Rosenhaus: Consistency will again key Guardians in 2026

NORWALK — When the calendar turns to a new year, Jim Rosenhaus starts to get those feelings. The longtime radio announcer alongside Hall of Famer Tom Hamilton for the Cleveland Guardians spends much of November and December recovering from the previous Major League Baseball season. But once January arrives, Rosenhaus finds the motivation to get ready for the next lengthy season. Much of that stems from one look outside when Ohio weather makes Rosenhaus, or anyone for that matter, anxious for spring training to get underway in Arizona. "You kind of get rested up and start thinking ahead once January gets here," Rosenhaus said on Jan. 19 at the Norwalk Elks Lodge. Rosenhaus spoke at the Norwalk Rotary Club meeting that was also hosted by radio affiliate WLKR 95.3 FM. "Every new season is fun," Rosenhaus said. "You spend about a month before spring training preparing for stories, but then there will be stories that aren't even a thought or on our radar right now." A model of consistency since 2013, the Guardians had a wild season on and off the field in 2025. Among the off-the-field highlights was Hamilton's induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as the Ford C. Frick winner in July. Rosenhaus was able to attend the festivities in Cooperstown, N.Y., to watch his radio partner of 15 years have his moment among baseball's elite. "It was awesome, and I think Tom had been on that radar for a while," Rosenhaus said of Hamilton. "There were a couple of years there where you wondered what more he had to do to get in, so it was great to see him be recognized. "Tom is what people remember about Cleveland baseball. The players change, but he's the one constant, and not every MLB city has that. He's not the senior member in terms of years of service, but he's close. Those guys who stay in one place that long are rare now. He has always loved being part of this team and being the voice, and seeing him get recognized was really special." On the field, the Guardians overcame the loss of two starting pitchers to injury — Shane Bieber and Ben Lively — and starter Luis Ortiz and All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase to a gambling investigation. Their main free agent signing from the previous offseason, fan favorite Carlos Santana, struggled mightily and was released in August. All the while, the team fell behind the Detroit Tigers by 15.5 games on July 8 after a 10-game losing streak. Still, the Guardians found a way to not only get back in the race but also overtake the Tigers. They won the American League Central Division on a walk-off home run by Brayan Rocchio in extra innings against the Texas Rangers on the final day of the regular season to win the division. It marked the largest deficit erased to win a division championship in MLB history, as the Guardians won 19 of their final 23 games in September. However, when the team rematched with the Tigers in a three-game Wild Card series, they lost in three games despite outscoring Detroit in the series. Since 2013, Cleveland has gone to the postseason nine times in 13 years with six AL Central titles, two AL Championship Series appearances (2016, 2024), and one AL pennant (2016). "That last day of the season was so exciting, because obviously it didn't look good at all before the dramatic turnaround," Rosenhaus said. "They learned how to brush off the losses, and it extended a remarkable stretch of baseball for the team. "Since Progressive Field opened (in 1994), it's been an extremely consistent franchise. They have the third-most wins in baseball since 2013, and that's a credit to the front office and coaching staff as well. Every team goes into spring training hoping to be in that position, and consistency-wise, they've been able to do it." Much of last season's struggles came from one of the worst offensive productions in all of baseball, however. After All-Star players like Jose Ramirez and Steven Kwan, the rest of the lineup was typically a struggle, save for first baseman/designated hitter Kyle Manzardo also hitting 27 home runs. And though it's generally been a quiet offseason for most MLB teams, the Guardians have been notably quiet. Other than bringing back popular backup catcher Austin Hedges, the team has made five bullpen additions, led by the return of veteran reliever Shawn Armstrong. Rosenhaus said the team is likely going to rely on oft-injured but star prospects, such as outfielders Chase DeLauter and George Valera, to help Cleveland's struggling outfield aside from Kwan. Valera appeared in 16 regular season games and hit a key home run in Game 2 of the Wild Card series against Detroit. DeLauter, a first-round pick in 2022, made his MLB debut in the postseason series. Rosenhaus also pointed to another oft-injured player, pitcher Daniel Espino, as another dark horse contributor in 2026. The first-round pick from 2019 has missed several seasons but finally appears healthy and still throws in the upper 90s with his velocity. Two-time Manager of the Year Stephen Vogt is also expected to see the promotion of second baseman Travis Bazzana, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, at some point in 2026. "There are about 17 or 18 teams right now who shop differently from teams like the Dodgers and a few others," Rosenhaus said. "I think there are some interesting young players like DeLauter, Valera, and even Espino that, if things go well, will be exciting additions." Cleveland will again boast a deep pitching staff. The rotation a year ago had three starters — Tanner Bibee (12-11, 4.24), Gavin Williams (12-5, 3.06), and Logan Allen (8-11, 4.25) — make more than 30 starts each, while Slade Cecconi (7-7, 4.30) and Joey Cantillo (5-3, 3.21) combined to make 39 starts. The bullpen, if healthy, is expected to again be among the best in the MLB, led by Hunter Gaddis (2-2, 3.11) and Cade Smith (8-5, 2.39) in the eighth and ninth innings. Various betting sites, as well as projections such as Fangraphs, have Cleveland projected to win anywhere from 81 to 86 games in 2026. That number is right on par with last season's 88-74 finish, and again in contention with teams like the Tigers and Kansas City Royals in the division race. Pitchers and catchers report to Goodyear, Ariz. on Feb. 12. The first full-squad workout is set for Feb. 17, while the Guardians open spring training play against the Cincinnati Reds on Feb. 21. The regular season begins on March 26, as Cleveland for a third straight year opens on the west coast with four games against the Mariners in Seattle. That is followed by three more tough games against the defending World Series champions at Dodger Stadium. The home opener is slated for Easter weekend on April 3 against the Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field. This spring will also feature the sixth annual World Baseball Classic — held every three years in an Olympic-style format — from March 5-17. So far, just catcher Bo Naylor (Canada) and Logan Allen (Panama) are confirmed to participate. It is expected in the coming weeks that Ramirez will be announced to the Dominican Republic roster. Bazzana will play for Australia. Speaking of Ramirez, who enters his 14th season with the team ranked in the top three in virtually every single offensive category in Cleveland baseball history, Rosenhaus knows what is happening before his eyes in the radio booth. Ramirez is expected to become the first third baseman in MLB history to surpass 300 home runs and 300 steals for his career in 2026, further cementing his own Hall of Fame case. Days after Rosenhaus appeared in Norwalk, it was announced that Ramirez agreed to a third contract extension that will keep him in Cleveland through 2032 — 20 years after his debut season. "There are some nights where, like when he hits a big home run or big base hit, and you know they're not giving him anything to hit — and he still does it," Rosenhaus said. "Or when he inevitably takes an extra base, or scores from third on a wild pitch, or steals home." Rosenhaus said when Ramirez has one of those games and moments, he does think that he is watching arguably the best position player in team history. "And at this point, you're approaching the territory of, gosh, it's not going to be the same when he's done playing," he said. "But it is a pleasure to watch him play, and it's mainly because he outsmarts his opponents so much to make those memorable plays. And the way he gets the team to follow him is amazing."