Cleveland Guardians declined John Means’ $6 million option. What questions does that raise about his ability, their pitching depth and roster strategy for 2026? Will management target other outside depth arms in a thin free agent market? These decisions would impact Guardians’ upcoming Rule 5 and non-tender decisions loom large as starting pitching depth options are thin.

Justin Lada explores the ripple effects of these roster moves, debates the offensive struggles tied to player development versus coaching, and breaks down rumors around potential trades and international signings. Will the Guardians aggressively pursue new bats, or double down on developing homegrown talent? We also debate Victor Rodriguez’s hiring by the Astros and take deeper look into Cleveland’s ongoing offensive challenges and the true cause.

Recent hires, coaches, and the ongoing debate: coaching vs. talent problem.

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