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.

2. Sandy Alcantara - Miami Marlins

If there is one area on the roster that everyone should expect the Cleveland Guardians to target this offseason, it is their starting rotation. There are going to be plenty of options for teams to pick from, but if the Miami Marlins were to make Sandy Alcantara genuinely available, the Guardians should be interested.

Alcantara missed all of 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery following the 2023 season. With his $17.3 million salary over the next two seasons and a $21 million club option for 2027, the rebuilding Marlins may look to deal Alcantara in an effort to help reset their competitive timeline (again). If this turns out to be the case, Cleveland should make sure they are one of the teams who are seriously vying for his services.

Of course, the high salary attached to Alcantara may be a reason the Guardians may not make an aggressive run for his services. Considering the risk-averse approach that Cleveland has utilized over the years, the combination of Alcantara's high salary and coming off Tommy John surgery may be just enough for the Guardians to not seriously pursue a trade for the former Cy Young Award winner.

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.

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.