As soon as an MLB team bows out of the postseason, fans immediately want answers.
What went wrong this season? What are the team’s biggest needs? Which free agents might leave? Are there any prospects on the way to help get this team over the hump next year?
Below, we’ll attempt to answer those questions for the Guardians, who were eliminated from the 2026 playoffs in a 4-2 Championship Series loss to the Rays.
You can find 2027 outlooks for every other eliminated playoff team here.
What Went Wrong For The 2026 Guardians?
It’s hard to say anything went “wrong” when the Guardians had one of the best seasons in team history in 2026. But it did not end with the team finally winning its first World Series since Harry Truman was president. The Guardians took Tampa Bay to six games in a back-and-forth ALCS. If Cleveland could have won Game 6, they would have had Gavin Williams on regular rest for Game 7, but the team was let down in a bullpen game.
That doesn’t diminish an excellent season for Cleveland that saw rookies Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana join the lineup as regulars while rookie lefty Parker Messick was one of the best starters in the American League. Reliever Daniel Espino had his moments in the postseason, as well.
So how can Cleveland take that next step? Below are the prospects most likely to bolster the Guardians’ 2027 roster.
2027 Prospect Who Could Help The Guardians The Most
Ralphy Velazquez, 1B: The Guardians’ inability to score runs ultimately led to their downfall in this year’s playoffs. The good news is that help is on the way in the form of Velazquez, who hit .290/.379/.548 with 29 home runs in 121 games between Double-A and Triple-A. He has plus power, with his 105.8 mph 90th percentile exit velocity ranking near the top of the system. He combines that with strong batted ball angles. His contact ability is more average, but he will take a walk, allowing him to record solid on-base percentages. He could provide a much-needed source of power to a Guardians lineup that didn’t have a single player hit 20 home runs this season.
Other 2027 Guardians Prospect ETAs
Cooper Ingle, C/OF: Ingle got his first taste of major league competition this summer, but he spent most of the season in Triple-A, where he hit .297/.424/.528 with 20 home runs. He has an advanced approach and strong contact skills, but questions about his impact ability and defense cloud his future projection. Given the Guardians’ preference for defense-first catchers, it’s hard to see him fitting in the mix there, but if he continues to hit, they will have no choice but to find a spot to work him into the lineup.
Kahlil Watson, OF: Watson made his major league debut and had his second straight productive season, registering an .816 OPS with 19 home runs and 24 steals in Triple-A. His hit tool remains a major question mark, though. As a result, he likely projects better in a platoon or reserve role. Given that Watson is already on the 40-man roster and has options remaining, he likely will serve in an outfield depth role in 2027.
Kody Huff, C: Huff had a breakout year in his second go-around in Triple-A. He raised his OPS from .631 to .888 and established himself as a future major league catching option. He’s always had the defensive ability, but now he’s showing offensive upside to complement it. With Austin Hedges a free agent, Cleveland could turn over the backup catcher role to Huff in 2027.
Justin Campbell, RHP: After being drafted in 2022, Campbell didn’t make his professional debut until this season after undergoing three separate surgeries over the previous three seasons. He missed six weeks this year due to an injury but threw 69 innings and reached Triple-A. He put up a 2.48 ERA and 1.16 WHIP while striking out 83. Campbell is Rule 5-eligible this offseason and will be an interesting protection decision for the Guardians. If he gets off to a strong start in 2027, he could pitch his way into the team’s starting pitching depth plans.
Guardians Prospect To Dream On
Juneiker Caceres, OF: Caceres made a massive leap in 2026, jumping from outside the top 10 in the Guardians’ system into Baseball America’s Top 100. He hit .301/.409/.484 as a 19-year-old and established himself as one of the highest-upside hitters in the system. He pairs advanced contact ability with above-average exit velocities for his age, though it hasn’t translated in-game yet. He’ll need to get stronger and improve his batted-ball angles to tap into his power, but even if he doesn’t improve much there, he still has regular upside. If he does add power, his ceiling extends beyond that.
Pending Guardians Free Agents
- Austin Hedges, C
- Nathaniel Lowe, 1B
- Rhys Hoskins, 1B
- Foster Griffin, LHP
- Shawn Armstrong, RHP (mutual option)
Biggest Guardians Roster Needs
Consistent Thump: Cleveland doesn’t have many roster vacancies. If anything, the Guardians will have some tough decisions to make, with the likes of Angel Genao, Cooper Ingle, CJ Kayfus, Kyle Manzardo and Ralphy Velazquez all in need of regular at-bats. If Velazquez is ready, he may be the answer both to Cleveland’s opening at first base and its power shortcomings after finishing 27th in home runs and bottom-third in isolated power and wRC+. That said, it’s worth noting the Guardians had the fourth-best wRC+ in baseball from Aug. 1 on.
Projected 2027 Guardians Lineup
Note: As Of Oct. 1
C: Patrick Bailey
1B: Ralphy Velazquez
2B: Travis Bazzana
3B: José Ramírez
SS: Brayan Rocchio
LF: Angel Martínez
CF: Steven Kwan
RF: Chase DeLauter
DH: Jo Adell
No. 1 Starter: Parker Messick, LHP
No. 2 Starter: Gavin Williams, RHP
No. 3 Starter: Tanner Bibee, RHP
No. 4 Starter: Joey Cantillo, LHP
No. 5 Starter: Slade Cecconi, RHP
Closer: Cade Smith, RHP
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