5 free agent outfielders the Guardians should target

2. Jesse Winker - New York Mets

It has been an up-and-down few years for Jesse Winker. Once looking like a fixture of the Cincinnati Reds lineup for years to come to completely bottoming out in Seattle and Milwaukee, Winker finally returned to being a productive player for the Washington Nationals and New York Mets this past season.

The now 31-year-old Winker slashed .253/.360/.405 with 23 doubles and 14 home runs, far superior to the .214/.337/.318 slash line and 35 extra-base hits (20 doubles, 15 home runs) in two seasons with the Mariners and Brewers. While it was not quite at the level of his 2021 season that saw him hit 32 doubles and 24 home runs to go with a .305/.394/.556 slash line, seeing Winker find a way to get closer to rather than continue to get further from that season is very encouraging for how things may play out in the future.

Bringing in Winker on a short-term deal would allow the Guardians to lengthen their lineup just a bit and reduce the pressure on the organization to force flawed players into roles they are not suited for. It would also allow the team to focus on other areas on the roster while having a position that has been an issue for quite some time and no longer has that designation.