Guardians predicted to be dark horse free agent suitor for much-needed power bat

This October, the Cleveland Guardians lineup got exposed on the national stage. While they made it to the postseason on the back of an incredible run through September, they still finished the year with the second-worst team OPS in baseball. And if that’s not enough, they opened the postseason with a lineup that had three players hitting under .200. 

And while they have some intriguing rookies who could help add some much-needed power to the lineup, the Guardians likely still need to add one more impact bat to their lineup if they want to truly be a contender in the American League. 

Enter Bo Bichette. 

After seven productive years with the Toronto Blue Jays, Bichette is set to hit free agency for the first time in his career this offseason, where he’s set to be one of the biggest bats available. And, according to a new prediction from Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller, the Guardians could stand out as a “dark horse” for Bichette’s services this offseason. 

Guardians named as "dark horse" for Bo Bichette

Now we can hear what you’re saying. There’s no way Bo Bichette ends up in Cleveland. Think about his contract.

Which is true. Edwin Encarnación’s three-year, $60 million deal still stands out as the biggest free agent contract in team history, while Spotrac projects that Bichette will get an eight-year, $186.4 million contract in free agency. 

And Miller mentioned that in his write-up, while also breaking down why they should go after him. 

“The Guards haven't even had an Opening Day payroll of $100M since 2019, so the thought of them investing nearly $200M in a single player is borderline madness. But in a do-or-die game against the Tigers, they started three players who hit .220 this season, a catcher who hit .195 and a rookie who made his MLB debut two days prior. If they're ever going to spend for anything, it better be hits,” he wrote. 

And Bichette can rack up hits in bunches. 

He finished the year with 181 hits (he led baseball in hits for most of the year before getting injured in September), and is a career .294 hitter. While his production dropped off in 2023, he bounced back this year with a .311/.357/.483 slashline to go along with 18 home runs and 94 RBI. 

While he grades out as a negative defender at shortstop and will likely need to move positions in the future, that shouldn’t be the Guardians problem. Why, you ask? 

Because if he’s coming to Cleveland it’s going to be on a short-term contract. It’s hard to imagine the Guardians would tie up a lot of future assets in a player who is a defensive liability.

If Bichette ended up with the Guardians, it would likely be on a two-year, $60 million deal or something in that neighborhood, which honestly seems like a longshot considering Bichette’s strong walk year. 

That said, Bichette hasn’t played in the postseason due to a knee injury and his return this year is looking less and less likely. While that likely won’t tank his value a ton, it’s going to be something that teams consider as they navigate his free agency. 

While Brayan Rocchio is turning into Mr. October and Gabriel Arias is a toolsy shortstop, neither of them are on the same level as Bichette. And even if Bichette ending up on Cleveland is a pipe dream, Miller’s article serves as a stark reminder that the Guardians need to add to their offense this offseason.