End-of-season ranking proof of Guardians defying expectations in 2024

If there is one statement that everyone can agree with, it would be that 2024 was a successful year on the corner of Carnegie and Ontario. The Cleveland Guardians finished the season with a 92-69 record en route to winning the American League Central and finishing with the AL's second-best record behind the New York Yankees, their ALCS opponent. A pretty impressive resume for a team that very few expected to be relevant.

There were plenty of reasons to be skeptical about the Guardians in 2024, including but not limited to 2023's disappointing campaign and having to replace future Hall of Fame manager Terry Francona. Cleveland being able to overcome the avalanche of adversity before and during the season shows just how good this team was, as they were able to defy expectations with the odds stacked against them.

Count Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter as someone who doubted the Guardians in 2024, as he had them ranked 19th on Opening Day. This clearly changed in the newly published MLB Power Rankings: Where All 30 Teams Stand Entering 2024-25 Free Agency, with Reuter having Cleveland inside the Top 10.

The Guardians are checking in at number seven. Some may question their end-of-season ranking, given that they were one of the last four teams standing in the MLB postseason, but it seems pretty appropriate, all things considered. Cleveland's offense could be inconsistent at times, and their depleted pitching staff that was patched together throughout the season are more than valid reasons to have six teams ahead of them. It was the rotation that got some special attention from Reuter in the outlook section that appeared on every team's entry on this list.

"It's wild that a 92-win team was forced to use Matthew Boyd and Alex Cobb—two pitchers who made a combined 11 starts for them during the regular season—to start games in the postseason. Shoring up the starting rotation behind Tanner Bibee will be Cleveland's No. 1 priority this winter, though a healthy Gavin Williams is capable of being a second frontline starter with continued development."

Joel Reuter

Even with the clear need for pitching throughout the season, which still remains, seeing this team move up the rankings the way they did is a clear example of exactly how they defied the expectations most had for them before the season began. A few notable additions to their roster, and they will be able to do the exact same thing again next season.