Guardians’ offseason wish list: Fans say Cleveland must seek starting pitching and power bats

Keep the core together. Let DeLauter have a chance to win the RF spot perhaps in a platoon with Noel. (I think Brennan is the odd man out). Need to sign at least one experienced starter. I’d like that to be Boyd. Maybe make a 1 or 2 year deal with Bieber but don’t overpay. We actually have the advantage since he should want to position himself for a higher future payday with the help of Carl Willis. — Stephen, Surf City, NC

I have “Chris Antonetti” and “our improvement must come from within” on my bingo card. The Guardians need at least one, preferably two impact bats. Could it come from the group of DeLauter, Bazzana, Brito and Bo Naylor? Possibly. The Guardians also need starting pitching. After Bibee and Williams, what is the starting rotation? History has shown that we will need about eight legitimate options going into spring training for five spots. I have read / heard several pundits credit Tito with the idea that when you think that you have enough pitching, go get more. I say “balderdash!” Pete Franklin used to say that all the time and he predates Francona on the Cleveland sports scene by a couple of decades. — Greg, Sylvania, OH

I have to think trading Josh for a starting pitcher will be considered. With Manzardo ready to take more at-bats next year and CJ Kayfus waiting in the wings, Josh is more expendable. — Andrew, Solon, OH

Starting pitching. Right field. Trade Josh Naylor. Try to keep Boyd. Work out a deal with Bieber. Then look for more pitching. Love the young relievers. But can’t ride them so hard — Bruce, Lake Worth, FL

Throwing a few coins in a fountain and wishing? They obviously need upgrade at SP. Maybe you get Lively (though being left off the post season roster probably doesn’t make him feel very welcome) and Boyd (though I think he’ll get paid elsewhere). They’re going to have to spend some money. Or I’d consider dealing Josh if you can get a middle of the rotation arm that you can control over for a couple of years. Not sure what the return on Josh would be though given he’s only got one year left on contract. Not sure what they do at catcher. I appreciate that Hedges may call a good game and be the locker room presence, but at $4M/year and batting below .200 is he worth that? Who knows what’s going on with Bo. Right field is a giant question mark. Noel? Maybe. If he can make some adjustments. Just feels like they’ll make another playoff push and fall short of the World Series again. Maybe I’m still too bitter over this year. — Matthew, Chagrin Falls, OH

I think an upgrade at 1st base may be necessary, I love Josh Naylor’s power, but, too many swings at first pitches and when we need a hit vs a long ball, does not seem to happen as much as needed. Kyle Manzardo to first. Keep Boyd in rotation, keep Hedges to keep team loose. Get our starters healthy. — Patrick, Garfield Heights, OH

Veteran free agent pitcher- see KC Royals. Determine whether Big Naylor is long term guy at first. If so, make an offer that he will accept but not exorbitant. Otherwise, trade and give Manzardo a shot. Hopefully obtain SP and prospect for Naylor. His weight will eventually catch up to him. Catcher, need a guy who can hit. Little Naylor? Fry? Elbow may rule him out there. Let DeLauter and Rodriguez play at the big league level if healthy. Bazzana is a wild card. Can he advance to help mid-season? Sign Bieber! — George, Warren, OH

I am not a fan of Valaika. Our hitting was inconsistent. We were shutout too many times. I start there. Gimenez is your starting shortstop next year. Bazzana has to be given every opportunity to be your second baseman. DeLauter, for sure, in right. Noel and Angel Martinez will play a role. Naylor got a wakeup call behind the plate. Everyone else stays in place. Bullpen stays in place. They got tired at the end. That is because we need to address our starting pitching. That will require money. Boyd and Cobb would help for sure. We have three others. Bieber won’t be ready at the start of the season. That would be cake on the icing to get him signed. No opposing pitcher took Rocchio serious. He couldn’t make the plays when we needed them made. He was a .202 hitter. Gimenez at shortstop next year. Shortstop, catcher and right field all under .210. Pathetic. Bazzana and Dalauter will fix two of the spots. I don’t know about catcher. I think Naylor has the ability to hit. — Virgil, Gustavus, OH

We need solid starters that can go deep into the game. Start with signing Matthew Boyd and work with the rookie pitchers to get them ready for next year. Try to sign Shane Bieber for one season to see how he does. — Beverly, Cleveland, OH

Sign Beiber to a two year deal, go after Boyd with a vengeance, and get Hedges on board for another run. When Hedges is on the roster, we win. He is glue. — Carl, Gainesville, FL

Trade Naylor, give Manzardo first base. Sign Bieber if money is right. Bring back Boyd. Change the organization view on hitting. Need smashers to win in the postseason. Have to keep drafting them along with pitchers. System is loaded with talent so don’t mortgage the future but don’t hoard — Tim, Cedar Falls, IA

Bolster rotation, most likely through development of existing arms (Allen, Mackenzie, Williams) and they’ve got to solve their eternal struggle for outfield offense. That will have to come from in-house options, but maybe trading Josh Naylor for an outfield bat. Manzardo/Fry could probably man first base. — Terry, Peoria, AZ

Guardians need an everyday right fielder and a frontline starter. They should start the former process with their current candidates. In particular, they need to see what they have in Big Christmas, Johnathan Rodriguez and Angel Martinez, and especially Chase DeLauter. If he can stay on the field. That being said, the approach to the latter involves exploring as big a package of current prospects as it takes, except Bazzana and a select group of other untouchables — Bob, Lake Worth, FL

The team has many issues that need attention, an everyday right fielder, a shortstop that can hit over .200 and doesn’t implode when under pressure, a catcher than can hit, but the biggest need is starting pitching. A dependable stater costs money and ownership won’t spend. So the front office is stuck trying to find someone coming off an injury, trying to fix someone’s delivery that is getting hit hard or finding an older pitcher that might have a little left in his arm. I am at the point that I would rather talk about when we will finally have an owner with deep pockets that will spend. Our front office works miracles with their budget, imagine the team if our payroll was MLB average! — John, Westfield Center, OH

Starting pitching, another bat or two. More offense from the catcher’s position. Unless ownership is willing to spend at least some money on free agents, the team will be unable to go any further than it did this year. Here’s one idea that might be out there: Hire Austin Hedges as a coach, and pay him enough that it is worth his while to retire as a player. His main value, which is substantial is as a teacher, spark plug and motivator for other players. They need him in the clubhouse and on the coaching staff more than they need him on the field. Then try to sign a catcher that can both catch and hit. Although he has had his bright moments, I don’t think Bo Naylor is the long term answer. — Bill, Peoria, AZ

First priority is to find a veteran starting pitcher to eat innings, not an ace, but a solid No. 3. Second priority, we need to find an impactful, everyday right fielder. — Mike, Litchfield, CT

First, they have to suck it up and trade some prospects. The potential issue is they’ve played some of them too much there may not be longer be interest. Arias, Freeman, Schneemann, Martínez, Brennan are all easily on the table. Whether DeLauter and Brito are remains to be seen. But they have to get major league pitching for them. Trades are little to no cost. Second, between Boyd, Lively, and Cobb they have to re-sign some combo of them. I’d start with Boyd, then Lively, and lastly Cobb. Third, they have to figure out what McKenzie can do. He gives up a lot of HRs – that doesn’t play well especially in the post-season. Maybe he can move to the bullpen because his body may not hold up starting 30 games. Fourth, if they intend to try and sign Josh Naylor he has to lose 30 lbs, be open to DH’ing some, and also learning situational hitting for the post-season. Every swing can’t be from the heels with his helmet falling off. They also need to have a talk with Rocchio. He has to understand situations and opportunities better. This isn’t about his highlight reel. It’s solid baseball. He needs to do his part. Kwan needs to take more days off. He’s a small guy and plays hard. He needs a break every so often. If they can get Lane Thomas for an affordable price that’d be great. Otherwise they’re back to no CF. Bo Naylor needs to hit better – and more consistently. If he cannot do it by the trade deadline then a move needs to be made. They have to hope Williams, Cantillo, and even Bibee take the next step. Bibee isn’t there yet either. — Bob, Albuquerque, NM

Need starting pitchers. Assume Bibee is number one. Re-sign Bieber for 1-2 years on an incentive-based contract. Same with Boyd and Lively. Pencil in Logan Allen. Then hope Williams or Mackenzie get their act together. Possibly trade Mackenzie. He may need a change in scenery — Bill, Franklin, TN

More offense from C and SS, more length from the SP collectively and a healthier bullpen. Have Fry be a full-time catcher, Manzardo at 1B, trade Naylor bros for either SS or OF help, Noel at DH. Pitching help a dip into free agency for innings eaters or injury recovery candidates (hopefully catching Aces like with Boyd). — Karl, Green Bay, WI

I think starting pitching is the need. Won’t be a popular suggestion but I suggest trading Josh Naylor for someone controllable if possible. If the Guards spend playoff earnings on free agents, they should overspend for known quantities like Boyd and Bieber instead of going out on a limb. They have not done well with the big ticket signings in general. Maybe bring someone like Carlos Santana back in a part time role if he is willing, and bring back Hedges assuming he was on a one year deal. — Sue, Lyndhurst, OH

Keep Thomas and Josh in the lineup with Jose. Get Fry healthy. Keep Hedges. Re-sign Boyd. Get another starting pitcher, maybe by trading Brennan, Arias and others. Do a deep dive on Bo to determine if he’s the long-term answer at catcher. Also, bring back Lively. — Dan, Temecula, CA

Starting pitching and a star hitter. Re-sign Bieber to a short-term incentive laden contract with an opt out, re-sign Boyd and/or look for a reasonably priced starter. Cobb is a question mark in my book. Guards have to spend. Window is now, and they have playoff money to do so. — Mark, Chicago, IL

Antonetti and Chernoff are hamstrung unless the ownership ups the 2025 total team salaries by 50-60%. Unlikely to happen. If they do that then the front office can go after pitching. The team can’t rely on the rookies performing like this year. While there is promise there is no guarantee. Will Stephen return to his mostly reliable self? Bieber? Allen? Maybe a 60/40 success if that. Karinchek, McKenzie? If they come back it would be an answer to prayers so I don’t include either in my thoughts going forward. If another team will take them via trade or waivers, fine. Boyd is a free agent. I would not break the bank but I’d offer him a chance to stay here with the one team that actually showed interest in him even when he was still rehabbing. I do not sign Cobb. Nice storyline. Signed, in my opinion, as a favor to Vogt. If Sandlin isn’t a free agent, I’d try to trade him. I’d offer Avila a reasonable contract to keep him as a long reliever. Forget Daniel Espino. He may never pitch in the big leagues. Sam Hentges is more than a year away. Definitely try to sign Bieber for a number of reasons. First is the PR move. The whole region would celebrate. Second, if his pitching comes back he is absolutely your ACE. I’d also try to re-sign Lively. — Dave, Avon, OH