These 4 free-agent outfielders could help Guards' issues vs. lefties

CLEVELAND -- It’s no secret that the Guardians’ top focus this offseason is on how to improve an offense that struggled in 2025. That will remain in the spotlight next week, during the MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla., from Monday-Wednesday.

Specifically, adding a right-handed-hitting outfielder this winter continues to be a move that would make a lot of sense.

The Guardians were heavy on left-handed hitters in 2025. They only had one player take more than 200 at-bats from the right side in Gabriel Arias (432). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Cleveland is only the second team since 1900 to have fewer than two players with 200 or more at-bats from the right side in a season, along with the 1995 Phillies.

The Guardians also had just 1,889 plate appearances from the right side in 2025, which was the fewest in the Majors. That includes those taken by switch-hitters José Ramírez, Angel Martínez and Brayan Rocchio.

Cleveland’s outfield mix remains heavy on lefties. It includes Steven Kwan, Nolan Jones, Chase DeLauter (No. 2 prospect, No. 58 overall per MLB Pipeline), George Valera and C.J. Kayfus. The latter three are among the young players the Guardians want to provide opportunity to next spring.

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DeLauter, Valera and Kayfus could help bolster Cleveland’s overall offensive production -- certainly an outfield that finished last in MLB in 2025 with a .629 OPS. But adding a right-handed hitter to the mix could be part of the solution.

A righty also could help improve the Guardians’ production against lefties, after they posted a .647 OPS in 2025 vs. southpaws (27th in MLB).

Here are a few free agents who could be a fit.

Miguel Andujar
Andujar, who will turn 31 on March 2, has moved between the corner infield and corner outfield spots during his career, and he’s played more left (1,375 1/3 innings) than right (142 innings). But he could be a fit in right field against left-handed pitching, and move around elsewhere as needed.

Andujar has a career .807 OPS against lefties. His .986 OPS and 171 wrC+ against them in 2025 each ranked seventh in the Majors (minimum 90 plate appearances). Overall, he had a good season with the A’s and Reds, in which he slashed .318/.352/.470 with 17 doubles, 10 homers and 44 RBIs over 94 games.

Harrison Bader
Bader will turn 32 on June 3 and could have an active market coming off one of his best offensive seasons. He slashed .277/.347/.449 with 24 doubles, 17 homers and 54 RBIs in 146 games between the Twins and Phillies. Other than his slugging percentage, those all were new career highs, and he also had encouraging underlying metrics beyond his surface numbers.

Bader gained 2.3 mph of average bat speed from 2024 to ‘25 (71.2 mph to 73.5 mph), the fifth-highest increase among qualified hitters. His 40.3 percent hard-hit rate was a new career high. His 10.2 percent barrel rate was the second best of his career, behind only an 11.9 percent tally in the shortened 2020 season (50 games).

With any potential addition, the Guardians will stay mindful of not impeding opportunities for their young players. In that vein, DeLauter is a candidate to play center next season, as he did in the postseason, and he also could see time in right. While Bader has played all three outfield spots in his nine-year career, it’s worth noting he has seen his most time in center.

Austin Hays
Like Andujar, Hays is another interesting free agent who could fit into right field against lefties. Among hitters with at least 100 plate appearances against southpaws this past season, Hays had the 14th-best OPS (.949).

Hays, who turned 30 on July 5, isn’t far removed from a seven-year tenure with the Orioles in which he was an All-Star in 2023. From '21-23, he hit 54 homers and had a 109 OPS+. He hit 15 homers and had a .768 OPS over 103 games with the Reds this past season.

All 61 of Hays’ appearances in the field this past season came in left, though he has made 137 appearances in right over eight seasons in the Majors.

Rob Refsnyder
Refsnyder, who will turn 35 on March 26, has played each outfield spot during his 10-year career, with extensive time in both corners. He could be a plus platoon option in right field versus lefties, against whom he has a career .826 OPS.

In 2025 with the Red Sox, Refsnyder recorded a .959 OPS against lefties, which ranked eighth among qualified hitters. His 159 wRC+ ranked 10th.