5 MLB trade deadline acquisitions Guardians, Chris Antonetti can target for 2027 and beyond

It is hard to believe we've entered the dog days of the MLB season and the trade deadline is just over a week away. As teams decide whether they will buy or sell, the next handful of days will likely determine many of their fates.

The American League has been downright bizarre this season, as no team has been otherworldly, yet 12 of 15 teams either hold or are within six games of a postseason spot. As they tend to be, the Guardians are right in the thick of the playoff picture.

Certainly, there is no telling how many chips will be pushed to the middle of the table as standings alone do not necessarily dictate whether the Guardians will be aggressive buyers. 

While there has not been a deadline splash quite like 2016 with the additions of Andrew Miller and Brandon Guyer (plus the nixed Jonathan Lucroy trade), or even the waiver deadline additions of Jay Bruce and Josh Donaldson in 2017 and 2018 respectively, Chris Antonetti and the Guardians have shown a knack for being creative at the deadline.

With that in mind, here are five controllable players who Antonetti could nail down using that creativity.

Who should the Cleveland Guardians add at the MLB trade deadline?

Casey Schmitt (INF/LF): San Francisco Giants

I have had my eye on Schmitt all year since he got off to a torrid start and the Giants immediately pummeled into the abyss of a dismal and disappointing season.

San Francisco should be sellers as Buster Posey tries to quickly re-stock the farm system and build up the same equity he had with Bay Area fans as a player.

Schmitt would fit into the Guardians' culture as a versatile defender, who is having a career year offensively. He has already surpassed his career totals in home runs, doubles, and RBI, while hitting a career-best .273 on the season.

I believe a move to a contender could be exactly the spark Schmitt needs. He also has two years of control left, which is a huge plus.

Spencer Steer (1B/3B/LF): Cincinnati Reds

Unfortunately, for our Southwest Ohio baseball brethren and former Guardians manager, Terry Francona, the Reds have the fourth-worst record in the National League after being atop the division at the start of May.

The Reds got off to a scorching start due to their pitching, however, their offense has not awoken from a season-long slumber. This is in no part the fault of Steer, who is on pace for another solid season offensively and has become one of the more underrated players in baseball. (“The guy sounds like a Cleveland Guardian already,” to quote Brad Pitt in Moneyball.)

He would provide good protection for anyone at the top of the Guardians lineup, and would do a good job of splitting up the left-handed hitters Cleveland has. Steer has another two years of control and would be a nice addition to the lineage of players who have played on both sides of the Ohio Cup.

Matt Shaw (UTL): Chicago Cubs

Although Shaw can play almost every position , he's a bit of a castaway in the Cubs' current lineup. He's blocked from his natural position of third base by Alex Bregman, and there just isn't enough room for him anywhere else.

The Guardians always have pitching, which Chicago desperately needs, as their rotation has been decimated with injuries. That sets up a great opportunity for the Guardians to do a simple 1-for-1 deal that helps both teams (Slade Cecconi, anyone?)

Shaw has been inconsistent in the big leagues, but consistent at-bats and a fresh start could awaken a bat that was very solid in the minor leagues.

As with Steer and Schmitt, Shaw is extremely versatile with the glove and is a right-handed bat. He also has five more years of control and has yet to hit arbitration. In a trade market with a lot of rentals, he could be a value addition for the Guardians or any club willing to part with some pitching.

Yuki Matsui (LHP): San Diego Padres

The first pitcher on our list, Matsui would be a quiet addition who would help the Guardians at the margins and deepen the bullpen with an effective left-handed reliever. While the bullpen has been fairly good this year, they have not quite been great and lengthening the 'pen is never a bad idea as October approaches.

This trade is dependent on which direction AJ Preller decides to go at the deadline. That said, the bullpen is the Padres' biggest strength, so Matsui could be avaiable regardless of Preller buys or sells.

The Guardians primary left-handed relievers have been Tim Herrin (3.06 ERA) and Erik Sabrowski (3.56 ERA). While both relievers have been dependable, Matsui has a 2.68 ERA this season and would help offset the right-handedness of the rest of the bullpen. 

There is a caveat with Matsui that you will not find with the other players on this list; it is not a guarantee he would be in Cleveland beyond this season should they trade for him. Matsui has provisions in his contract that potentially allow him to opt-out after either this season or the 2027 season.

If he sticks with the current contract, he would receive $13.5 million over the next two years, which is a possibility given the reliever market. An example of one of those bizarre contract quirks, he can also decline any option to the minor leagues.

Bryce Miller (RHP): Seattle Mariners 

Your initial reaction in seeing Miller’s name may be that of skepticism, but stay with me while I make my case.

The Guardians and Mariners have been trade partners rather frequently in the past, and the Mariners have a pitching surplus. While having an excess of pitching is never a problem, it has created an awkward scenario for the Mariners as they have experimented with a six-man rotation.

The biggest problem is the Mariners need use bats, which the Guardians don't really have. Any deal that lands Miller in Cleveland would probably be contigent of a third team entering the fray.

That said, could you imagine a playoff rotation of Parker Messick, Gavin Williams, Bryce Miller, and Tanner Bibee? No team would want to go against that.

Something to note as the deadline approaches is that the looming CBA negotiations may impact how teams behave. With the uncertainty of a cap, floor, or higher percentage of shared revenue moving forward, it may cause some GMs to be hesitant to pull the trigger. 

On the flip side, and a grimmer point, there is a high chance games are missed next year and of salaries being pro-rated. Maybe that will be what causes some GMs to act aggressively instead.

Either way, the Guardians have once again put themselves in position to compete down the stretch and add reinforcements. It will be exciting to see what moves are made and who may be a surprise hero in the games to come.

And don’t we deserve that after LeBron chose Philly? (Sorry, too soon?)

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