FanGraphs ranks Cleveland Guardians starting rotation 24th in MLB

This news won't make Cleveland Guardians fans any happier about the relatively quiet offseason, but FanGraphs has ranked the team with the 24th-best starting rotation by projected WAR for 2024. As expected, the top of the list is peppered with the likes of the Braves, Phillies, and Dodgers, with the Marlins and Reds filling out the top five.

Looking ahead to the Guardians' potential 2024 rotation, Shane Bieber - as you might expect - leads the way in projected WAR with 2.9. Behind him is Tanner Bibee (1.8), Triston McKenzie (1.6), Gavin Williams (1.4), and Logan Allen (1.4). Interestingly enough, Joey Cantillo - who has yet to make his major-league debut for Cleveland - is next on the list with a projected WAR of 0.5 in 74 innings.

In fact, Bieber is the only current member of the rotation with a projected ERA under four and it still remains to be seen if he'll even be with the team when the season starts.

What Can Guardians Fans Expect of the Starting Rotation in 2024?

There are perhaps more questions within the pitching staff than people care to admit, which is likely why the market for Bieber isn't materializing all that much, at least at this point.

Bieber himself carries plenty of questions after another injury-plagued season, but so does McKenzie. And beyond that, it's fair to expect some level of regression among Bibee, Williams, and Allen, though the team will certainly be pleased if that doesn't come to pass.

There is so much promise to the Guardians' starting rotation - and really, once again, with its future when you consider the talent once again populating the minor-league system - but 2024 could be a season of potential growing pains. Once again, not trading Bieber might just end up being the best thing for the team.

The other teams below the Guardians rotation include the Orioles, Pirates, Nationals, White Sox, Athletics, and Rockies. If Cleveland is going to compete for the AL Central again next season, the team will have a lot of doubters to prove wrong.