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Guardians CLE

202669–68 (0.504)
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President of baseball ops: Chris Antonetti · GM: Mike Chernoff · partial season

Overview

Ranks vs the 30 teams in 2026, or a custom range (defaults to every team-season since 1985, when our data starts).

to

Front Office

PoorAverageGreat
Value
Payroll $M
$70M
Surplus $M
+104
Win %
0.504
TAB
+11.8
WAB
+8.6
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
36.0
Dead money %
25%
Depth Players
6.0
Dead WAR
-3.3
Farm System
Total Proj. WAR
57.3
Pitching Proj. WAR
25.6
Hitting Proj. WAR
31.8

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

2026 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

RAustin Hedges67
BPatrick Bailey⇄62
LBo Naylor27
RDavid Fry9

1B

LKyle Manzardo83
RRhys Hoskins62
LNathaniel Lowe⇄21
RDavid Fry3

2B

LTravis Bazzana94
BJuan Brito15
LDaniel Schneemann12
BBrayan Rocchio10
Angel Genao9

3B

BJosé Ramírez79
LDaniel Schneemann32
RGabriel Arias⇄28
Angel Genao8
RDavid Fry2

SS

BBrayan Rocchio121
LDaniel Schneemann6
Angel Genao3

LF

LSteven Kwan81
BAngel Martínez57
RDavid Fry24
LGeorge Valera6
LCJ Kayfus5
Cooper Ingle4
RJo Adell⇄2
LDaniel Schneemann1
RRhys Hoskins1
RStuart Fairchild⇄1

CF

LSteven Kwan72
LPetey Halpin59
LDaniel Schneemann34
Kahlil Watson8
RStuart Fairchild⇄8
BAngel Martínez7

RF

LChase DeLauter59
BAngel Martínez44
RDavid Fry20
Kahlil Watson19
RJo Adell⇄19
LPetey Halpin6
LCJ Kayfus4
LGeorge Valera4
RStuart Fairchild⇄4
LDaniel Schneemann2

DH

LChase DeLauter51
RRhys Hoskins25
BJosé Ramírez23
LKyle Manzardo17
RDavid Fry12
LTravis Bazzana7
Cooper Ingle3
RJo Adell⇄2
LSteven Kwan2
RStuart Fairchild⇄1

Starters

LParker Messick4.3 WAR
RGavin Williams2.6 WAR
LJoey Cantillo1.8 WAR
RTanner Bibee1.2 WAR
RSlade Cecconi0.7 WAR
LFoster Griffin⇄0.2 WAR
LLogan Allen-0.0 WAR

Bullpen

★ RCade Smith35 sv
RHunter Gaddis27 h
LErik Sabrowski23 h
LTim Herrin15 h
RColin Holderman11 h
RShawn Armstrong8 h
RMatt Festa7 h
Franco Aleman3 h

Each position shows its top 3 by games (top = starter) — click "+more" for the rest. The letter is bats/throws; ⇄ marks a player traded mid-season. Starters are ranked by WAR, bullpen by holds; ★ marks the closer (most save chances). MLB Stats API.

Key additions (new vs 2025)

PlayerfWAR
Chase DeLauter2.9
Travis Bazzana1.7
Patrick Bailey0.9
Colin Holderman0.8
Jo Adell0.4
Foster Griffin0.2

Key subtractions (gone from 2025)

Player2025 fWAR
Jakob Junis0.6
Carlos Santana0.5
Ben Lively0.4
Nic Enright0.2
Paul Sewald0.1
Zak Kent0.1

Contract Value

WAR translated into tier-adjusted market value, then compared with what the player was paid by Guardians. Guaranteed contracts from the 2015-present contract-data period use the known contract period through 2026; everyone else is shown as a 2026 season snapshot.

PlayerPeriodfWARTier Market $MPaid $MSurplus $M$ / WARTierContract
Parker Messick 2026 +5.1 +102.4 0.8 +101.6 $0.2M 2.50× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Gavin Williams 2026 +3.0 +47.2 0.8 +46.4 $0.3M 1.96× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Steven Kwan 2026 +3.6 +52.2 7.7 +44.4 $2.1M 1.79× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $7.7M AAV
Chase DeLauter 2026 +3.4 +44.1 0.8 +43.3 $0.2M 1.60× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Cade Smith 2026 +2.1 +32.2 0.8 +31.4 $0.4M 1.95× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Tanner Bibee 2025–2026 +3.3 +39.2 7.8 +31.4 $2.4M 1.49× Pre-arb extension · 2025–2030 · $9.6M AAV
Brayan Rocchio 2026 +3.3 +30.8 0.8 +30.0 $0.2M 1.18× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Joey Cantillo 2026 +2.2 +25.8 0.8 +25.0 $0.4M 1.49× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Travis Bazzana 2026 +2.0 +13.1 0.6 +12.4 $0.3M 0.82× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Angel Martínez 2026 +1.5 +9.9 0.8 +9.1 $0.5M 0.83× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Slade Cecconi 2026 +0.8 +6.8 0.8 +6.0 $1.0M 1.02× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Erik Sabrowski 2026 +1.1 +6.1 0.8 +5.3 $0.7M 0.67× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Colin Holderman 2026 +1.0 +5.3 1.5 +3.8 $1.5M 0.67× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $1.5M AAV
Patrick Bailey↔ 2026 +1.0 +4.3 0.4 +3.8 $0.4M 0.52× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Daniel Schneemann 2026 +0.6 +3.7 0.8 +2.9 $1.4M 0.83× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Matt Festa 2026 +0.7 +3.9 1.0 +2.9 $1.4M 0.67× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $1.0M AAV
Jo Adell↔ 2026 +0.5 +3.5 0.9 +2.6 $1.7M 0.83× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $5.2M AAV
Gabriel Arias↔ 2026 +0.6 +2.9 0.7 +2.2 $1.1M 0.58× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Petey Halpin 2026 +0.4 +2.6 0.6 +2.0 $1.6M 0.83× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Hunter Gaddis 2026 +0.4 +2.3 0.8 +1.5 $1.9M 0.67× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
José Ramírez 2026 +2.9 +25.8 25.0 +0.8 $8.7M 1.12× Extension · 2026–2032 · $25.0M AAV
Foster Griffin↔ 2026 +0.2 +1.7 1.0 +0.7 $4.7M 1.02× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $5.5M AAV
Nathaniel Lowe↔ 2026 +0.1 +0.2 0.4 -0.1 $6.7M 0.56× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $1.8M AAV
Codi Heuer 2026 +0.1 +0.4 0.6 -0.2 $8.9M 0.67× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Stuart Fairchild↔ 2026 +0.0 +0.2 0.5 -0.2 $12.9M 0.83× –
Logan Allen 2026 -0.1 -0.3 0.0 -0.3 – 0.67× –
Kolby Allard 2026 -0.1 -0.4 0.1 -0.5 – 0.67× –
Austin Hedges 2026 +0.8 +3.4 4.0 -0.6 $5.0M 0.52× Extension · 2026–2026 · $4.0M AAV
Peyton Pallette 2026 -0.1 -0.7 0.3 -1.0 – 0.67× –
Craig Yoho↔ 2026 -0.2 -0.9 0.3 -1.2 – 0.67× –
Tim Herrin 2026 -0.1 -0.4 0.8 -1.2 – 0.67× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
CJ Kayfus 2026 -0.2 -1.5 0.1 -1.6 – 0.83× –
Kyle Manzardo 2026 -0.2 -0.8 0.8 -1.6 – 0.56× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Juan Brito 2026 -0.4 -1.6 0.1 -1.7 – 0.56× –
David Fry 2026 -0.1 -0.4 1.4 -1.8 – 0.83× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $1.4M AAV
Connor Brogdon 2026 -0.4 -1.9 0.9 -2.8 – 0.67× –
Bo Naylor 2026 -0.7 -2.8 0.2 -3.0 – 0.52× –
George Valera 2026 -0.4 -3.0 0.2 -3.1 – 0.83× –
Rhys Hoskins 2026 -0.5 -2.1 1.5 -3.6 – 0.56× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $1.5M AAV
Shawn Armstrong 2026 -0.1 -0.4 4.0 -4.4 – 0.67× Free Agent · 2026–2027 · $5.5M AAV
Total—+37.1+452.872.2+380.6—

Trades

Every graded 2026 deal involving the Guardians — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 11 total.

2026 · CLE / SFG May 9, 2026
CLE · Chris Antonetti +$4.0M
Patrick Bailey
SFG · Buster Posey −$4.0M
Matt Wilkinson, Draft pick (#29)
Too soon to call unsettled
2026 · CLE / CIN Aug 3, 2026
CLE · Chris Antonetti +$0.0M
Nathaniel Lowe
CIN · Nick Krall +$0.0M
Juan Brito, Alejandro Rivera
Too soon to call unsettled
2026 · CLE / BAL Mar 29, 2026
CLE · Chris Antonetti +$0.8M
Carter Rustad
BAL · Mike Elias −$0.8M
Johnathan Rodríguez
Too soon to call unsettled
2026 · PHI / CLE Jul 4, 2026
PHI · Dave Dombrowski +$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
CLE · Chris Antonetti +$0.0M
Ryan Degges
Too soon to call unsettled
2026 · NYM / CLE Jan 15, 2026
NYM · David Stearns +$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
CLE · Chris Antonetti +$0.0M
Franklin Gómez
Too soon to call unsettled
2026 · STL / CLE Jan 6, 2026
STL · Chaim Bloom +$1.6M
Justin Bruihl
CLE · Chris Antonetti −$1.6M
cash / PTBNL
Too soon to call unsettled
2026 · PHI / CLE Mar 24, 2026
PHI · Dave Dombrowski +$0.0M
Carter Kieboom
CLE · Chris Antonetti +$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
Too soon to call unsettled
2026 · MIL / CLE Aug 1, 2026
MIL · Matt Arnold +$0.8M
Codi Heuer, Bo Naylor
CLE · Chris Antonetti −$0.8M
Blake Perkins, Craig Yoho
Too soon to call unsettled
2026 · CLE / CHW Jun 11, 2026
CLE · Chris Antonetti +$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
CHW · Chris Getz +$0.0M
Nolan Jones
Too soon to call unsettled
2026 · CLE / ANA Aug 3, 2026
CLE · Chris Antonetti +$1.6M
Jo Adell
ANA · Perry Minasian −$1.6M
Jacob Cozart
Too soon to call unsettled
2026 · CLE / WSN Aug 3, 2026
CLE · Chris Antonetti +$0.0M
Foster Griffin
WSN · Paul Toboni +$0.0M
Will Dion, Nick Mitchell, Josh Hartle, Kendeglys Virguez
Too soon to call unsettled

Current & Historical Payroll

2026 payroll
$70.1M
luxury tax $52M
2027 guaranteed
$40.4M

What the front office was committed to as of 2026, 2026–2032. Guaranteed $ are contract commitments signed by 2026; arbitration & free-agent years are projected from service time. Hover a figure for its luxury-tax (CBT) & actual-cash values.

current $ guaranteed $ arbitration (proj) pre-arb (proj) free agent club option player option mutual option vesting option

Summary — luxury-tax (CBT) basis

2026202720282029203020312032
Tax threshold$244M$247M$250M$253M$256M$259M$262M
Guaranteed contracts$22M$25M$20M$10M$10M
Proj. arbitration$13M$7M
Proj. pre-arbitration$16M$8M
Player benefits$18M$18M$18M$18M$18M
Total CBT payroll$70M$50M$45M$28M$28M
Tax space+$174M+$197M+$205M+$225M+$228M
Est. tax bill—————

Luxury-tax (CBT) basis: contract AAV + ~$18M benefits/bonus-pool — distinct from the base-salary payroll above. Threshold is the CBA line. Tier-1 payor rates on the overage. Forward years show only guaranteed deals (arb/pre-arb not yet set). Figures are estimates.

Guaranteed / signed (5)

PlayerAgeSvc2026202720282029203020312032
José Ramírez3311.074$25.0M$25.0M$25.0M$25.0M$25.0M$25.0M$25.0M
Tanner Bibee273.000$4.4M$7.4M$10.4M$21.4M$21.0MCLUBFREE AGENT
Shawn Armstrong357.113$4.0M$8.0MMUTUALFREE AGENT
Austin Hedges339.166$4.0MFREE AGENT
Rhys Hoskins338.053$1.5MFREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (8)

PlayerAgeSvc2026202720282029203020312032
Steven Kwan284.000$7.7MARB 3FREE AGENT
Colin Holderman303.120$1.5MFREE AGENT
Connor Brogdon314.090$900kARB 3FREE AGENT
Jo Adell274.085$893kARB 3FREE AGENT
Codi Heuer294.010$604kFREE AGENT
Stuart Fairchild303.114$471kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Nathaniel Lowe305.145$353kFREE AGENT
Kolby Allard285.021$100kFREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (27)

PlayerAgeSvc2026202720282029203020312032
David Fry302.154$1.4MARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Foster Griffin301.034$1.0MFREE AGENT
Matt Festa332.153$1.0MARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Cade Smith272.000$825kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Gavin Williams262.103$822kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Hunter Gaddis282.073$810kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tim Herrin292.058$801kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Daniel Schneemann291.120$801kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Kyle Manzardo251.073$798kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brayan Rocchio252.001$798kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Joey Cantillo260.162$797kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Slade Cecconi271.155$796kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Erik Sabrowski281.033$792kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Parker Messick250.040$788kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Angel Martínez241.118$788kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Chase DeLauter24–$780k
Gabriel Arias262.124$701kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Travis Bazzana23–$634k
Petey Halpin240.009$621kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Patrick Bailey272.136$412kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Craig Yoho260.042$331kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Peyton Pallette25–$254k
Bo Naylor262.113$203kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
George Valera250.028$155kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Juan Brito24–$88k
CJ Kayfus240.058$84kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Logan Allen272.093$13kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Graphs

How each 2026 acquisition stacked onto Guardians's playoff-odds curve. The side table is ranked by PPA.

Rosternomics — front-office performance, roster value, and transaction history. Follow @rosternomics on X.
Decision-maker records extend to 1933; resource-controlled WAR and payroll metrics cover 1985–2026. Data sources include FanGraphs, Baseball-Reference, the Chadwick Bureau register, the Lahman Database, prospect rankings from Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, and FanGraphs, and public payroll records. Transaction and trade data was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by Retrosheet. Executive birth/death data via Wikidata (CC0).
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