The Cleveland Guardians are facing significant offensive challenges as the 2024 season comes to a close, struggling to improve upon their lackluster performance from the previous year. The team made a controversial move by trading away Josh Naylor and bringing in 37-year-old Carlos Santana, raising questions about their strategy for bolstering their lineup.
Looking ahead to 2025, the Guardians are relying heavily on their young hitters to step up, particularly Kyle Manzardo. Projections from Dan Szymborski at FanGraphs suggest that Manzardo could have a breakout year, forecasting a batting line of .247/.334/.445 with 18 home runs and 65 RBIs over 491 plate appearances. This would mark a considerable improvement from his previous season, where he only managed a .234 average with five home runs.
For the Guardians to alleviate the impact of Naylor's departure, Manzardo’s performance will be crucial. His potential resurgence, alongside expected contributions from star player José Ramirez and other young talents like Jhonkensy Noel, is imperative for the team's success. However, there are still concerns over the lack of additional offensive acquisitions, and time is running out before the start of the regular season.
