4 Creative Ways the Guardians Can Get More Right-Handed

After what was a year full of absolute turmoil, the Cleveland Guardians managed to pull together, go on a run, and end up taking the AL Central crown at the end of the 2025 season.

Now, after entering the new year just a few days ago, we are still waiting to see exactly what direction the Guardians are going to take for 2026. Even with a first-place finish in the division last season, it is hard to imagine this current iteration of the Guardians’ lineup causing trouble across the league.

Year after year, we continue to hold onto a tiny sliver of optimism that Cleveland’s front office is going to do right by their face of the franchise, José Ramírez, but they do everything but. Even heading into this offseason, the rumors were hot and heavy surrounding their leadoff hitter, Steven Kwan, being on the trade block.

Not to mention the fact that, as it currently projects, six out of the nine hitters in the lineup all hit from the left side. That seems suboptimal for a team that touts exploiting matchups.

If we are being honest, it is not just the fact that they are so left-handed. It’s that, of the six, only two of them had a wRC+ above 100 last season, and one of them was George Valera, who only had 48 plate appearances. The other being Kyle Manzardo.

Lucky for them, if they actually wanted to make a change to this issue, there are options on both the trade market and free agency that would improve this lineup and actually give J-Ram the lineup protection he so desperately needs.

Trade Candidates

Yandy Díaz (1B/DH) – Tampa Bay Rays

2025 Stats: 651 PA .300/.366/.482 25 HRs, 83 RBIs, 135 wRC+

Guardians fans would likely want a second chance at the 2018 trade between them and the Tampa Bay Rays that sent Yandy Díaz to Tampa for Jake Bauers.

After getting his club option picked up by the Rays, the trade rumors around Yandy quickly began to swirl, given that he is now set to make $12 million during the 2026 season. He also has a conditional club option for $10 million that would vest should he surpass 500 PA this upcoming season.

While the Guardians are notoriously famous for trying to stay within their self-created financial margins, both salaries are affordable for a team that is looking to try and keep the AL Central crown.

The fit in Cleveland would be perfect for the former Guardian.

Yes, the first factor is that he helps with the left-handed issue that this lineup currently faces. The Guardians will likely be looking to have Manzardo get as many reps at DH as he can, seeing that his defense is a bit subpar. Yandy is not a Gold Glove candidate either, but the two could spell each other throughout the season.

The career 131 wRC+ would be a big-time addition for the team heading into the 2026 season. Not to mention that, even at the “advanced” age of 34, he produced a 52.5% hard-hit rate last year and has shown no signs of the bat slowing down.

Nico Hoerner (2B) – Chicago Cubs

2025 Stats: 649 PA .297/.345/.394 7 HRs, 61 RBIs, 29 SBs, 109 wRC+

Nico Hoerner is another player who just can’t seem to find his way out of trade speculations surrounding the Chicago Cubs. Even more so now that they are trying to find creative, cheap ways to build up a starting rotation that needs some help.

The match between the two teams would be perfect, given the Guardians’ ability to seemingly spawn major-league starters every season, which the Cubs need.

Heading into the final year of the three-year, $35 million pre-arb extension that he signed in Chicago, the cost of acquisition should not be much. A plus for the Guardians, aside from what he would provide them on offense, is the Gold Glove-caliber defense he provides in either position up the middle of the infield.

Likewise, Hoerner’s baserunning ability would be an extremely valuable addition to this lineup. He has not had a full season with fewer than 20 stolen bases, stealing a career-high 43 just two seasons ago.

The need for another consistent hitter in the lineup is well understated by the media. Not only do the Guardians struggle putting together good at-bats on a nightly basis, but they ranked 29th in all of baseball in team batting average with a .226. The pitching staff and J-Ram have been doing a lot of the heavy lifting.

Hoerner’s career line of .282/.340/.384 just makes too much sense for this team.

Whether it would be serving as their starting shortstop over Brayan Rocchio or at second base instead of Gabriel Arias, Hoerner would be an immediate upgrade on the field and at the top of the lineup.

Mark Vientos (1B/3B) – New York Mets

2025 Stats: 463 PA .233/.289/.413 17 HRs, 61 RBIs, 97 wRC+

The 2025 season started with some lofty expectations for Mark Vientos. He was coming off a 2024 campaign — his first full-season in the majors — where he put up 27 home runs, a 132 wRC+, and a postseason where he slashed .327/.362/.636 with five home runs, producing big hit after big hit.

Now that Pete Alonso is officially out of the door, Vientos is currently slated to take over the first base position for the New York Mets entering the 2026 season. Being that as it may, one might think that takes Vientos off the market.

However, the Mets are still being linked to free agents Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt, and they have an internal candidate, prospect Ryan Clifford, who can play first base. The option for them to move on from Vientos is still on the table.

For Cleveland, it is very similar to the fit that Yandy would provide them. A right-handed power option who would alternate with Kyle Manzardo at the first base or designated hitter role when either needs a breather.

What’s more, Vientos, per Baseball Savant’s adjusted Expected Home Runs by Park, would have also hit a combined 42 home runs at Progressive Field alone in the past two seasons.

It would be a sight for sore eyes on a team that ranked 20th in baseball, third to last in the American League, in home runs last year.

Then, like the Cubs, the Mets are also in the market for starting pitching. Rumors of them being interested in Framber Valdez are still hovering around the team and will continue to do so with every passing day that he does not sign.

Let’s also not forget the bounce back that Vientos had in the second half of the season, which should provide optimism that the same 2024 version of himself is still in there.

It does feel as if a fresh start, even so early in his career, would be beneficial for the 26-year-old looking to return to form.

Free Agent Option

Harrison Bader (OF)

2025 Stats: 501 PA .277.,347/.449 17 HRs, 54 RBIs, 122 wRC+

Should the Guardians decide they want to hold onto their pitching depth and prefer acquiring a right-handed hitter via free agency, look no further than Harrison Bader. He would be a perfect option for them.

Coming off a career-high in games played (146) and plate appearances (501), Bader is entering his age-32 season after putting up a 122 wRC+ and 3.2 fWAR, all while providing plus defense in any of the three outfield positions on a nightly basis.

As it currently stands, the all left-handed hitting outfield of Stephen Kwan, Chase DeLauter, and George Valera has a lot of question marks, specifically around the last two, who have been dealing with injuries ever since becoming professional baseball players.

Here at Just Baseball, we have projected that Bader’s next deal would be between one and three years for around $12 – 17 million AAV. For what Bader provides a team on both sides of the ball and the speed he can sprinkle in now and then, he would be well worth it for a team that is also in need of consistency in their outfield.

One could also argue that he is currently the third-best free-agent outfielder still on the market after Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger.

Bader might be waiting to see where those two sign before deciding on a home for the 2026 season and beyond, but the Guardians would be smart to try and get ahead of them to try a get ahead of the market.