The Cleveland Guardians’ magical season ended painfully, surprising many as they made an unexpected run to the ALCS. While reaching this stage was an impressive feat, the manner of their loss to the Yankees will linger in the minds of fans for some time.
Cleveland’s once-dominant bullpen faltered in October. Most of the high-leverage pitchers Stephen Vogt relied on against New York, except for Tim Herrin, struggled significantly. Though Vogt wasn’t flawless and the offense was lackluster for much of the postseason, the bullpen’s collapse at such a critical moment overshadowed everything.
While much of the talented core, including many bullpen members, will return in 2025, adjustments are necessary for the team to advance further. This starts with parting ways with certain players. FanSided’s Cody Williams identified three players likely not returning in 2025, but there are more on the horizon.
Here are three additional Guardians who may find themselves in new uniforms by Opening Day.
3. Carlos Carrasco’s return didn’t go as planned.
Carlos Carrasco, a long-time Guardian, returned on a minor league deal after a tough stint with the Mets. Expectations were low, and he didn’t exceed them, finishing the season with a 5.64 ERA across 21 starts. It was clear that his skills had declined, leading to his DFA in September and subsequent assignment to Triple-A Columbus. At 37, it’s unlikely he’ll be back, especially as the Guardians seek to improve their rotation.
2. Matthew Boyd’s price tag may be too high.
While the Guardians didn’t make significant moves at the trade deadline, the signing of Matthew Boyd showed promise despite his injury history. He had a solid stint with a 2.72 ERA over eight regular season starts and excelled in the postseason. However, with only about 50 total innings pitched this year, the Guardians might be hesitant to invest in him, especially given their need for more dependable rotation options.
1. Josh Naylor could be on the trading block
Trading Josh Naylor would be a controversial move. The 27-year-old had an impressive regular season with 31 home runs and 108 RBIs. Although parting with such a key run producer after a lackluster postseason may seem unwise, the Guardians have a history of making surprising trades.
With Naylor entering his final year of club control in 2025 and Kyle Manzardo waiting in the wings, the team might consider moving him for a significant return, especially to avoid a repeat of the Shane Bieber situation. While he’s a valuable player, the possibility of a trade cannot be dismissed.
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