3 Guardians who will be off the 40-man roster by the trade deadline

Regardless of whether the Guardians will be buyers or sellers at this year’s trade deadline, it seems clear that they’re going to be active. While that activity could result in a flurry of players coming and going from the team’s active roster, it could also result in some movement throughout some of the different levels of the roster. 

Here are three players who could lose their spot on the 40-man roster because of the incoming roster shuffle. 

3 Guardians who will be off the 40-man roster by the trade deadline

RHP Matt Krook

Krook has yet to appear for the Guardians after the team acquired him from the Athletics at the end of May, and it seems like there’s a chance that he may never get a chance to. A former big leaguer with the Yankees and Orioles, Krook has just 8 1/3 career MLB innings under his belt and is currently pitching with Triple-A Columbus. 

While he’s posted a 3.00 ERA in 15 innings with Columbus, he seems like the stereotypical 40-man roster casualty after some kind of roster move. The Guardians may need some relief help if they end up trading away Emmanuel Clase at the deadline, but they’d only make that deal in exchange for some MLB-ready prospects. 

Couple that with potential deals for Carlos Santana and Lane Thomas, and all of a sudden you’ve got a variety of new players coming in who will likely need 40-man roster spots. 

Krook has an intriguing profile and is able to keep the ball on the ground, but it may not be enough to keep on the roster ahead of the impending shuffle. 

OF Lane Thomas 

What a difference a year makes. At this time last year, we were celebrating Cleveland’s acquisition of Thomas as the kind of “all-in” move a team should make. Now we’re wondering if the Guardians will be able to get anything in return for him if they send him away at the deadline. 

Thomas helped slug the Guardians to the American League Championship Series last postseason, but has hit just .189 through 92 regular season games with Cleveland.

He’s an impending free agent and is currently on the injured list due to plantar fasciitis, but it still seems like there’s a bit of a market for him. With a dearth of actual sellers at this year’s deadline, the Guardians could find a way to wiggle away some kind of return for Thomas if they choose. 

RF Johnathan Rodríguez 

It seems like we’re approaching the end of Rodríguez’s time on the Guardians’ roster. While he has been great in the minor leagues and won the International League MVP last season, he’s barely hit in his time with the Guardians and nearly cost them a game over the weekend with his horrible defense in right field. 

Last weekend was really the first chance he got to know he was going to have everyday at-bats due to Steven Kwan’s injury, but he wasn’t able to do much with the opportunity. Yes, he hit his first MLB home run, but he still beat the ball into the ground and played subpar defense. 

The Guardians will need to do something to address the lack of production they’ve gotten from right field, but it’s clear that Rodríguez isn’t the answer. Getting him off the 40-man roster could clear up space for a surging prospect like CJ Kayfus or Chase DeLauter.