Five bold predictions for the Cleveland Guardians 2024 season

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It may only be the middle of January, and there is still quite a bit of time before Spring Training gets under way, but it is never too early to make some predictions about the upcoming 2024 Cleveland Guardians season.

As is always the case when it comes to predictions this far out of the season, there is a very good chance that none of them happen. That is just how things work when trying to access a crystal ball in an attempt to look into the future. Sometimes, a prediction is made, and it comes to fruition, while others, it could not be anywhere remotely close to the ballpark of how things play out.

Before we dive in, some of these predictions will be of the positive variety that will inspire hope and a general feeling of optimism for the Cleveland Guardians. And then there are the others that are on the opposite end of the spectrum that will more than likely result in a negative attitude toward the organization and how they plan to approach the team-building process with the roster in its current state.

With all of that out of the way, here are five bold predictions for the Cleveland Guardians in 2024.

Guardians Bold Prediction Number One: Shane Bieber is traded

Expecting something different to lead this off? Well, that is not going to be the case.

It only seems like it will be a matter of time before Shane Bieber is dealt by the Cleveland Guardians. And it would only seem logical that it happens at some point before the 2024 season is over. If everyone remembers correctly, Bieber was the initial trade target of the Tampa Bay Rays before an injury forced discussions to pivot to Aaron Civale ahead of last year's deadline.

Rumors have continued into this offseason regarding Bieber being the target of contending teams in the National League and American League. Expect this to continue as the spring approaches and into the season, regardless of the competitive state of the Guardians in 2024. It is very possible that Cleveland will take a similar approach that they did last year by attempting to deal Bieber and acquire pieces to help them for this season and beyond.

While a trade may not come before the season, as the Guardians may want Bieber to rebuild his trade value before engaging in genuine trade discussions, expect Cleveland to maximize what they can get out of an impending free agent rather than letting him walk after the season is over.

Guardians Bold Prediction Number Two: Kyle Manzardo makes everyone forget about Aaron Civale

Speaking of trade discussions between the Guardians and Rays, Cleveland acquired highly regarded first base prospect Kyle Manzardo in exchange for Aaron Civale once Shane Bieber was no longer an option to be dealt. This particular deal drew plenty of criticism from the fanbase, as many were completely delusional about the competitive state of the Guardians at the time, in addition to what the true value of Civale was. Civale is a mid-to-bottom of-the-rotation starter who was vastly overperforming his talent level prior to being traded, and his 5.36 ERA and 1.368 WHIP in 10 starts with the Rays (both career-worsts) were an indicator of that.

Manzardo is more than capable of being a middle-of-the-order impact bat that Cleveland desperately needs. The 23-year-old left-handed slugging first baseman was able to rebound after being acquired by Cleveland from a slow start in Triple-A and his shoulder injury, hitting eight doubles and six home runs in 21 games with the Columbus Clippers. Manzardo should be able to build upon the tail end of last year's Triple-A season and make everyone who complained about Civale being dealt forget about him entirely.

Guardians Bold Prediction Number Three: Shortstop is still a problem without a solution

The fact that there is not an obvious and immediate solution to the Guardians' shortstop problem is not something many want to admit, but it is still something that clearly exists. Sure, there are a few options that could hopefully be the answer Cleveland is looking for, and each option has its own camp full of supporters. However, there is a reason why there are multiple players who can play the shortstop position on the major league roster, and it is not because the Guardians are showcasing their positional depth.

There is another thing that must be mentioned here. There is a distinct difference in the amount of excitement and positivity about any of Cleveland's current options when compared to Francisco Lindor prior to his callup. While it is a bit unfair to make this comparison, the fact that it can be made speaks volumes about the Guardians' shortstop situation.

It just seems like Cleveland is going to play their current options long enough until they have enough reasons not to. At some point, the Guardians will have a better situation at shortstop, whether that comes via free agency, trade, or one of their seemingly infinite prospects. It just will not be this season.

Guardians Bold Prediction Number Four: Myles Straw does not finish the season in Cleveland

This prediction could not come to fruition soon enough. Myles Straw is simply not a good enough outfielder to warrant consistent playing time.

It is pretty much a lock that Straw will never reach the 110 weighted runs created plus he put up during the 60-game stretch at the end of 2021. Straw has since seen his wRC+ plummet to 67 in 2022 and 69 in 2023, with these numbers being a better indicator of his offensive abilities.

There was a time when Straw's defensive prowess could make up for his lack of offense, but this also diminished in 2023. Straw is no longer the Gold Glove-caliber defender he once was, and it was abundantly clear on multiple occasions last season. Far too often, Straw was taking poor routes to balls in play, resulting in what should be an out or just a single becoming an extra-base hit. With the offense of Straw being a complete non-factor, this is an unacceptable performance as a defender.

While the 147 appearances from Straw last season could be attributed to former manager Terry Francona's tendency to stick to "his guys" and it is not known how new manager Stephen Vogt will deploy players that fit this description. But with the lack of power in the lineup, particularly the outfield, it is hard to imagine Cleveland continuing to roster him for the entire season.

Guardians Bold Prediction Number Five: Josh Naylor signs a contract extension to keep him in Cleveland for the long haul

If there is one thing that would calm the collective mind of Cleveland Guardians fans everywhere, it would be coming to terms on a contract extension with first baseman/designated hitter Josh Naylor.

Naylor took a massive step forward as a hitter last season, slashing .308/.354/.489 with 31 doubles and 17 home runs in 121 games. The 26-year-old Ontario native was finally able to put together an impressive season and reach the offensive output levels that many knew he was capable of. Rewarding Naylor's 2023 season with a new deal that keeps him in Cleveland for the foreseeable future would be a wise decision for the Guardians.

Keeping Naylor in a Guardians' uniform long-term goes beyond his offensive production. It is about having someone who is clearly a fireball full of energy be on this team for years to come. Jose Ramirez may be the heart and soul of the Guardians at the present moment in time, but there is going to come a time when that no longer applies. Naylor is a logical heir to Ramirez in that department, and it would only make sense to ensure that title transfer happens down the line.