It’s hard to discount the Cleveland Guardians after the run they made to close out the 2025 season. They surged back into the AL Central race while the Kansas City Royals faded down the stretch, capitalizing on a late-season collapse by the Detroit Tigers.
And while Detroit ultimately got the upper hand over Cleveland in the postseason, the Guardians enter 2026 as the defending AL Central champions.
Still, analysts are skeptical of Cleveland’s ability to build on that success. The team’s flaws, combined with a limited spending history, suggest they may operate more like a fringe seller than a serious contender this winter.