Guardians preseason capsule: Return to top might depend on offense

Cleveland Guardians

2024 record: 92-69 (1st place, AL Central)

He gone: INF Andres Gimenez, INF Josh Naylor, OF Myles Straw.

New faces: RHP Luis Ortiz, INF Carlos Santana.

Biggest question entering Opening Day: Who will nail down the fifth spot in the starting rotation? Cleveland can flex a lot of depth on a staff that has been strong in recent seasons, an attribute the club again will need as Shane Bieber works to return from Tommy John surgery after making just two starts (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 12 innings) in 2024. Triston McKenzie seems to have a step on the competition for the No. 5 job if he can move past his struggles of going 3-8 over the past two seasons after finishing 11-11 in 2022. If he doesn't become more consistent, the Guardians have reinforcements.

Top prospect: While he still needs more seasoning in the minors, 2B Travis Bazzana, the top overall pick in the 2024 draft, knows a spot could be there sooner rather than later after Cleveland traded Gimenez to Toronto in December. Working out with major leaguers this spring should offer a glimpse of what skills Bazzana needs to refine.

Breakout player: SS Brayan Rocchio is eager to build off a promising first full major league season, which saw him hit .333 during the Guardians' run through the ALCS after he hit just .206 in 383 regular-season at-bats. Rocchio is a slick defender who's quick in the field and on the basepaths.

2025 outlook: Returning to the top of a division that produced three playoff clubs last season could be dicey if the Guardians struggle to produce offense beyond perennial American League MVP candidate Jose Ramirez (39 HRs, 118 RBIs, .279 BA in 2024). With Naylor gone, they'll look heavily to the 1B/DH platoon of Santana and Kyle Manzardo to support Tanner Bibee, Ortiz and the rest of the rotation.

--Field Level Media