Guardians floated as potential trade target as Rangers look to grow catching depth

Last month, the Texas Rangers jump-started the trade market by linking up with the Mets on a one-for-one trade involving two overpriced veterans. 

It’s starting to look more and more like that was the move before the big move. The Mets got a jump start on that by signing Devin Williams and being poised to deal Jeff McNeil. 

While the Rangers haven’t done much since, they seem to be poised to make some moves this offseason, and, according to a new report from The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the Guardians could stand out as a solid trade partner for them. 

Near the bottom of Rosenthal’s new notebook (subscription required), he wrote that the Rangers are looking to “reconstruct their bullpen and find a catcher,” while adding that the Guardians are among the teams deep in young catching who the Rangers could approach about a trade. 

Along with having Bo Naylor and Austin Hedges as Major League options behind the dish (with a sprinkle of David Fry), the Guardians have Cooper Ingle at Triple-A along with Johnny Tincher at Double-A and Jacob Cozart (the second round draft pick in 2024) at High-A. 

Kody Huff and Cameron Barstad were a part of that catching depth last season, but they’re both eligible for next week's Rule 5 Draft. 

The biggest thing that could dictate how the Rangers go about adding to their catching depth. J.T. Realmuto is the top free agent catcher, but Rosenthal wrote that the Rangers don’t have the financial flexibility to nab him. 

After him, Danny Jansen and Victor Caratini are the top catching options, but neither of them are super exciting options. Instead the Rangers may elect to roll the dice on an unheralded rookie catcher, which is where Ingle could come into play. 

The Guardians could take advantage of their catching depth in a trade with the Rangers

The left-handed hitting Ingle finished last season with a .260 batting average across 120 games at Double-A and Triple-A, though he did hit just .207 in 28 games at Triple-A. 

Ingle will be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft next season and doesn’t have a clear path on the roster thanks to the presence of Naylor (who won’t be a free agent until 2030) and Hedges, who is back on a one-year contract.

The Guardians needed to call on Dom Núñez for two games last year when Hedges went on the concussion injured list, but it’s hard to believe the Guardians would add Ingle to the 40-man roster just to use him in a part-time role. 

There can be a lot of attrition at the catcher position so having a valuable catching prospect Ingle in the fold would be worthwhile. But trading him could be a shrewd move depending on what the Guardians would be able to get in return. 

Third baseman Josh Jung is arguably the Rangers’ biggest trade chip, but there really isn’t a fit for him on the roster due to José Ramírez. 

The Rangers suddenly have a logjam of outfielders thanks to their trade for Nimmo, so it would be worth seeing if the Guardians could ask for some combination of Evan Carter, Wyatt Langford and Alejandro Osuna in a trade (Osuna would likely be the easiest one to acquire). 

This is the time of year where rumors abound, but it’s important to remember that the Guardians being included in Rosenthal doesn’t mean that a trade between the two teams is going to come to fruition. But it is a reminder that surprising moves can happen at a moment’s notice this time of year.