Throughout the 2026 season, the American League Central provided many surprises. Sure, the Cleveland Guardians winning the division wasn’t much of a surprise. With their young core and 2025 success, many felt they were one of the main contenders for the AL Central crown. But the Chicago White Sox shocked the baseball world by making the playoffs. After years of last-place finishes and a 100-loss season, the White Sox rode a hot start to a wild-card berth and their first playoff series win since 2005. As for the other three teams, it was a season they’d rather forget. Here is what each AL Central team needs to do in order to get better in 2027.
What Should Each AL Central Team Target?
Cleveland Guardians, Add a Veteran to the Rotation: The Guardians boast one of the most impressive young cores in the majors. Guys like Travis Bazzana, Chase DeLauter, Gavin Williams, and Parker Messick are all good enough to build a championship roster around. But this team needs a bit of veteran presence, especially in the starting rotation. They don’t need an ace, but they do need someone who can fill a mid-rotation spot. Jack Flaherty is the arm for this rotation. He posted average numbers last season, with a 94 ERA+. He’d be the perfect three- or four-starter in this rotation. Tyler Mahle is another option who finished strong with the Atlanta Braves.
Chicago White Sox, Bring in Starting Pitchers: While the Chicago White Sox impressed everyone this season with their run to the postseason, the starting rotation left a lot to be desired. By the end of the season, they only had one starter they could rely on: Sean Burke. If they want to repeat last season’s success, they will need more starters they can trust. Clay Holmes seems like the perfect person for this role. Just two years after converting to a starter, Holmes has established himself as a mid-rotation arm. But with his limited track record of starting success, he should be on the cheaper side. Right in the White Sox price range.
Minnesota Twins, Fix the Bullpen: The Minnesota Twins may have finished under .500 and third in the AL Central, but they feel they are close to contention. With an exciting young core, the Twins could see a major boost for internal development. But if they want to compete in the AL Central, they will need to fix their bullpen. As a group, they had a 4.74 ERA, which was the 4th worst in the majors. Steven Okert would be a great addition to this pen. He was solid in 2025, but this season he took another step forward. Over 67 2/3 innings, he had a 2.13 ERA with 68 strikeouts to 14 walks, a 0.872 WHIP, and a 194 ERA+.
Detroit Tigers, Replenish the Bullpen: After making the postseason last season, the Detroit Tigers fell apart and finished fourth in the AL Central. Their season was so bad that it caused them to trade their face of the franchise, Tarik Skubal. If the Tigers want to be a force in the Central again, they have a lot of work to do. Specifically, they will need to rebuild a bullpen that has three players entering free agency. David Bednar should be the top target, as he has had an ERA+ well over 100 in five of the last six seasons. Add a couple of other mid-range guys like Pete Fairbanks and Danny Coulombe, and they have a solid group.
Kansas City Royals, Add An Outfielder: The only thing that seemed to make sense in the AL Central was the Kansas City Royals finishing in the basement. Sure, they have some solid players, but the roster is very top-heavy. If the Royals want to take a step towards contention, they need to add a solid right-handed outfielder. Tyrone Taylor can fill that role. He is coming off a career season where he slashed .279/.325/.502 with 11 home runs, 38 RBIs, and a 128 OPS+. They could also take a flyer on Luis Robert Jr. and hope he can stay healthy and recapture the production he put up early in his career.
