Checking in on the Guardians' 4 big offseason trades and how they're affecting 2025

The Guardians were one of the busier teams during the MLB offseason, as they made four big offseason trades that involved a variety of players from up and down the roster.

With the 2025 season nearly three months old, here’s a look at how those four trades have gone so far this year.

Checking in on the Guardians' 4 big offseason trades and how they're affecting 2025

Nov. 10, 2024: Guardians acquire OF Alfonsin Rosario for RHP Eli Morgan

The Guardians opened the offseason by dealing Morgan to the Cubs in exchange for Rosario, who was the Cubs’ No. 21 prospect (per MLB Pipeline) at the time of the deal.

Morgan had been a solid option in the Guardians’ bullpen since converting to a reliever in 2022, and was coming off a season where he posted a 1.93 ERA in 42 innings.

That said, it looks like the Guardians got rid of him at the right time. After missing parts of last year with a variety of arm injuries, Morgan posted a 12.27 ERA in 7 1/3 innings with the Cubs this year before going on the shelf with an arm injury that could cause him to miss most of, if not all, of this year.

Rosario’s the Guardians’ No. 24 prospect (per MLB Pipeline) and has hit .262 with 11 home runs in 52 games at High-A.

Dec. 10, 2024: Guardians acquire 1B Spencer Horwitz and OF Nick Mitchell from Blue Jays in exchange for 2B Andrés Giménez and RHP Nick Sandlin

May 6, 2025: Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Andres Gimenez (0) throws to first for the out against Los Angeles Angels second baseman Luis Rengifo (2) during the fourth inning at Angel Stadium. | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Guardians surprised all of baseball at the Winter Meetings by trading Giménez to the Blue Jays two years after signing him to a seven-year, $106.5 million extension. That contract ended up being the biggest reason the team traded the three-time Gold Glove winner, as his offense cratered (89 OPS+) after his All-Star season in 2022.

That trend has continued this season, as Giménez has hit just .202 in 47 games this year for the Blue Jays. While his defense has still been stellar (95th percentile in Outs Above Average), his bat has been a black hole for the Blue Jays.

While Horwitz never played a game for the Guardians (more on that in a second), this trade has been a win for the Guardians, as it allowed them get out from the under Giménez’s contract while opening up a spot for players like Daniel Schneemann and Gabriel Arias to play everyday.

Sandlin posted a 2.25 ERA in eight innings this season but has been on the injured list since April with an arm injury.