An outstanding defensive infielder, Gabriel Arias may get a chance to initially win the second base job for the Guardians.

Bibee is spot on with this self-assessment. His fastball was easily the pitch that needed the most work after analyzing last season. His four-seam recorded a run value of -10, a wOBA of .364, and a hard-hit percentage of 46.3.

The former ace lefty earned the prestigious honor in his first year of eligibility. He spent 7 1/2 of his 19 seasons with the Tribe, winning the AL Cy Young in 2007.

Sabathia, Suzuki and Wagner join Dave Parker and the late Dick Allen, who were elected by the Classic Baseball Era Committee to comprise the Hall’s Class of 2025.

Sep 28, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Andrew Walters (63) throws a pitch during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images / Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

CC Sabathia made some richly deserved history on Tuesday night, earning induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in his very first year on the ballot. And it's not hard to see why: The big lefty was one of the very best pitchers in the world at his peak — he finished top-five in Cy Young voting five times in five years from 2007-2011 — and demanded the ball and delivered in the biggest moments.

Although the Guardians made their way to the AL Championship Series in 2024, Chris Antonetti, Mike Chernoff and co. saw that maybe changes to the lineup, overall approach and financial strategy of the team were still necessary.

Others, meanwhile, are selling it in the personage of prospects who could make the difference over the coming years. CBS Sports is underway examining the top three prospects in each organization. Our definition of "prospect" is simple: does that player have rookie eligibility remaining for the 2025 season?

CC Sabathia has been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, but will he wear a Guardians or Yankees cap in Cooperstown?

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Realistically, the Guardians never had a chance to sign Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki, though they did try. The Guardians were among the 20 or so teams that expressed interest in Sasaki right after the Chiba Lotte Marines, his Japanese team, posted him at the MLB winter meetings in December.

Toronto acquired $2 million in international signing bonus pool allocation from the Cleveland Guardians that could be used in its pursuit of Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki as part of a trade that also brought underperforming outfielder Myles Straw to the Blue Jays.