FAQ: What to know about Guards' offseason

By Mandy Bell | November 1, 2024

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This story was excerpted from Mandy Bell’s Guardians Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Baseball has officially reached the offseason. While the Dodgers celebrate their World Series parade, the other 29 clubs are preparing to enter offseason mode. Players are set to hit free agency and teams need to get their rosters in order. We’re just a few days away from the Hot Stove flipping on.

Let’s take a look at Cleveland’s offseason FAQ:

Which players are free agents?
The Guardians have five free agents:

Are any of them likely to receive qualifying offers, and what is the deadline for that?
In a world where Bieber remained healthy for all of 2024 and stayed as dominant as he was in his first two starts before needing Tommy John surgery, and somehow remained with the Guardians without being traded midway through the season ... Bieber would’ve been on the receiving end of a qualifying offer.

Now there are question marks surrounding his future.

A qualifying offer, which this year is worth $21.05 million, is risky for a player coming back from major surgery. The club would get a compensation Draft pick if Bieber would decline the offer. But because teams may be hesitant to break the bank to sign him, he may want to lock up the guaranteed money for 2025, come back to Cleveland for a season and use it to build his value heading into next winter to sign a heftier long-term deal.

Would the Guardians be OK to spend $21.05 million on him should he accept? If not, is it worth the risk of trying to get an extra Draft pick?

The Guardians have until 5 p.m. ET on Monday to make their decision.

Are any of those free agents expected to be re-signed?
Whether it’s through a qualifying offer or not, the Guardians and Bieber have mutual interest in working something out. The same goes for Cobb, Boyd and Hedges.

It seems unlikely that the Guardians would have the means to bring all four of them back for 2025, but more than one is possible. Starting pitching is a tremendous need to address this winter. Because Cleveland was able to see more of Boyd than Cobb due to Cobb’s injury limitations, maybe the organization would try to target Boyd first. But both brought leadership and a much-needed veteran presence to a young clubhouse that proved to be valuable down the stretch in ’24. Adding Bieber back to the mix would obviously be the big arm they’d be looking for.

Hedges may not be the answer for the Guardians offensively, but defensively and in the clubhouse, he’s almost irreplaceable, simply because there’s no one else like him. Cleveland raved about his leadership all season and constantly credited its unity and success to him. It wouldn’t hurt to have that presence back with the group in 2025.

Which players have options?
None.

Who is eligible for salary arbitration?
The Guardians have nine arbitration-eligible players:

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Who might be a non-tender candidate, and when does the club have to make that decision?
Karinchak is at the top of the possible non-tender list. Injuries derailed his chances of proving he can be the reliever he was at the start of his career this season. He struggled to regain his velocity and spent most of the year in Arizona, trying to get himself back on track. With a plethora of other relief options, the Guardians may not feel the need to tender Karinchak a contract for 2025.

The tender deadline is Nov. 22.

Who needs to be added to the 40-man roster this winter to avoid the Rule 5 Draft?
Some of the most popular prospects who will need to be added to the 40-man roster in order to avoid the Rule 5 Draft include LHP Doug Nikhazy, OF Petey Halpin, LHP Ryan Webb, RHP Franco Aleman, RHP Nic Enright and RHP Aaron Davenport.

Expect Nikhazy and Aleman to be on the top of the protect list.

What kind of help does Cleveland need?
The Guardians need at least one big starting pitcher plus a handful of starting depth pieces. The team could also use a center fielder (and move Thomas to right field) or just another big bat.

Will the Guardians be active in free agency?
They could, especially with familiar faces like Bieber, Boyd, Cobb or Hedges. But expect more moves via trade.

Who might they be willing to trade?
In order to get good talent, the Guardians will have to be willing to part with good talent. Emmanuel Clase’s name will pop up in conversations. Maybe the team can find another bullpen arm to move, too. Josh Naylor will also pop up in trade rumors, although it seems to make more sense to hold on to him until at least the Trade Deadline.

But expect all the biggest names to be discussed this offseason, as always.

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