Cleveland Guardians in the mix to trade for Athletics 1B Matt Olson

The Cleveland Guardians are exploring the possibility of making a blockbuster trade for A’s first baseman Matt Olson.

Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson is on the trade block, and the Cleveland Guardians look to be one of the teams in the running to acquire his services.

Olson was a 2022 trade target covered in these parts, and it’s not surprising to see the Guardians going through with at least exploring the possibility of a trade. He checks pretty much all the boxes of what the team is looking for: a major upgrade at first base, years of team control, and dealing with a team willing to trade for prospects likely years away from the majors.

The A’s are embarking on a painful rebuild, unloading just about every piece of serviceable talent they have on the roster. Olson is going to have plenty of suitors – he hit a tremendous .271/.371/.540 with 39 home runs, 111 RBIs, 35 doubles, and a 146 wRC+ last season – but the Guardians have a loaded farm system that is built to make such a deal possible.

Could the Guardians Pull This Deal Off?

It’s certainly possible, given the state of the Guardians’ farm system and the potential infusion of cash that comes with David Blitzer circling minority ownership. With the pitching the team has at the major-league level, and now an extended playoff field, Cleveland believes it can contend now. Trading for Matt Olson, at a position of desperate need, would prove the team is backing up that talk.