The Cleveland Guardians have been incredible in 2024. Stephen Vogt led the team to an AL Central division title and a playoff bye in the loaded American League.

Cleveland would take the ALDS against the rival Detroit Tigers, defeating Tarik Skubal in a crucial Game 5.

As they entered the ALCS, Cleveland had their hands full with the loaded New York Yankees lineup. This series would be one of the best series in recent memory, where several games were decided in the 8th, 9th or even extra innings. Each game in this series could receive its own article.

Cleveland rode with its bullpen all season, but in the ALCS, that bullpen allowed six home runs and completely let the team down. Manager Stephen Vogt will have some answers to make for how he handled that bullpen down the stretch, ultimately beating Gaddis to Clase in the 10th inning of Game 6, a decision that ended the season from Cleveland.

Now that Vogt and Cleveland are sent home to watch the World Series from their couches, the front office will be tasked with reloading the roster for a 2025 World Series push.

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Cleveland has two receivers on its roster, like every other team in the league. Bo Naylor is their young catching option while Austin Hedges is their veteran option. Having a young option and a veteran option makes sense.

But what doesn’t make sense is continuing to play Hedges with how horrible he’s been offensively. On the season, the veteran slashed .152/.203/.220 with an OPS+ of 21. He was one of the worst offensive players in the game.

Mind you, Hedges is a great teammate and a great leader. He’s a good fielder and probably has a managerial career after baseball. But the Guardians make him lose a place on the list.

Kyle Higashioka of the San Deigo Padres wouldn’t be a waste of a roster spot.

Higashioka, 34, slashed .220/.263/.476 with 17 homers and an OPS+ above 100 for the season. He’s not an offensive juggernaut, but he’s a much-needed upgrade over Hedges and could probably be had on the cheap this offseason.

Cleveland needs to add a receiver this offseason to complement Naylor behind the dish. Adding Higashioka makes the most sense, if the market to acquire him isn’t too hot.

Every team in baseball could use a little more power from their lineup. But the Guardians, in particular, lacked some power outside of a few big bats.

One of the biggest bats on the market, outside of top players like Pete Alonso and Juan Soto, is bound to be Baltimore Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander.

Santander, 29, is coming off a career year in which he earned his first All-Star Game nomination. On the season, he slashed .235/.308/.506 with 44 home runs and 102 RBIs. He’s truly been an incredible power threat all season, and with Orioles prospects continuing to funnel through the farm system, it’s possible he leaves Baltimore.

If the Guardians could land a 40-homer hitter to pair alongside Jose Ramirez and the rest of the lineup, they would be poised for some serious offensive success next year.

Now, Santander would be an expensive bat. He’s an outfielder coming off a career year in which he hit nearly 50 home runs. But the value is there. If the Guardians really want to win, they need to add a bat like Santander. It wouldn’t be cheap, but it’s what they need.

The Cleveland Guardians have the best bullpen in baseball. It’s basically a known fact around baseball this season. But their starting rotation could use some work heading into the offseason. The biggest hole in their rotation was caused by Shane Bieber’s injury. Bieber was a gaping hole in the Guardians’ rotation, especially in their playoff rotation.

Bieber has been a star for the Guardians in the past and is set to enter free agency after an injury. The injury would likely significantly reduce his value on the open market. Cleveland could secure him on a one- to two-year contract for a bargain, if they want to re-sign the former ace.

Bieber, 29, spent his entire seven-year major league career in Cleveland. He made 134 starts, totaling 843 innings with a 3.22 ERA, 3.09 FIP, and 1.11 WHIP during his career.

After a bit of a down year in 2023, where he posted a 3.80 ERA, Bieber looked to be back in form in 2024, where he made two starts before his injury. In those two starts, he pitched 12 scoreless innings with 20 strikeouts and just one walk.

If this is the Bieber who can return in 2025, the Guardians need to make sure he’s on their roster.