Two-time World Series Champion would be ideal addition for Guardians

It is obvious that the Cleveland Guardians need to add at least one impactful bat to their lineup this offseason if they are going to improve upon their success from last season. One potential option for them to consider has just become available. Now-former Arizona Diamondbacks slugger Joc Pederson has declined his mutual option and has become a free agent.

This was not a surprising development for the 32-year-old Pederson as he is coming off a season that saw him produce a 151 OPS+ thanks to a .275/.393/.515 slash line with 23 home runs and 17 doubles in 132 games. Pederson's batting average, on-base percentage, OPS, and OPS+ were all career-bests, while his slugging percentage was the fourth-best mark in his 11-year career. If there was a time for Pederson to cash in on a more financially rewarding contract, now would be it.

The Guardians could definitely use a bat like Pederson's in their lineup, and plenty of people have stated their desire for this to happen for quite some time. With Cleveland having far too many platoon/part-time players in the lineup, there is a clear need to have another everyday player, and Pederson would be a great candidate for that role.

There is something else that is worth mentioning here. Pederson has plenty of postseason success, being on four teams that have been to the World Series, including two teams that won (Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020 and Atlanta Braves in 2021). Being able to add someone who has "been there before" to this team could help the Guardians get over the hump and end their championship drought.

What this comes down to is the Guardians' front office understanding where they are on their competitive timeline and continuing to trot out players in roles they clearly do not belong in will not result in the success they are seeking. A legitimate everyday bat would not entirely close the gap between themselves and two teams who just participated in the World Series, but it would definitely raise the roster's talent floor and increase their margin for error. Considering how close the ALCS actually was, this could easily result in things playing out in their favor next time around.