The Cleveland Guardians came within two wins of reaching the World Series, but their season ended with a Game 6 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Championship Series. Now, Cleveland must turn its attention to the offseason and decide which pending free agents deserve another opportunity with the organization.

Nathaniel Lowe, Austin Hedges, Rhys Hoskins and Foster Griffin are all set to hit free agency, while Shawn Armstrong has a mutual option. Of that group, Lowe is the one the Guardians should be most comfortable letting walk.

Nathaniel Lowe did not do enough to earn another contract

Cleveland acquired Lowe ahead of the MLB trade deadline, hoping the veteran first baseman could provide a boost to its lineup for the stretch run and postseason. Although the Guardians advanced to the ALCS, Lowe's individual production was not strong enough to justify bringing him back for another season.

Lowe finished his time with Cleveland posting a -0.3 WAR across 43 games, recording just 30 hits, five home runs and 27 RBIs. Those numbers do not make a compelling case for the Guardians to invest in him again, particularly with other options available as they look to build on their postseason run.

Cleveland has an opportunity to improve at first base this offseason rather than settle for another season of inconsistent production. With Lowe and Hoskins both entering free agency, the organization can explore the open market or consider promoting one of its top prospects to fill the position.

Ralphy Velazquez could be the answer at first base

One option worth serious consideration is Ralphy Velazquez, the No. 1 prospect on the Guardians' MLB Pipeline Top 30 list. The young first baseman/outfielder is expected to reach the majors in 2027, and his production in the minors proves he could provide the offensive upside Cleveland needs.

Velazquez hit 22 home runs in just over half a season at Triple-A, posting a .904 OPS. That type of production gives the Guardians a reason to be optimistic about his future and consider whether he could become a long-term solution at first base.

Of course, Cleveland should not rush Velazquez to the majors because Lowe and Hoskins are leaving. If the organization believes he needs more development, signing a veteran first baseman would make sense. However, the available free-agent first-base market is not strong, which could make an internal solution more appealing than committing money to an underwhelming alternative.

The Guardians have already seen encouraging development from young players such as Parker Messick, Chase DeLauter, and Travis Bazzana. Their progress gives the organization more reason to trust its player-development system rather than spend aggressively on a veteran who may not offer much more upside.

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Cleveland should prioritize its long-term future

The Guardians have plenty to build on after reaching the ALCS, and they should enter the offseason looking for ways to improve without sacrificing the young core that helped them get there.

The organization should explore its options in free agency, but it should not feel obligated to bring Lowe back because he was part of a postseason team. If Velazquez is ready to contribute in 2027, giving him an opportunity could provide a better return than spending on a veteran first baseman.

Cleveland may not enter the year as the favorites to win the American League, but the foundation is there. Making the right decision at first base could help them take another step forward, and letting Lowe walk should be part of that plan.