Contract extension candidates aplenty for the Cleveland Guardians

Top extension priorities for the Cleveland Guardians

Josh Naylor is a very popular extension choice amongst fans, and for good reason. An extension should also be relatively inexpensive for Naylor due to his injury history and, to a lesser extent, keeping him around so he can play with his brother. Something in the five or six-year range at $10M to $12M yearly seems reasonable based on other first base comps.

Two seasons ago, the Guardians locked up Myles Straw based on his second half with the club and his defensive prowess. If the club is going to fork over $25M over five years for Straw, then locking up Steven Kwan for at the very least the next six years is a no-brainer. In his first two seasons Kwan has two Gold Gloves to his name and a .282/.356/.384 slash line with a 111 OPS+. His lack of power will actually benefit the front office, as his yearly average shouldn't exceed the $9-12M range.

There was a collective sigh last November among Guardians fans when Tanner Bibee finished second in ROY voting, as he will lose a year of team control (for those unfamiliar, it's part of the new CBA). But with that it gives the organization an opportunity to lock up a young pitcher and buy a year or two of free agency. With question marks surrounding the rotation's future, locking up an arm or three would surely be wise, and Bibee is at the top of that list.