Dream Guardians starting lineup for the 2026 season

3. José Ramírez, 3B

Death, taxes and Ramírez anchoring the Guardians’ lineup. 

The 2026 season will mark the fifth year of the seven-year, $141 million extension he signed with the Guardians before the 2022 season, and he’s provided plenty of offense in that time, even if it hasn’t come with a World Series win. 

That lack of postseason success has already begun to bubble up thanks to a well-placed ad in the Plain Dealer after the Guardians were eliminated by the Tigers in the Wild Card Series, so there will be even more pressure on Cleveland’s front office to build a winner around Ramírez.

Every day that goes by means that we’re a day closer to the end of Ramírez’s prime. This lineup would give the Guardians a chance to make the most of that prime.