Complete Guardians trade deadline grades after Chris Antonetti’s AL Central-altering trade deadline

The trade deadline has come and gone, and there were plenty of marquee names who were moved. Tarik Skubal is a Dodger. Adley Rutschman is a member of the Red Sox. ONE MORE SIGNING 

But the Guardians were a quiet part of that trade deadline by making TWO deals that helped adjust Cleveland’s roster on the margins. 

While neither move the Guardians made are a trade deadline headliner, they both give the roster some clear upgrades while not mortgaging a huge part of the Guardians’ future. 

Now it’s time to break out some red ink and grade both deals. 

The Guardians remade their roster at this year's trade deadline

Guardians and Brewers link up for some small-market action
Guardians acquire OF Blake Perkins and RHP Craig Yoho in exchange for C Bo Naylor and RHP Codi Heuer 

It was a deal where both teams dumped players who had played their way out of their team plans (all four players were at Triple-A at the time of the trade). 

The Guardians sent Perkins to Triple-A but added Yoho to their MLB roster, and he tossed an electric inning against the Diamondbacks in his Cleveland debut on Sunday. 

Yoho has posted some great Triple-A numbers in his career but was never able to put it together in the bigs with the Brewers. The Guardians’ pitching factory is going to have their work cut out for them with him. 

Perkins could fit into the Guardians’ outfielder as a contact/speed guy, but he has a career OPS+ of 77 and hit just .157 in 55 games with the Brewers this season. 

He’s going to start his Guardians tenure in Triple-A, but it seems like a matter of time until he gets a chance to make a big league opportunity. 

The loss of Naylor could sting if the Brewers end up helping Naylor unlock his potential that’s teased Guardians fans, but it was still a worthwhile gamble for the Guardians to make. 

Heuer appeared in eight games with the Guardians but was found money due to his previous arm injuries. 

Grade: B

The Guardian Angel finally arrives in the outfield
Guardians acquire OF Jo Adell from the Angels in exchange for C Jacob Cozart

Although the Guardians have stuck around the American League postseason picture for most of the season, it’s been abundantly clear that they need help in their outfield. 

And that found that help in the form of outfielder Jo Adell, who the Guardians acquired in a one-to-one swap that cost them Cozart. 

Although Adell’s profile has some clear holes (he doesn’t get one base a ton and can be a subpar defender), he’s mashed 73 home runs since the start of 2024 and has mashed lefties throughout his career. 

The Angels were misusing Adell as an everyday player, but you can bet the Guardians will lean on Adell’s platoon-heavy approach. 

Cozart has spent the past year-and-a-half at Double-A and has earned high marks for his ability to carry a pitching staff, but he profiles as more of a Austin Hedges-type behind the plate. 

The Guardians have the catching depth needed to sustain the loss of Cozart, and they were smart to capitalize on that depth to help their big league club. 

While there were plenty of other, more impactful outfielders available, the Guardians seemed fine going after a cheaper option in Adell. 

This trade could go a lot of different ways, but the early returns are promising. 

Grade: B+

Foster's home for All-Star pitchers
Guardians acquire RHP Foster Griffin from the Nationals in exchange for LHP Will Dion, LHP Josh Hartle, RHP Kendeglys Virguez and OF Nick Mitchell

The Guardians made their biggest splash in the waning hour of the trade deadline by acquiring Griffin, who has a 3.06 ERA in 129 1/3 innings this year. He first broke through with the Royals in 2020, but spent the three seasons reinventing himself in Japan before signing a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Nationals.

He's fill the obvious hole in the Guardians' pitching depth, and will likely bump Slade Cecconi out of the No. 5 spot in the rotation.

Although the Guardians starting five had combined for all but one of Cleveland's starts this season (outside of Logan Allen's doubleheader start), the depth behind that unit was pretty thin.

Hence the addition of Griffin, who has only walked 5.7% of the batters he's faced while relying on a seven-pitch mix.

The Guardians had to give up a lot of prospect capital for him, but they mostly project to be depth pieces in the bigs. Dion's already been a depth arm for the Guardians this season, and Hartle could be a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter in a year or two.

Still, that return was worth it for a pitcher of Griffin's caliber.

Grade: A

First things first (base)
Guardians acquire 1B Nathaniel Lowe from Reds in exchange for RHP Alejandro Rivera

Antonetti snuck in one last move at the buzzer by acquiring Lowe, who is in his walk year and has posted a .820 OPS with the Reds.

He's a fine player, sure, but his addition to the roster pushes Kyle Manzardo to Triple-A, which is a scary development given how much the Guardians have put into him since acquiring him from the Rays three years ago.

Lowe may be a bit more productive than him, but he's only going to play against right-handed pitching, whereas Rhys Hoskins will continue to handle things against southpaws.

This move also pushed David Fry to Triple-A. While that may be a necessary development given he's hitting just .182 on the year, that's going to create a huge change in the clubhouse.

While this could end up being a great deal if Lowe keeps hitting over the final two months, there's also just as good of a chance that this ends up being a dud that results in the Guardians watching October baseball from the couch.

Grade: D

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow