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Happy New Year, and welcome back to the Guardians Beat newsletter! My name is Tim Stebbins, and 2025 was my first season covering Cleveland for MLB.com.

CLEVELAND -- It doesn’t seem all that long ago when we watched the Guardians celebrate at Progressive Field after they finished off a historic comeback to clinch the American League Central title.

And yet, the new year is upon us, and we’re only about one month away from pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training. The Guardians will then open Cactus League play on Feb. 21, and Opening Day will follow soon after on March 26.

It’s not too soon to begin looking ahead to the 2026 campaign. Here are five early intriguing storylines ahead for the Guardians.








Ramírez’s push for 300

When José Ramírez belted a solo home run in the first inning of the Guardians’ 6-0 win over the Twins on Sept. 20, he became the first Cleveland player to record three seasons with 30 homers and 30 steals. More history awaits the 33-year-old this year.

Ramírez’s homer against Minnesota was No. 285 in his decorated career. He’s on the precipice of becoming the second player to hit 300 home runs in a Cleveland uniform, following franchise home run leader Jim Thome (who hit 337). When Ramírez hits his 15th homer in 2026, he’ll become the 20th third baseman in MLB history to hit 300 long balls (minimum 50 percent of games played at the position).

It felt like Ramírez made some form of history each week in 2025, and that only figures to continue in ’26.







A longer look at DeLauter

Chase DeLauter stands as one of the Guardians’ most intriguing players heading into Spring Training. The 24-year-old (who’s ranked as Cleveland’s No. 2 prospect and No. 58 overall by MLB Pipeline) will be vying for a spot on the Opening Day roster after he made his big league debut on the postseason stage this past fall.

DeLauter has long been one of Cleveland’s top prospects; health is the only thing that has slowed his big league timeline. He provided a taste of what he can do in the AL Wild Card Series against the Tigers, and that may only be an appetizer to what he contributes in 2026.








The starting rotation composition

The Guardians’ starting rotation was their biggest question mark heading into 2025. The staff ended the season as Cleveland’s biggest strength, and it’s shaping up to be one of the club’s most intriguing positional groups to watch in Spring Training.

The Guardians have six viable starters in Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, Slade Cecconi, Logan Allen, Joey Cantillo and Parker Messick. But they are set to go back to a five-man rotation this season, after ending 2025 with a six-man rotation that spurred the division title, and expect to have competition with the group this spring.

Cleveland’s rotation ranked second in the Majors with a 2.60 ERA in September. There's flexibility within the unit; Cantillo has experience pitching in relief and Messick has Minor League options remaining. But however the staff shakes out, it will look to build upon its 2025 momentum in ’26.








Closer Cade

The Guardians have to plan this winter as if they won’t have Emmanuel Clase, and they’re set to turn to Cade Smith in the ninth inning next season after he took over closing duties down the stretch in 2025. Our first extended look at Smith in that role was promising.

Clase went on non-disciplinary paid leave amid an ongoing MLB investigation on July 28. From that point through the end of the regular season, Smith logged a 2.79 ERA and a 1.76 FIP with 39 strikeouts in 29 innings over 30 appearances, while converting 13 of his 17 save opportunities.

Smith has proven to have a slow heartbeat over his first two seasons in the Majors, and we’re set to get a larger look at his steadiness at the back end of games for the Guardians in 2026.








Bazzana’s timeline

DeLauter could make his regular-season debut on Opening Day, and Travis Bazzana’s MLB debut may not be too far behind. Bazzana (the Guardians’ No. 1 prospect, No. 17 overall) finished last season with Triple-A Columbus, following his promotion to the Clippers on Aug. 10, putting the 2024 No. 1 overall Draft pick one step away from The Show.

Bazzana will all but assuredly open 2026 with Columbus, and the Guardians will not rush him to the big leagues. But it’s not far-fetched to envision the 23-year-old wearing a Cleveland uniform come summertime. His status will be an ongoing storyline this spring and come the start of the Minor League season.


QUOTABLE

“We may have to win 120 games. I don’t know. It’s pretty cool. I’m very honored and really just proud of our guys.” -- Manager Stephen Vogt, quipping to reporters at the Winter Meetings when asked what he could do to win a third straight AL Manager of the Year Award in 2026

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Cardinals Acquire Justin Bruihl, Designate Zak Kent For Assignment

By Darragh McDonald | January 6, 2026 at 2:25pm CDT

The Cardinals have acquired left-hander Justin Bruihl from the Guardians in exchange for cash considerations, according to announcements from both clubs. Bruihl had been designated for assignment by Cleveland last month. Right-hander Zak Kent has been designated for assignment by the Cards today in a corresponding 40-man roster move.

It’s the second cash deal of the winter for Bruihl, who will turn 29 in June. The lefty began the offseason with the Blue Jays but was bumped off the roster when Toronto signed right-hander Tyler Rogers last month. The Guardians sent some cash north of the order to grab Bruihl but then designated him for assignment three days later when they signed Shawn Armstrong. DFA limbo normally lasts a maximum of one week but there are different rules around the holidays, so Bruihl was hanging out there for almost three weeks.

He now finally has some resolution and it could be a good spot for him to carve out some big league playing time. Bruihl posted good numbers in 2025 but exhausted his final option season, which pushed him to the fringes of Toronto’s roster. The Jays have been busy upgrading their pitching staff for another run at competing in 2026 and bumped Bruihl off. Cleveland had one of the best bullpens in the league last year and was also going to have a tough time keeping the southpaw around for long.

But the Cardinals are rebuilding and should therefore have a bit more breathability in their relief group. JoJo Romero is currently the top lefty in their projected bullpen but he is one year away from free agency, making him likely to be traded in the coming weeks. If Romero is dealt, that would leave Bruihl and Nick Raquet as the two lefty relievers on the St. Louis 40-man roster. Raquet was called up late in the 2025 season and has just two big league innings under his belt.

Bruihl has thrown 89 2/3 innings over multiple seasons between the Dodgers, Rockies and Blue Jays. Toronto only let him throw 13 2/3 big league innings in 2025 but he fared decently, despite posting a 5.27 earned run average. His 10.8% walk rate was a bit high in that small sample but his 27.7% strikeout rate and 46.2% ground ball rate were both a few ticks better than average. He also logged 42 Triple-A innings last year with a 3.43 ERA, 27.8% strikeout rate, 9.1% walk rate and 58.4% ground ball rate.

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