexibility. If a young starter hits a snag or a game goes deep into extras, Keller can be counted on for long outings, saving the back-end arms for high-leverage situations. His versatility makes him an invaluable, budget-friendly insurance policy for the entire pitching staff.