This story was excerpted from Tim Stebbins' Guardians Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
CLEVELAND -- The World Series is in full swing, which means the Hot Stove will soon be heating up.
Let’s take a look at some of the most frequently asked questions surrounding the Guardians’ offseason.
Which Guardians players will be free agents
Outfielder Lane Thomas and reliever Jakob Junis.
Will any of their free agents return?
Thomas could make sense on a short-term deal. The Guardians had a .647 OPS against lefties in 2025 (including a .604 OPS by their outfielders), and Thomas has fared well against southpaws in his career (.859 OPS). He was limited to an overall .518 OPS over 39 games in 2025 amid three stints on the injured list -- twice for plantar fasciitis, for which he underwent right foot surgery in September.
Junis could fit next year in a similar role, as a length option out of the bullpen who can be deployed in the middle-to-late innings. He recorded a 2.97 ERA in 66 2/3 innings over 57 appearances.
Which players have contract options?
John Means has a club option worth $6 million for 2026. The Guardians must exercise or decline it within five days of the end of the World Series.
Means (who signed a one-year deal with the option on Feb. 19) made seven Minor League rehab starts down the stretch in his comeback from Tommy John surgery. He ultimately did not pitch in the Majors, in part due to how well Cleveland’s six-man rotation performed in September. Would the Guardians pick up Means’ option and then sort through the rotation picture? Or could they decline it and allocate their resources elsewhere?
Who is eligible for arbitration?
• LHP Kolby Allard
• LHP Sam Hentges
• RHP Matt Festa
• RHP Ben Lively
• OF Steven Kwan
• OF Nolan Jones
• OF Will Brennan
• C/DH David Fry
Who might be a non-tender candidate?
This list could include Hentges, Lively, Brennan and Jones. The non-tender deadline is Nov 21.
Hentges spent this past season recovering from September 2024 left shoulder surgery. He also underwent right knee surgery this September, for which his return-to-play timeline is 3-4 months. Lively underwent Tommy John surgery in June, so he likely will be sidelined for most of next season.
Brennan underwent Tommy John surgery in June and sports hernia surgery in September. He is expected to be a full participant come Spring Training. However, Cleveland has young outfielders it wants to give runway, a group that includes Chase DeLauter (No. 2 prospect, MLB No. 58), C.J. Kayfus and George Valera.
Jones had a tough season (.600 OPS over 136 games) after Cleveland acquired him from Colorado on March 22.
Who needs to be added to the 40-man roster to avoid the Rule 5 Draft?
The Rule 5 Draft is set for Dec. 10. Players who need to be added to the 40-man roster to avoid eligibility include infielder Angel Genao (No. 3 prospect, No. 59 overall), infielder/outfielder Kahlil Watson (No. 18) and right-hander Austin Peterson (No. 30).
Other players include outfielder Wuilfredo Antunez, infielder Juan Benjamin and right-hander Trenton Denholm, each of whom has played in the Arizona Fall League this month. Also on the list are infielder Dayan Frías, catcher Cameron Barstad and lefty Steven Pérez. The Guardians re-signed each of those three (and Antunez) this month to a Minor League deal with an invite to big league Spring Training.
The Guardians’ 40-man roster is full. Thomas and Junis’ free agencies will open two spots, as would any non-tender decisions.
What kind of help do the Guardians need?
Cleveland’s No. 1 need is help offensively after it averaged 3.97 runs per game in 2025 (28th in MLB). Whether it’s Thomas or someone else, adding a right-handed-hitting outfielder would make a ton of sense, as could adding bullpen help. There is uncertainty around closer Emmanuel Clase, and Cleveland also noted this month that Nic Enright will require Tommy John surgery.
Will the Guardians be active in free agency?
They certainly could be. Even when accounting for Means’ option, and costs such as salaries for players who are arbitration-eligible or in the pre-arbitration phase, Cleveland may have some flexibility this winter. The Guardians have just four players with a guaranteed contract for 2026 in José Ramírez, Tanner Bibee, Austin Hedges and Clase -- who was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave on July 28 due to an ongoing MLB investigation.
Who might be traded?
Kwan’s name appeared on the rumor mill before the Trade Deadline. It would not be surprising if that is also the case this winter. He could bring back a lot of value as a two-time All-Star who may soon earn his fourth straight Gold Glove Award, and as a player who is arbitration-eligible through 2027. Those factors also continue to make him an extension candidate.
The Guardians at least have the option to tap into their rotation depth in a trade scenario, especially if they pick up Means’ option. But as the saying goes, teams can never have enough starting pitching.