CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians find themselves facing a significant rebuilding challenge following the indefinite loss of closer Emmanuel Clase and promising starter Luis Ortiz due to their involvement in a betting scandal.

As the organization looks toward 2026, the approach to filling these critical vacancies will likely combine internal promotions, free agent acquisitions, and potential blockbuster trades.

The bullpen situation appears more straightforward, with Cade Smith emerging as the presumptive closer following his performance down the stretch in 2025. Smith stepped into the high-pressure role during the playoff push and appears to have the confidence of manager Stephen Vogt, though no official announcement has been made regarding the closer position for 2026.

Beyond Smith, Cle

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