Guardians free agents, potential targets as MLB free agency begins

The Milwaukee Brewers are World Series champions. The MLB lockout is looming. And free agency has begun. Teams are officially eligible to sign free agents from other teams as of 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2 following the five-day period in which clubs can only negotiate with their own players. That timeline started the moment the Brewers beat the Rays in Game 5 of the World Series. Major League Baseball is almost assuredly headed for a lockout on Dec. 1. But in the meantime, it's technically business as usual, and teams can wheel and deal as long as business remains open. Cleveland Guardians 2027 free agentsThe Guardians have five key pending free agents — starting pitcher Foster Griffin, first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, reliever Shawn Armstrong, catcher Austin Hedges and first baseman Rhys Hoskins. The Guardians loved the presence Lowe added to the lineup, and he came through with several key hits during their playoff run to the ALCS. At the same time, he’ll turn 32 next season, and they have both Kyle Manzardo and Ralphy Velazquez in the minor leagues. The latter hasn’t yet been added to the 40-man roster, but he might break the door down to the majors in 2027. Because of their presence, it might take a very team friendly deal for Lowe to return, even if they viewed him in a positive light in the playoffs. With Hedges, it cannot be overstated how much they love having him in the clubhouse. He brings as much nonquantifiable value as any player in baseball. He also had the best offensive season of his career by a mile, with a wRC+ of 100. But there were also some concerns with his ability to throw out runners, and Patrick Bailey has taken over as the clear No. 1. Plus, the Guardians have Cooper Ingle and Kody Huff available to back up Bailey. In a perfect world, the Guardians would love to have Hedges, and there’s no doubt he’d love to be back in Cleveland. No position player looked more distraught after the ALCS Game 6 loss than him. That might be enough for a reunion, but the roster fit might also not be as ideal as it once was, which could lead to a new direction. Shawn Armstrong held a mutual option for the 2027 season, but that has been declined, making him a free agent. He’s an interesting case, as injuries took over a major portion of his 2026 regular season, but he was outstanding in the playoffs and could opt out to seek a bigger payday on the open market. Cleveland Guardians payrollThe Guardians’ estimated final 2026 payroll came out to $86 million, boosted by the midseason trade deadline deals. That put them 29th in the league, ahead of only the Miami Marlins ($76 million). Cleveland's estimated 2027 payroll as it currently stands is $98 million, according to FanGraphs’ projections. Top MLB free agents for 2027 Among the top free agents available on the open market: SP Tarik Skubal 3B/OF Teruaki Sato SP Trevor Rogers OF Randy Arozarena OF Seiya Suzuki SP Freddy PeraltaSP Michael King C Ryan Jeffers LHP Adrian Morejon The Beacon Journal sports department can be reached at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians free agents, potential targets as MLB free agency begins