4 unheralded free agents who would be a perfect fit for the Guardians in 2026

This offseason is going to be interesting in Cleveland for a number of reasons. They are coming off of back-to-back good seasons, where they fell short in the postseason.

José Ramírez is not getting any younger, so the Guardians will need to capitalize on his team-friendly contract soon. There is also a chance that the Guardians will be focused on signing players to short-term or inexpensive contracts due to the possibility of a lockout looming next December.

With that in mind, here are four players who would benefit the Guardians in 2026 and are projected to receive affordable contracts. 

These four contracts would be perfect fits for the Guardians next season

OF Austin Hays

Hays has been a very reliable option for most of his career, and, although his numbers will not make anybody’s head turn, his value is unquestionable for any team.

Last season Hays hit .266 with 15 homers with the Reds and is just two years removed from the best season of his career when he hit .275 with 16 home runs for the Orioles.

His value mostly comes from his versatility to play all three outfield spots and his ability to hit left handed pitching (he hit .319 against lefties). Last season he played on a $5 million dollar deal and is projected to make somewhere between $8 and 10 million as a free agent.

If Cleveland truly decides to move away from Lane Thomas they'll have a hole in their outfield, and the right-handed hitting Hays would be an affordable option that would fill multiple holes on their roster.

1B Paul Goldschmidt

From 2013 to 2022, Goldschmidt was one of the best hitters in all of baseball, as he ended up earning MVP votes in nine of those 10 seasons. That said, the 38-year-old is in clear decline and hit just 10 home runs last year, which is the lowest total he's posted in an 162-game season since his rookie year.

That said, the Guardians wouldn't need him to be an everyday offensive threat. Instead he'd be the backup first baseman who could also be a dangerous bench bat along with being a veteran leader in the clubhouse which will be filled with youth.

Last year Goldschmidt was on a one-year, $12.5 million contract with the Yankees, but most projections have him signing a $7 million contract for 2026. Goldschmidt could help in a number of different ways and would be a great addition for the club with very little risk. 

RHP Dustin May

May is one of the more interesting free agents available this offseason considering he has the youth and stuff that tends to result in a large contract but will likely have to sign a one-year "prove it" deal because of his injury history.

The Guardians' success with rehabilitating pitchers make them a perfect landing spot for pitchers looking to get back on track, and their starting depth means they could move him to the bullpen if he struggles in the rotation.

May would provide Cleveland with more depth and the potential for a fantastic return on investment, especially if he signs a one-year deal.

RHP Devin Williams

Williams is projected to sign a three-year contract with an AAV of about $15 million, making him the most expensive option on this list.

Williams was one of the best relief pitchers in baseball from 2020 through 2024 with the Brewers before he had a nightmare year in the Bronx (4.79 ERA in 62 innings).

It seems clear that Emmanuel Clase isn't going to be in Cleveland next season, and adding Williams to the fold would help mitigate that loss. Closers can be a bit violate, but having Smith and Williams in the back of Cleveland's bullpen would give the Guardians a back-end that few teams could match.

This would be a good way to repurpose the money saved from Clase's contract whenever it comes off the books.