How Dolan and Antonetti Can Fix this Guardians Mess

In five easy steps

The Guardians are a mess, but I think if President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti and Owner Paul Dolan are willing to step out of their comfort zones, they can go about fixing things.

I probably don’t need to spend much time reminding you of the current state of the Cleveland Guardians, who just snapped a ten-game losing streak and are seven games under .500, with an EXPECTED win-loss total of 38-51, which would make them the fifth-worst team in MLB.

Now, it’s important to remember that under the Terry Francona regime, the organization hung around a .550 winning percentage, good enough to be the third-best mark in that time period. They proceeded to make the ALCS last season. So, is it knee-jerk or reactionary to say that some changes need to be made?

Here’s my argument - from 2013-2025, the Guardians are tied for 12th in MLB with a team wRC+ of 99. During that time period, they have had the second-best ERA in MLB with a 3.74 mark. Furthermore, from 2019-2025, the Guardians are 20th in wRC+ at 95, so the trend has not been in the positive direction within recent memory. The Guardians have an offense problem that has prevented them from finally winning a title and being more consistent in making the sustained playoff runs that would make that title more reasonably within reach.

So, what can the Guardians do to address this issue. Here are my suggestions:

1. Extend Steven Kwan

I have debated if it makes sense to extend Kwan. Kwan is an awkward roster fit because - likely due to his hamstring issues - he doesn’t have the kind of power you want in left field. So, players like CJ Kayfus, Ralphy Velazquez, even Juan Brito, are blocked from that avenue to the big leagues.

But, Kwan is another Michael Brantley for Cleveland. They have developed an excellent major league hitter who is injury-prone and has some power limitations. They chose to let Brantley walk and it was a disastrous mistake. It’s time to sit down and hammer out a deal with Kwan. Secure his services through his mid-30’s. Bet on his work ethic, bat control, plate discipline and defensive prowess to sustain him as a valuable major league hitter and keep one of the few talented bats you have.

If this doesn’t happen, or if the Guardians know Kwan’s number and have no interest in coming to close to meeting it, then they should probably trade Kwan at this deadline. And, that’s going to really hurt.

2. Extend Shane Bieber

Bieber? What does Shane Bieber have to do with hitting?

In order for this plan to work, Cleveland will need to sustain excellent pitching. Bieber is the only ace they have developed since Corey Kluber. In the brief glimpses we have seen since his Tommy John surgery, we have seen great stuff that makes it appear he can find his way back to the pitcher he was pre-surgery. It is time for Antonetti and Dolan to do something out the norm for them and bet on a pitcher who has shown he can be effective with diminished stuff. You can’t tell me that Bieber would not be interested in a 6 year-$90 million deal right now. Security and solid salary number (can include incentives for Cy Youngs, etc), and no need to feel pressure to get back on the mound this fall.

If they don’t pursue something like this with Bieber, then they are going to have to hope he makes a couple rehab starts before the deadline so they can explore the trade deadline. If nothing materializes of significance there (it MAY because of how desparate teams are for quality starting pitching), I think they roll the dice, let Bieber pitch, and if he looks good, offer him the qualifying offer and get a good comp pick in the 2026 draft for him. But, hey, I’ve still got my pipe dream of an extension for the time being.

3. Consider trading Emmanuel Clase

I hate to say this, but the team needs to make a bet on their best asset - pitching development. The team has been insanely effective at finding and developing pitchers, especially bullpen arms. They have an immensely valuable asset in Clase whom several contenders will highly covet having for a playoff run this season. The brief glimpses we have had of Clase with reduced velocity don’t bode well for his eventual drop-off and reliever value is notoriously volatile. IF Clase can net the team at least one major league piece and two top 100 hitting prospects (preferably top 50), they should probably move him at this deadline and bet on their ability to replace his value adequately through their development system.

The good news is that the Guardians don’t have to feel pressure to move Clase NOW. They can hold on to him and see how the rest of the season develops in terms of their young hitters, looking to see if a run in 2026 seems plausible. Then, they can either keep or trade Clase this offseason. But, I suspect some anxious contender will eventually pony up the cost to acquire a Clase and provide Cleveland with an influx of exciting hitting talent. At which point, the Guardians need to...

4. Hire outside the Organization for Hitting Instruction

I am sure Grant Fink is a great guy and a great coach. Maybe he stays as hitting coach. But, somewhere, somehow, the organization needs to hire a hitting evaluator/coach from an organization that is effective at developing hitters and give that person the reigns of guiding the young hitters in this organization to better outcomes. He/she can replace anyone the organization chooses in their org-chart - but they need to be given plenty of voice and control.

5. Hand the controls of their MLB draft process over to other hitting evaluators

To go along with this, the organization is struggling to draft hitters. Find someone in an organization who has drafted hitters effectively and hire them to help you do the same. That’s all there is to it. If you have to fire Mike Chernoff or someone underneath of him to achieve this outcome, then so be it.

Of course, the Guardians will trade Paul Sewald, Carlos Santana, and, if possible, Lane Thomas, and Jakob Junis. The return for each will be minimal, only Sewald fetching anything remotely interesting if he can continue to look solid. They’ll have to get creative to get an influx of hitting talent.

You can’t take all the money with you, Mr. Dolan. It’s time to show a little faith in some of the best talent your organization has developed and extend Kwan and Bieber, and then give the young hitters you have and you acquire in a potential trades a chance to lead you out of this wilderness and provide opportunity for sustained, playoff success. It will be tempting to say, “We’ve been a .550 baseball for 13 years, we are going to be fine”, but the canary is singing in the coal mine when it comes to the Guardians’ hitting group. Now is the time to act boldly to rescue a downward spiral of which this losing streak is simply the harbinger.