The Cleveland Guardians are officially out, their season ending with a tough 7-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 6 of the ALCS on Monday night at Tropicana Field. For the second straight year, these three-time defending AL Central champs rallied hard in the second half, only to fall short of the World Series. Now, with an important offseason ahead, some serious questions are hanging over their core players, questions that could reshape this team’s future.
The $175 Million Puzzle That Is José Ramírez
You know the name, right? José Ramírez, their rock at third base, the guy who just became the Guardians’ franchise leader in games played with 1,734. But get this: 2026? It was his absolute worst season since he became a regular back in 2016. Seriously, his .235/.320/.368 batting line was a full 175 points lower in OPS and 43 points down in OPS+ compared to last season. This dude went from being an MVP candidate in 2025 to, well, just OK in 2026. What happened?
A fractured hamate bone in his left hand on June 13, that’s what. Before that injury, Ramírez was still hitting a respectable .239/.339/.418 through 72 games. Not peak J-Ram, sure, but not bad. His average exit velocity was 90.3 mph and his expected slugging percentage was .444. But after surgery and his return in late July? Big drop. In 53 games post-injury, he slashed a meager .229/.296/.302, showing little hard contact. His average exit velocity plummeted to 86.5 mph, and his expected slugging percentage sank to .321. He simply didn’t look like himself.
This isn’t just about on-field performance, either. Last January, Cleveland inked Ramírez to a massive seven-year, $175 million extension. He’s pulling in $25 million a year through 2032, a figure that made up roughly 33% of the team’s entire 2026 payroll! If he’s anything less than a star, it’s a gut punch for the team both on the diamond and in the bank account. He just turned 34 last month, and you gotta wonder if age-related decline is starting to creep in. Great players are different, but Father Time? He’s undefeated. For the Guardians, this season needs to be about that injury, not a new, painful trend, because without a star Ramírez, there isn’t enough offense to push for a World Series title.
Steven Kwan: The Leadoff Guy Who Hit a Wild Ride
Then there’s Steven Kwan. Man, his 2026 was a total tale of two seasons. This long-time leadoff hitter bottomed out on June 22, hitting a truly brutal .206/.321/.251. For a minute there, he was legitimately one of the worst hitters in baseball, can you believe it? But what a turnaround! He finished the season exceptionally well, crushing it with a .345/.433/.429 line over the next 80 games.
By the time the dust settled, Kwan’s final batting line of .282/.382/.349 looked pretty much like it always does. He just took the bumpiest road possible to get there. It shows his resilience, but also raises questions about what that mid-season slump was all about. Is that the new normal, or just a blip on the radar?
As Cleveland heads into an offseason loaded with big decisions, they need to figure out what version of Kwan they’re getting and, more critically, if Ramírez can bounce back to his MVP-caliber self. The future of their offense, and their World Series hopes, hinge on it. This team needs answers, and they need them fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply