The Cleveland Guardians have quietly built one of baseball’s nastiest bullpens this offseason. But their lineup—especially the outfield—still has a glaring hole from the right side of the plate.
The front office is openly targeting a right-handed hitting outfielder. Payroll constraints limit splashy moves, so the club’s winter strategy is more about fit and flexibility than star power.
Cleveland’s Offseason Blueprint: Pitching First, Bats Later
The Guardians stuck to their usual approach and spent the early offseason fortifying their greatest strength: the bullpen. Offense has taken a back seat, and that’s where questions start piling up for 2026.
Guardians Double Down on Bullpen Strength
Their most decisive moves so far have come on the mound. The front office focused on depth and reliability in the late innings.
The club brought in three relief arms designed to shorten games and preserve narrow leads.
Key bullpen additions:
On offense, the only notable move has been re-signing Austin Hedges. He’s a defense-first catcher whose game-calling, framing, and leadership matter a lot more than his bat.
That defensive emphasis is a recurring theme. Still, it doesn’t solve the growing offensive imbalance in the outfield.
The Outfield Problem: Too Left-Handed, Not Productive Enough
Cleveland’s outfield picture is defined by two realities. Steven Kwan is a cornerstone, and almost everyone else is a question mark.
Nearly all of them bat left-handed, creating a severe lack of right-handed thump.
Steven Kwan: Lone Bright Spot in a Thin Outfield
In 2025, Steven Kwan once again stabilized the outfield and the top of the lineup. He posted a .272/.330/.374 slash line with a 99 wRC+, pairing league-average offense with his usual elite defense.
That combination was good for 3.2 WAR. He brings all-around value even without big power.
The issue for Cleveland is that Kwan was essentially the only regular outfielder providing consistent value. The rest of the group lagged badly at the plate.
Nolan Jones, Angel Martinez, and the Offensive Shortfall
Nolan Jones and Angel Martinez struggled to offer complementary production. Both posted a 73 wRC+ or worse, leaving the Guardians with an outfield that too often lacked impact in the batter’s box.
The imbalance goes deeper than just results. Nearly every outfielder on the roster swings from the left side, leaving the lineup heavily exposed against tough left-handed pitching.
Switch-Hitting Complications and Internal Right-Handed Options
Martinez’s switch-hitting profile really shows the issue. As a right-handed hitter vs. lefties, he was excellent, putting up a 123 wRC+.
But as a left-handed batter against right-handed pitching, he was dreadful. That drags down his overall value and makes him more of a situational weapon than an everyday answer.
The only true right-handed hitting outfielder on the 40-man roster, Johnathan Rodriguez, showed minimal production in a small big-league sample. Still, he offers some intrigue—he’s got minor-league options left and real power upside if the bat ever catches up to his raw tools.
Other right-handed or right-handed leaning options didn’t pan out in 2025. Lane Thomas, who was on the Guardians’ radar for a reunion, signed with the Royals after a disappointing year.
Jhonkensy Noel, another right-handed bat with power, struggled enough that he was recently designated for assignment.
Prospects and Payroll: Why the Guardians Need a Smart Addition
The farm system has help on the way, but not the specific help Cleveland needs most—a right-handed outfield bat ready to contribute at the major-league level.
Chase DeLauter and the Timeline Problem
Chase DeLauter, one of the organization’s top prospects, is expected to play a significant role starting in 2026. However, as a left-handed hitter, he doesn’t do anything to fix the lineup’s right-handed imbalance.
Other right-handed or switch-hitting outfield prospects are still years away. It feels risky to rely solely on internal growth to fix the issue.
The financial reality isn’t helping either. The Guardians’ projected payroll for 2026 sits around $79 million, limiting their ability to chase marquee free agents.
That likely rules out higher-end options like Harrison Bader. His defensive skills and name value would command a larger contract than Cleveland seems ready to absorb.
Affordable Right-Handed Targets on the Market
Cleveland’s budget isn’t huge, so they’re probably eyeing value plays and bounce-back types. They want someone who won’t break the bank but can still balance the lineup.
Here are a few right-handed outfielders who seem realistic:
Let’s be honest, none of these names are going to set the city buzzing. Still, the Guardians don’t need a superstar here.
They just need competent right-handed production to deepen the lineup and protect their lefty core. That also gives manager Stephen Vogt more ways to mix and match.
For a team built on pitching and run prevention, landing the right right-handed bat at the right price could be the move that tips the scales and gets Cleveland back to October. Maybe that’s all it takes.
Here is the source article for this story: Guardians Seeking Right-Handed Hitting Outfielder
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