Is the Cleveland Guardians' cautious approach to the offseason putting them at risk of falling behind their fierce AL Central competitors? Buckle up, baseball fans—this week's roundup of team moves might just fire up your passion for the game and leave you wondering who's really pulling ahead.
Hey there, fellow Guardians supporters! If you're like me, you're eagerly watching every move as the offseason unfolds in Major League Baseball. For the Cleveland Guardians, there's still plenty of time before the real action ramps up. Pitchers, catchers, and injured players are set to report voluntarily to spring training in Goodyear, Arizona, on February 10. Oh, and don't forget—those participating in the World Baseball Classic might show up a bit sooner, around a few days early, to get that extra prep time. This gives the team a window to bolster their roster after clinching the AL Central crown on the final day of the 2024 regular season with a solid 88-74 record. For newcomers to baseball, the AL Central is one of the American League's divisions, featuring teams like Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, Minnesota, and Chicago, all battling for supremacy.
Right now, the Guardians' front office is zeroing in on strengthening their bullpen—that's the group of relief pitchers who come in late in games to protect leads. They've already brought in some fresh arms: relievers Shawn Armstrong, Connor Brogdon, Colin Holderman, Justin Bruihl, and even Rule 5 Draft pick Peyton Pallette. (Quick explainer: The Rule 5 Draft lets teams snag players from other organizations' minor leagues, but they have to keep them on the major league roster all season or risk losing them—it's a high-stakes gamble!) Chris Antonetti, the team's president of baseball operations, has made it clear that beefing up the bullpen was a priority, and they're wasting no time making it happen.
Check out these recent updates for more details:
* Guardians sign outfielder to minor-league deal with invite to big-league camp (https://www.cleveland.com/guardians/2025/12/guardians-sign-outfielder-to-minor-league-deal-with-invite-to-big-league-camp.html)
* Will Guardians ignore needy offense to pay Steven Kwan? Hey, Hoynsie! (https://www.cleveland.com/guardians/2025/12/will-guardians-ignore-needy-offense-to-pay-steven-kwan-hey-hoynsie.html)
* Ex-Guardians pitcher tears Achilles on same day he was set to sign MLB contract (https://www.cleveland.com/guardians/2025/12/ex-guardians-pitcher-tears-achilles-on-same-day-he-was-set-to-sign-mlb-contract.html)
Now, it's worth noting that the bullpen wasn't exactly a disaster last year. Cleveland's relievers tied for second in the majors with 47 saves (saves are when a pitcher locks down a close win), boasted the third-lowest ERA (Earned Run Average, a key stat measuring how many runs a pitcher allows per nine innings—lower is better), and surprisingly pitched the second-fewest total innings among all teams. But here's where it gets controversial: the looming cloud over star closer Emmanuel Clase. He's facing trial in May after an indictment for allegedly fixing pitches during games—a serious allegation that could shake the foundations of the sport. The front office simply couldn't turn a blind eye to the uncertainty this creates, especially for a guy who's been their go-to in high-pressure situations. And this is the part most people miss: even strong units need depth when key players are in jeopardy.
Looking ahead, expect the Guardians to shift focus to their offense, which has been starving for runs—meaning they struggle to score enough to win consistently. At the same time, they'll want to give their top prospects plenty of plate appearances in the majors to see if they can stick or if they need more seasoning in the minors. For example, young hitters like Jhonkensy Noel or Kyle Manzardo could get those crucial opportunities to shine.
But while Cleveland plots its next steps, the rest of the AL Central isn't sitting idle—they're making waves that could make division play even more intense next year.
Let's talk about the Tigers in Detroit. They've been laser-focused on their pitching staff this winter. They inked right-hander Drew Anderson to a deal after his two-year stint in the Korean Baseball League, where he honed his skills abroad. He's poised to slot into the rotation alongside aces like Tarik Skubal (assuming he doesn't get dealt in a trade), Jack Flaherty, and Casey Mize—forming a potentially formidable starting lineup that could dominate early innings.
The Tigers had a rollercoaster 2024: they blew a massive 15.5-game lead in the standings, allowing the Guardians to surge past them in the regular season. Yet, they turned it around dramatically in the playoffs, knocking out Cleveland in the wild-card series—a reminder that momentum can shift fast in October baseball. That postseason magic seems to linger; Flaherty opted into his $20 million player option for 2026, committing to the team, and second baseman Gleyber Torres grabbed the $22.025 million qualifying offer to stick around for next year too. (The qualifying offer is a one-year deal teams extend to free agents to discourage them from leaving without compensation—it's like a financial safety net.)
On the relief front, Detroit landed veteran closer Kenley Jansen on a one-year contract with a club option; the guy has an impressive 476 career saves, making him a lockdown artist for late games. They also brought back Kyle Finnegan, acquired from Washington at last year's trade deadline, to add stability.
Shifting to Kansas City and the Royals: Along with Cleveland and Detroit, they made the playoffs in 2024, but last year they dipped to an 82-80 mark and missed out. General Manager J.J. Picollo has been hustling this offseason to juice up their batting order, which was nearly as anemic as the Guardians'. The Royals ranked 26th in runs scored league-wide, just ahead of Cleveland's 28th out of 30 teams—putting both squads in the 'needs help' category for scoring punch.
Picollo targeted the outfield for upgrades. He shipped left-handed reliever Angel Zerpa to Milwaukee in exchange for outfielder Isaac Collins and right-hander Nick Means. Collins, a versatile switch-hitter (meaning he bats from both sides of the plate for better matchups), covers left field, right field, and even some infield spots. Last season, he hit .263 with a .368 on-base percentage and .411 slugging percentage—solid numbers that helped the Brewers claim the best record in baseball. To build on that, Picollo signed ex-Guardians outfielder Lane Thomas to a one-year, $5.25 million pact. Thomas only appeared in 39 games for Cleveland last year due to a bruised right wrist and plantar fasciitis, which led to surgery that ended his season prematurely—plantar fasciitis is that nagging foot inflammation that can sideline even tough pros.
That trade created a gap in left-handed relief pitching for Kansas City, so Picollo snagged Matt Strahm from the Phillies in return for righty Jonathan Bowlan. Plus, in a big vote of confidence, they locked up All-Star third baseman Maikel Garcia with a five-year, $57 million extension—securing a cornerstone player for years to come.
Over in Minnesota with the Twins, things are off to a slower start this offseason. The Pohlad family, who've owned the team for more than four decades, recently welcomed minority owners, which has shaken up the financial picture. Last year, the Twins dealt away nearly every expendable player at the trade deadline to cut costs—a fire sale, if you will, to trim payroll. Now, president of baseball operations Derek Falvey has gotten the green light from the new ownership setup: no need to offload the remaining big-salary stars, and actually, they can add talent. Case in point—they just added switch-hitting free agent Josh Bell on a one-year, $7 million deal, bringing some pop to the lineup from a guy who's played for multiple contenders.
How much spending room Falvey has left for the winter remains a mystery, but here's a bright spot: the Twins snagged the third overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft lottery during the winter meetings. (The draft lottery is like a raffle for non-playoff teams to get high draft slots, giving rebuilders a shot at top talent—think of it as a fair shake for the underdogs.)
Finally, the Chicago White Sox—talk about draft luck! They hit the jackpot with the No. 1 pick for 2026, marking the third straight year an AL Central squad has landed the top spot (Cleveland got it in 2024). Despite dropping over 100 games in each of the past three seasons—a brutal stretch that tests any fanbase—the White Sox appear to be turning a corner. They've poured effort into their starting rotation, which is growing deeper by the day with promising arms.
Left-hander Anthony Katz came back from Japan on a two-year, $12 million contract, injecting international flavor and experience. In the Rule 5 Draft's major league phase, they grabbed pitchers Jedixson Paez and Alex Alberto—keeping both on the active 26-man roster all year will be tough, but remember, last year's Rule 5 selections like Shane Smith stuck around and made 29 starts, becoming a rotation mainstay. In a bold coaching shakeup, second-year manager Will Venable has onboarded seven new coaches this offseason, aiming to refresh strategies and develop that young core—could this be the spark Chicago needs?
But here's where it gets controversial: While the Guardians tinker incrementally, are teams like the Tigers and Royals making smarter, splashier bets that could redefine the division? Some fans argue Cleveland's frugality is smart housekeeping, but others see it as shortsighted, especially with offense lagging. What do you think—should the Guardians go all-in on free agents to match their rivals, or is their prospect pipeline enough to compete? Drop your hot takes in the comments below; I'd love to hear if you're optimistic about 2026 or worried we're getting left behind!
