5 players the Cleveland Guardians should target in trade talks

There seems to be a general understanding that the Cleveland Guardians will not be big spenders in free agency. This presents a problem. The Guardians just finished a season in which they won the American League Central division and advanced to the ALCS. Their contention window is open now, and they must act accordingly. In order to do that, however, they must find a way to add to their roster, and that means turning their attention to the trade market, with the following five players that should be on their radar.

1. Brandon Lowe - Tampa Bay Rays

Some may wonder why Brandon Lowe is included in this list, considering that Cleveland has Andres Gimenez at second base and the first overall pick in the 2024 June Amateur Draft, Travis Bazzana, working his way through the minor league system. With some expecting Gimenez to switch to shortstop, there will be a need for a second baseman, at least early on that is.

It should also be mentioned that Lowe would only be a short-term addition, as he can become a free agent after 2025 if his club option for 2026 is declined. This would provide the Guardians with organizational flexibility that can allow them to insert Bazzana into the mix during the 2025 season if he proves he is ready to make his major league debut.

Lowe also has positional flexibility, having appeared at second, first, and the outfield during his career (Lowe did not play outfield for Tampa Bay in 2024 but did in previous seasons). If the Guardians were to acquire Lowe, they could similarly use him to how Daniel Schneemann was used in 2024, but with a significantly higher offensive upside. This would allow Stephen Vogt to continue to use his bench and role players at the same rate as he did this past season. Positional flexibility with their non-stars is something this organization clearly values, and adding Lowe into the mix would give them the opportunity to continue that approach.

3. Yandy Diaz - Tampa Bay Rays

If the Guardians are going to explore trading Josh Naylor this winter, they are going to need someone else to pair with Kyle Manzardo at first base. When it comes to possible options for them to bring into the mix, a reunion with Yandy Diaz would make sense here.

Like the previously mentioned Brandon Lowe, also a member of the Rays, Diaz would be a short-term addition to the Guardians. Diaz carries a $10 million salary in 2025 with a $12 million club option for 2026, providing some roster flexibility should the team want to go in a different direction following the upcoming season.

Diaz saw his numbers dip from his career-best year in 2023, going from a .330/.410/.522 slash line with 35 doubles and 22 home runs, to slashing .281/.341/.414 with 31 doubles and 14 home runs in 2024. The performance at the plate this past season is a more accurate representation of his abilities than the 2023 campaign and should serve as the line on which to base expectations moving forward.

Bringing Diaz back to Cleveland would go a long way toward closing the talent gap between themselves and the two teams that participated in the World Series. The Guardians clearly did not have enough offense to overtake the New York Yankees, and finding a way to bring more thump to their lineup should be near the top of their priorities list, and reacquiring Diaz would help them accomplish exactly that.

4. Jordan Montgomery - Arizona Diamondbacks

The 2024 season was an absolute disaster for Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Jordan Montgomery. From not being signed until the regular season was about to begin, firing his agent Scott Boras, suffering an injury early in the year, to the owner of the Diamondbacks publicly stating his regret of singing Montgomery, this is clearly someone who could use a change of scenery. With the expectation that the Diamondbacks will eat a significant chunk of his salary just to get him out of Arizona, the Guardians should definitely inquire about potentially acquiring him.

While the relatively low amount of money the Guardians would have to pay Montgomery should they trade for him is definitely a large factor, holding some belief that 2024 is an anomaly and not an accurate portrayal of who he is as a pitcher. To be blunt, 2024 was a mess for Montgomery, and his 6.23 ERA, 1.650 WHIP, and 6.4 strikeouts per nine innings are not necessarily a surprise.

Betting on a bounceback year for Montgomery is risky, but at the same time, it seems somewhat likely to happen, especially if he gets out of Arizona. Most of Montgomery's struggles came while pitching in the hitter-friendly environment that is Chase Field. There is no guarantee he will return to his sub-4.00 ERA form, but it seems a lot more likelier than seeing a repeat of 2024 in 2025.

What it all comes down to is trying to find a match that works between team and player. Right now, Montgomery and his current contract situation seem like an ideal trade target for a Guardians team desperately in need of starting pitching.

5. Ryan Mountcastle - Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles find themselves at a crucial point in their competitive timeline. Baltimore can now be considered a perennial playoff team and has an influx of new prospects making their way to the bigs they are going to have to make decisions about certain players, one of which may be Ryan Mountcastle, Should the Orioles decide to trade Mountcastle to clear a path for other, less expensive players, the Guardians should take a run at trading for him.

Mountcastle has seen his home run numbers drop in three consecutive seasons, which just so happens to coincide with the left field wall being moved back at Camden Yards. The Orioles have since decided to move it back in a bit, which should help the power numbers of Mountcastle (and others), but that should not prevent them from considering trading the 27-year-old first baseman this offseason.

Just like the previous suggestion of Yandy Diaz, this would only be an option for the Guardians to consider if they decide to trade Josh Naylor. Unlike Diaz, trading for Mountcastle would probably be a little more costly, considering Baltiimore's current level of competitiveness. But if the Guardians want to capitalize on their current contention window, they must be willing to make big moves in order to do so.