CLEVELAND, Ohio — With the July 31 trade deadline approaching, the Cleveland Guardians find themselves at a critical juncture. Sitting 8½ games behind Detroit in the AL Central and tied with Seattle for the final American League wild card spot, Cleveland has an opportunity to make a significant push to get back to the playoffs.
The Guardians’ traditional approach of “threading the needle” at the trade deadline – making moves that help the current roster while preserving future assets – needs to be set aside this season. Their starting rotation has shown promise over the past month, but the offense desperately needs reinforcement.
Cleveland’s lineup ranks among baseball’s least productive, averaging just 3.76 runs per game (sixth-lowest in MLB) while sitting in the bottom third of the league in home runs (75), slugging percentage (.370) and OPS (.670). Beyond superstar José Ramírez and veteran Carlos Santana, consistent offensive production has been scarce, particularly since trading Josh Naylor to Arizona in December.
The front office duo of Chris Antonetti and Mike Chernoff has historically been reluctant to part with top prospects at the deadline, especially pitchers. However, they showed some flexibility last year by including 2023 second-round pick Alex Clemmey in a package for Lane Thomas.
The organization’s prospect pipeline presents both opportunities and challenges. Nine of their top 10 prospects are position players, with only 2024 first-round pick Braylon Doughty representing pitching talent in that elite group. The last time Cleveland traded a top position prospect was in 2018, when catcher Francisco Mejia went to San Diego for All-Star closer Brad Hand and side-arming setup man Adam Cimber.
Financial constraints remain a consideration, particularly given revenue losses from the defunct Bally Sports deal. The ideal target would be a veteran right-handed power-hitting corner outfielder whose team might absorb part of their salary.
Three potential targets stand out:
- Marcell Ozuna from Atlanta, whose power has declined slightly in 2025 but still maintains a .379 on-base percentage. The 34-year-old produced 79 home runs with a .552 slugging percentage from 2023-24 and is earning $16 million.
- Eugenio Suárez from Arizona has been one of baseball’s most productive hitters since July 2024, posting a .925 OPS with 48 home runs in nearly 150 games. He makes $15 million this season.
- Adolis García from Texas presents a riskier option. The 2023 ALCS MVP started slowly but is hitting .306 with an .871 OPS over his last 17 games. The 32-year-old Cuban slugger has one more arbitration year in 2026 and earns $10.5 million.
Any significant acquisition would likely cost Cleveland valuable prospects from their farm system. With top talents like Travis Bazzana, Chase DeLauter, Jaison Chourio and Angel Genao all spending time on the injured list this season, trade partners may demand a premium.
Another creative option could involve closer Emmanuel Clase, who has 18 saves but would be of little use to a non-contending team. A three-team trade sending Clase (under team control through 2028) to a contender like the Dodgers, Phillies or Mets could help Cleveland acquire the bat they need.
The urgency is clear: Ramírez is having another MVP-caliber season at age 32, averaging 6.1 wins above replacement over the past four years and building a Hall of Fame résumé. Wasting another prime year of his talent by failing to add offensive support seems shortsighted.
If the Guardians believe in their playoff chances, the time for a bold move is now.
Generative AI was used to organize information for this story.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
