4 things the Cleveland Guardians must accomplish following the MLB Winter Meetings

Championship Series - New York Yankees v Cleveland Guardians - Game 5
Championship Series - New York Yankees v Cleveland Guardians - Game 5 | Jason Miller/GettyImages
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2. Acquire another starting pitcher

The starting rotation of the Cleveland Guardians last season was a bit of a mess. Carried by Tanner Bibee, they were able to get enough from a revolving cast of characters that produced varying results. While Cleveland did get by and won the American League Central last season, it is unlikely that a repeat of what transpired last season will come to fruition with their current group.

Sure, the Guardians were able to re-sign Shane Bieber and acquire Luis Ortiz from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Simply put, they need more. Bieber is expected to miss a sizeable chunk of 2025, and Ortiz has some numbers beyond ERA and WHIP, which suggest a correction from last year's performance. Ortiz is more than likely a back end of the rotation arm (assuming he makes Cleveland's rotation), and what the Guardians need is at least someone with a mid-rotation floor.

When taking the cost of starting pitchers in free agency into account, in addition to the Guardians' reluctance to spend a lot on free agents, their best bet to improve their rotation is by acquiring an arm via trade. Cleveland's front office must leave no stone unturned in their quest to bring another pitcher into the mix and improve the talent floor of their rotation. If not, it could be another trying year for Cleveland's starting rotation, and subsequently, their bullpen.

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