Latest arbitration projections show Guardians front office may need to spend more than usual in 2027

Although the Guardians just kicked off the 2026 postseason on Saturday afternoon, we got a first look at what their 2027 roster could look like on Saturday when MLB Trade Rumors released Matt Swartz’s projections for arbitration salaries for 2027. 

Even if Swartz’s projections aren’t official, they give a good look into what each team may need to pay for their arbitration eligible players whenever that process plays out following the predicted lockout. 

And, according to Swartz, it seems like the Guardians front office may need to pay a bit more than they’re used to if they want to keep their core together. 

Swartz’s projections for the Guardians are as follows: 

Steven Kwan: $11.3 million
Jo Adell: $9.6 million
Cade Smith: $5.5 million
Gavin Williams: $4.8 million
Brayan Rocchio: $3.1 million
Patrick Bailey: $2.3 million
Colin Holderman: $2.3 million
Hunter Gaddis: $2.2 million
Slade Cecconi: $2 million
David Fry: $1.9 million
Matt Festa: $1.5 million
Tim Herrin: $1.3 million
Blake Perkins: $900,000

Steven Kwan and Cade Smith's high salaries highlight Guardians 2027 arbitration projections

The biggest standout from that list is Kwan’s projection, which is the fifth-highest projected total in baseball behind Astros first baseman Isaac Paredes ($15 million), Brewers catcher William Contreras ($14.6 million), Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson ($14.1 million) and Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña ($13.1 million).

Even though Kwan was going to be due for a raise no matter what since that’s how arbitration process works, that kind of price tag seemed far fetched earlier in the season given how rough the start of his year was, but he finished the year on an all-time tear and could be in line for yet another Gold Glove win. 

This year will be his final run through arbitration, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he becomes a mainstay in trade talks whenever the offseason gets rolling again after the lockout. 

That price tag may be high (it would make him the second-highest paid Guardian behind José Ramírez), but it would be worth it.

Adell would have the second-highest salary, but the Guardians knew his price tag would be around that total when they traded for him at the deadline, so they’ve likely already factored his salary into their books for next season (unless they’re planning on trading him). 

The rest of the salaries aren’t anything crazy, though Smith’s $5.5 million salary in his first run through arbitration shows that his price tag is just going to continue to grow as he racks up saves (which can make all the difference in arbitration). 

While the Guardians may not hold onto all their arbitration-eligible players (Slade Cecconi and David Fry seem like two players who could be elsewhere next season), their potential removal from the Guardians’ roster wouldn’t be because of their salary. 

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