"Guaranteed Contracts José Ramírez, 3B: $69MM through 2028. Tanner Bibee, RHP: $43MM through 2029, including $1MM buyout on 2030 club option. Emmanuel Clase, RHP: $8MM through 2026, including $2MM buyout on 2027 club option. Deal also includes 2028 club option. Trevor Stephan, RHP: $4.75MM through 2026, including $1.75MM buyout on 2027 club option. Deal also includes 2028 club option. Austin Hedges, C: $4MM through 2026."
"2025 was quite the rollercoaster season for the Guardians. They were 31-26 at the end of May and in possession of a Wild Card spot. But then they hit a skid, going 9-16 in June, which included part of a ten-game losing streak that went from June 26th to July 6th. After that losing streak, they were 40-48 and seven games back of a playoff spot."
"Amidst that losing streak, right-hander was placed on leave due to a gambling investigation. It seemed the season was slipping away, so trade rumors started to swirl around players like Emmanuel Clase, Steven Kwan and Shane Bieber. Then Clase himself was placed on leave alongside Ortiz, also due to that gambling investigation. That took him off the trading block but also harmed Cleveland's bullpen."
The Guardians completed a dramatic comeback to win the 2025 American League Central and aim for a third straight division title in 2026. Key guaranteed contracts include José Ramírez, Tanner Bibee, Emmanuel Clase, Trevor Stephan, and Austin Hedges. The club holds a $6MM option on John Means and faces $44.5MM in 2026 guarantees with $131.5MM total future commitments. The season featured a midyear skid and a ten-game losing streak, followed by gambling-related leaves for multiple pitchers that weakened the bullpen. The front office completed modest trades, flipped Shane Bieber and Paul Sewald, and retains decisions on arbitration-eligible and potential non-tender players.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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