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Guardians Should Target All-Star Starter to Bolster Rotation
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- Guardians Should Target All-Star Starter to Bolster Rotation
(David Butler II-Imagn Images)
As the Cleveland Guardians enter the upcoming offseason, the team has some tough decisions to make across the roster.
After reaching the American League Championship Series this past year, the Guardians will try to make some moves to get over the hump next season. Once again, Cleveland was a gritty team that fought for the AL Central title, and they were a tough out in the playoffs.
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But for the Guardians, the goal is to win a World Series, and this group has the talent to make it happen. Luckily for Cleveland, they have a strong pitching staff entering 2027; however, the front office could look to add another arm.
Should Guardians Target Casey Mize?
Cleveland will have left-hander Foster Griffin entering free agency, but it remains to be seen if he will return. If the Guardians want to go in a different direction, the team could look to target free-agent starter Casey Mize.
Mize split time last season between the Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres, following a midseason trade. The right-hander struggled once he got to the Padres, but this could lower the cost to sign him over the offseason.
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With the Tigers before the trade, Mize was as consistent and reliable as any pitcher in baseball this season. Mize posted a 2.70 ERA over 16 starts, while striking out 85 batters over 86.2 innings of work.
But in San Diego, Mize saw his ERA skyrocket, with the right-hander struggling to find his footing with the new team. The right-hander posted a 7.46 ERA over 10 starts, only striking out 25 batters over 44.2 innings.
While the numbers with the Padres are worrisome, Mize could be a good back-end or middle-of-the-pack starter for the Guardians. The right-hander knows the AL Central very well, and he could be more comfortable going back to the division.
Mize showed strong command all season, even with his numbers with the Padres, and this could bode well for the Guardians. Cleveland could try to land him on a three-year deal, giving him some security, while getting a quality starter.
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The right-hander could easily slide into the Guardians rotation for next season and beyond, but the big question is whether the front office will spend. Cleveland could add a former All-Star in Mize if they were willing to spend a little, and it could pay off very well for the staff going forward.
The Guardians tend to have one of the lowest payrolls in baseball each year, but this team needs to change that. If Cleveland were to go against the grain, even slightly, it could have massive implications for the outcome of next season.
