5 Guardians who stand out as offseason trade bait

The Cleveland Guardians have a reputation for developing talent, especially pitchers, which often leaves them with an abundance of players vying for limited roster spots.

As the team looks to potentially bolster its lineup or acquire other pieces this offseason, they may need to leverage their depth on the 40-man roster.

Here are five players the Guardians could utilize as trade bait this offseason.

These Guardians could be mentioned in trade talks this offseason

Doug Nikhazy: Pitching depth with high value

Nikhazy represents the classic trade asset for the Guardians: a young, controllable pitcher with recent MLB experience. Given Cleveland's pitching surplus — a fantastic problem to have — Nikhazy's value is as high as it's ever going to be.

While a transition to the bullpen, similar to what the Guardians did with Hunter Gaddis, is a possibility, his history as a starter and the multiple years of team control he possesses make him an attractive target for other clubs.

That blend of proximity to the bigs, status as a southpaw and control makes him arguably the most valuable player on this list. If the Guardians would dangle him in trade talks, it wouldn't be a surprise if he made up the return for a promising young outfielder like Jo Adell.

Will Brennan: Outfield depth and defensive utility

Brennan finds himself in a crowded position group. With cornerstone player Steven Kwan locked in at left field, top prospect Chase DeLauter projected as a future everyday starter, and other prospects like Petey Halpin and George Valera competing for time, moving a big-league-ready player like Brennan makes sense for roster balance.

Brennan's value lies in his immediate MLB readiness, defensive versatility, and solid track record against right-handed pitching. While he's been hot and cold as a hitter in the Majors, he is a cost-controlled asset who could be a valuable piece in a package deal or a quality depth addition for a contending team.

Ángel Martínez: Switch-hitting infield versatility

Martínez is a swiss-army knife who was previously a highly-regarded prospect in Cleveland's system. He's a switch-hitter with some defensive versatility, which makes him an intriguing trade chip.

While the Guardians may prefer to hold onto the young spark plug, his scouting report highlights a high baseball IQ, advanced plate discipline, and solid power potential. Given the glut of middle infield talent in the Guardians' system, an opportunistic team in need of a high-upside, multi-positional fielder could initiate a trade by offering a price that exceeds Cleveland's internal valuation.

Johnathan Rodríguez: Power potential in a crowded outfield

Like Brennan, Rodríguez is a young, controllable outfielder who could be moved to relieve the outfield logjam. Rodriguez brings an element of power that has been a focus of his development since being drafted in 2017.

Although his brief initial MLB exposure in 2024 and 2025 did not produce elite results, his overall prospect status and his history of power in the minors suggest he could be a good buy-low, high-upside acquisition for a team looking for an outfield corner bat with control.

Sam Hentges: High-leverage lefty reliever

Hentges is a hard-throwing left-handed reliever, a commodity perpetually in demand around the league. The key factor for Hentges is the fact he's out of minor league options, meaning Cleveland would need to expose him to waivers if removed him from their big league roster.

With fellow lefty Tim Herrin being a similar, cost-controlled relief option, Hentges is the more movable piece due to his service time and his lack of options. A team desperate for a reliable, experienced southpaw late in games could offer a "nice package" to acquire him.