Following Friday’s non-tender deadline, there is a new crop of free agents now on the market. While none of them may be season-altering additions, there are still a few intriguing options the Cleveland Guardians should consider adding for 2026. 

Honorable Mention: Adolis Garcia

Yes, Adolis Garcia could certainly help the Guardians. Since I already did a full breakdown of his possible fit with Cleveland, he won’t officially count as one of the three players on the list.

JJ Bleday

Even though the Athletics non-tendered JJ Bleday, he still had a respectable season, especially for a team looking for more outfield help.

The 28-year-old had a slash line of .212/.294/.404, but is just one year removed from 20 20-home run and .762 OPS season.

There’s nothing saying that Bleday will return to his 2024 form, but the Guardians are desperate for more outfield production, so it may be worth taking a short on him in 2026. 

Christopher Morel

There was a time when Christopher Morle was viewed as one of the league’s up-and-coming players when he was with the Chicago Cubs. But after a trade to the Tampa Bay Rays, he’s only regressed at the plate.

Still, there are some signs that the 26-year-old could still figure it out and become a valuable 

In 2025, Morel only had a .685 OPS and 11 home runs. That said, he did have an average exit velocity of over 90 mph and a hard-hit rate of 49.7% with elite bat speed. Not to mention, Morel did have a slugging percentage of .400 against left-handed pitchers.

Considering the Guardians do need some outfield depth and more right-handed hitters, Morel could be an interesting free agent target. 

Mark Leiter Jr.

Cleveland is already looking for more bullpen depth, and we all know the Guardians are one of the best organizations in baseball in developing and getting the most out of their arms. 

That said, Mark Leiter Jr. could be a great fit for the team after he was non-tendered by the New York Yankees.

Last season, Leiter appeared in 59 games and registered a 4.84 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. Those aren’t great numbers for a back-of-the-bullpen arm, but he did do a great job of limiting hard contact.

Perhaps a one-year deal could help the veteran re-establish himself, and hopefully give the Guardians another high-leverage arm.