Ranking Guardians most likely free agent targets based on Chris Antonetti’s history

This offseason will be the 12th time Chris Antonetti has been leading the ship for the Guardians’ front office. 

Although a lot has happened in that time, we’ve seen plenty of themes and trends develop in that time as the Guardians have worked to build their roster by largely using moves on the margins. 

With this offseason set to kick off, here are five free agents who fit the mold that Antonetti has targeted or acquired since taking over. 

The Guardians have acquired plenty of free agents who fit a mold under Chris Antonetti 

5. OF Michael Conforto
.240/.331/.469, 15 HR, 45 RBI in 113 games with Cubs 

While the Guardians’ outfield picture is currently full, we’d be remiss not to mention Conforto given he fits the archetype Antonetti and the Guardians’ front office has gone after before. 

They’ve largely been asked to fill holes with duct tape and old players because of the team’s budget constraints, and Conforto seems destined to play for a contract under $10 million. Signing him would be the outfield version of the Guardians signing Carlos Santana two years ago. 

Conforto has hit lefties well in his career and has a .414 batting average in nine career games at Progressive Field, but there’s no room in the inn for him in the Guardians’ outfield. That should save Antonetti from needing to dip into this pool to fortify Cleveland’s roster. 

4. Dustin May
4.70 ERA, 144 strikeouts, 50 walks in 145 2/3 innings with Cardinals and Brewers 

May started his career as a breakout starter for the Dodgers, but his career took a huge hit in 2023 when he underwent Tommy John surgery that kept him out for nearly two years. He was a bit better this season and pitched in a swingman role for the Brewers, and now is a free agent after he declined his part of his mutual option. 

The Guardians aren’t known for going out of their organization to add to their rotation, but May is a bit different since he’s seen some time as a swingman option. The Guardians have turned fixing injured pitchers into a cottage injury, and May would fit into that. 

3. Paul Goldschmidt
.252/.313/.452, 18 HR, 52 RBI in 105 games with Yankees 

You don’t need to look far to find evidence the Guardians would sign someone like Goldschmidt, as they essentially did the same thing last offseason with Rhys Hoskins. Hoskins may not have had the same kind of résumé as Goldschmidt, but this version of Goldschmidt is on the same level as Hoskins. 

Sure, Goldschmidt would theoretically help solve the Guardians’ problems against left-handed pitching, but he’d also stand in the way of top prospect Ralphy Velazquez. Another budget signing that shouldn’t happen. 

2. RHP Nick Pivetta
2.86 ERA, 42 strikeouts, 8 walks in 34 2/3 innings with Padres 

The Guardians made a hard push for Pivetta after the 2024 season, and they have a golden chance to do so again after the Padres declined Pivetta’s team option for 2027. 

That said, the biggest reason the Padres let Pivetta become a free agent is because he only made eight starts last season due to a right elbow flexor strain, which converted his player option for 2027 into that team option. 

The Padres clearly think highlight of Pivetta (they signed a four-year, $55 million contract with the Padres in the same offseason the Guardians pursued him), but they also got spooked enough to let him walk at a time when they desperately need pitchers. Now the Guardians could get him a discount. 

1. RHP Paul Blackburn
1.59 ERA, 69 strikeouts, 33 walks, 1 save in 85 innings with Yankees 

Blackburn was the only player connected to the Guardians in MLB Trade Rumors’ free agent predictions, and there’s a good reason for that. Blackburn has the swingman potential of May while not having any of the durability concerns of him or Pivetta while also being a budget option. It’s like he was built for the Guardians’ pitching lab. 

He doesn’t generate a ton of swing and miss, but he finished last season in the 86th percentile in ground ball rate and was largely able to keep the ball off the barrel. Bringing Blackburn in wouldn’t be a flashy move, but it would be the classic kind of Guardians move.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow