5 of the best trade deadline moves in recent Cleveland Guardians history

The Cleveland Guardians are no stranger to the trade deadline. 

While they very rarely make the big move of the trade deadline, they’re seemingly always working on the margins to improve both their major league team and minor league depth. 

With this year’s trade deadline quickly approaching, here’s a look at five of the best trades they’ve made in recent memory. 

5 of the best trade deadline moves in recent Cleveland Guardians history

2010: Cleveland acquires RHP Corey Kluber from the Cardinals in exchange for RHP Jake Westbrook

It took some time for this trade to work out, but it’s since turned into one of the best trades in Cleveland baseball history. 

A one-time All-Star with Cleveland, the Indians traded Westbrook to the Cardinals and netted Kluber from the Padres in the three-team deal. The Cardinals traded outfielder Ryan Ludwick to the Padres to complete the deal. 

At the time, Kluber was a Double-A pitcher who was thought to have average stuff. His ceiling seemed like that of a middle-of-the-rotation arm. 

He ended up being anything but. 

After breaking in with the Indians in 2011, ‘12 and ‘13, he won his first career Cy Young award in 2014, setting off a five-year span where Kluber was one of the best pitchers in baseball. He finished his Cleveland career with a 3.16 ERA in 1,341 2/3 innings, and added a second Cy Young win in 2017. 

He’s the gift that keeps on giving as well, as Cleveland traded him to the Rangers in 2020 for closer Emmanuel Clase. Kluber only threw one inning with the Rangers before suffering a season-ending muscle injury.

2016: Cleveland acquires RHP Andrew Miller from the Yankees in exchange for OF Clint Frazier, LHP Justus Sheffield, RHP Ben Heller and RHP J.P. Feyereisen

The Indians entered the 2016 trade deadline 16 games above .500 and in clear control of the American League Central, and they responded by going all in and acquiring Miller from the Yankees.

It was a bit of an expensive trade (Cleveland paid the remaining $21 million left on Miller’s contract), but it was worth its weight in gold. 

Miller had a 1.55 ERA in 29 innings in the regular season before reaching another level in the postseason where he allowed just three earned runs in 19 1/3 innings on Cleveland’s march to the World Series. 

Miller was an All-Star in 2017 (and just as good in the postseason) before struggling in 2018, his final year in Cleveland. 

While the acquisition of Miller would be great regardless, it looks even better considering the success (or lack thereof) from the prospects they traded away. 

Frazier didn’t amount to much in MLB and retired from professional baseball last year, while Sheffield barely played for the Yankees before they flipped him to the Mariners in exchange for James Paxton. 

Heller was the first of these prospects to make his MLB debut when the Yankees called him up for seven innings in 2016, and he ended up spending part of four years with the Yankees before spending the 2023 season with the Braves and the 2024 season with the Pirates.

He’s currently in Triple-A with the Chicago Cubs.

2020: Cleveland acquires C Austin Hedges, INF Owen Miller, 1B Josh Naylor, RHP Cal Quantrill and LHP Joey Cantillo from the Padres in exchange for OF Greg Allen, RHP Mike Clevinger and RHP Matt Waldron 

The biggest trade on this list by players acquired, this trade also gave Cleveland some players who have defined this era of Guardians baseball. 

The best player Cleveland acquired in this trade was Naylor, who mashed 75 home runs in his five seasons with the Guardians and was an All-Star last year — his final season in Cleveland. 

Naylor broke into Cleveland as an electric outfielder before transitioning to a helmet-smashing, ‘all the smoke’ wanting first baseman. 

While the Guardians traded him to the Diamondbacks in the offseason, his legacy lives on thanks to the presence of Slade Cecconi, who the Guardians acquired from Arizona in their trade for Naylor.

Hedges hasn’t produced much on the field with the Guardians but he’s first-team all vibes and his presence on the roster has always corresponded with winning. 

He’s back in Cleveland this year on a one-year contract and is in the 100th percentile in caught stealing above average and the 85th percentile in framing. 

And the current contributions don’t stop there. Arias is in the midst of his strongest season with the Guardians, while Cantillo opened the season in the MLB bullpen and is currently in Triple-A getting stretched out as a starter. 

Quantrill was a solid starting pitcher during his time with the Guardians, while Miller was an average utility option. 

On the other side, Allen played in one game with the Padres and is currently in Triple-A with the Cubs, while Clevinger underwent Tommy John surgery after the 2020 season and left the Padres after the 2022 season. He’s currently in Triple-A with the White Sox. 

Waldron’s had some success in the Padres’ rotation as a knuckleballer, but he’s currently in Triple-A as well. 

2023: Cleveland acquires 1B Kyle Manzardo from Rays for RHP Aaron Civale 

This is the classic case of losing the battle versus winning the war. The Guardians trade of Civale was so disliked by the players at the time that it almost caused a mutiny in the clubhouse, but it’s turned into a clear win for the Guardians in the time since. 

Manzardo made his MLB debut last year and played in 53 regular season games before hitting .316 with a home run in the postseason. 

He’s gotten everyday playing time this year as the team’s designated hitter/first baseman, and is second on the team with 11 home runs. 

The trade looks even better given how things went for Civale. He had a 5.17 ERA in 132 1/3 innings with the Rays before they traded him to Milwaukee at the trade deadline in 2024.

2024: Cleveland acquires OF Lane Thomas from Nationals for INF José Tena, LHP Alex Clemmey and Rafael Ramirez

While Thomas’ 2025 season has been a failure so far, he earned his inclusion on this list thanks to his strong showing in last year’s postseason. 

Thomas was the Guardians’ big fish at the trade deadline and hit just .203 in 57 games after the trade. But then he had two big swings in the postseason on Cleveland’s quest toward the American League Championship Series. 

While Thomas could be on the move again at this year’s trade deadline (and Tena could still end up being a solid middle infielder, the Guardians likely don’t go on their magical run last postseason without Thomas.