The Cleveland Guardians’ 2025 campaign was nothing short of a rollercoaster. From historic comebacks to offseason silence, the team’s year swung between extremes, leaving fans equal parts elated and frustrated. While the Guardians clinched a postseason berth for the second straight year, their quiet winter—marking the second consecutive offseason with minimal moves—did little to soothe the growing impatience of their fanbase.
Yet, not everyone shares that critical perspective. On Monday, Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller published a season review that graded each MLB team based on their 2025 performance, encompassing the regular season, postseason, and offseason activity so far. To some surprise, Miller assigned the Guardians a respectable “B,” despite the roster’s ongoing uncertainties and the quiet winter.
“While the overall grade is merely a B, what Cleveland did this season—rallying from a 15.5‑game deficit in early July to author a 74‑game surge—was the stuff of legend and won’t soon be forgotten,” Miller wrote. “Of course, the first 88 games were wildly disappointing, and in the quest to prevent a similar start in 2026, they’ve thus far invested less than $8 million in a trio of relievers.”
The story paints Cleveland’s 2025 in a fascinating light. The Guardians essentially salvaged their season with a remarkable stretch in late summer and early fall, transforming what looked like a lost campaign into a playoff run. That turnaround alone is what lifted their grade, even if the team’s offseason activity was minimal.
The season’s start was turbulent. The Guardians underperformed on the field, lost key bullpen pieces Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz to paid leave amid a sports betting investigation, and appeared on the verge of trading away Steven Kwan at the deadline. But then, something clicked. Cleveland rattled off win after win, rewriting the narrative and clinching a postseason spot that seemed improbable just months earlier.
The good news came at a cost: the end-of-season surge masked deeper issues that the offseason hasn’t addressed. Cleveland’s front office did take steps to reinforce the bullpen, addressing the vacuum left by Clase. Yet, the outfield remains largely unchanged outside of minor moves, including bringing in Stuart Fairchild on a minor league contract and designating Jhonkensy Noel for assignment. For a team with playoff aspirations, that lack of proactive acquisitions raises questions about readiness for 2026.
Part of the rationale seems tied to opportunity for young players. Chase DeLauter and George Valera, both making late-season debuts in 2025, appear poised to compete for regular playing time. The organization’s willingness to let prospects earn their stripes deserves recognition, signaling a level of aggressiveness in player development that hasn’t been typical in recent years.
Still, even with promising talent, Cleveland’s inaction in free agency leaves room for skepticism. A “B” grade acknowledges what the team accomplished on the field but also highlights what remains unfinished. Fans and analysts alike are asking: can the Guardians translate their miraculous eight-week stretch into sustained excellence, or will offseason inaction undermine their progress?
With two months left in the offseason, Cleveland still has time to make impactful moves that could elevate that “B” to an “A.” Adding external talent—particularly in the outfield or middle infield—could not only strengthen the roster but also reinforce confidence that the Guardians are serious about contending. Whether that happens remains uncertain, but for now, the franchise can at least celebrate a season that defied expectations, even if it left lingering questions about how far they can go.
The 2025 season may be over, but the debate is far from finished. Will the Guardians capitalize on their momentum, or will the quiet winter foreshadow another season of “what might have been”? Fans are watching closely, and the answers could shape Cleveland’s future for years to come.
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