Guardians Rumors: Jim Bowden offers glimmer of trade deadline hope, budding Athletics closer logical fit

While we’re a little less than four days away from Monday’s trade deadline, the trade floodgates haven’t opened just yet due to the number of teams that are trying to work as both a buyer and seller. 

The Guardians fit perfectly into that theme given they’d be in the postseason if the season ended today, but also have a clearly flawed roster. 

Those differences have led to plenty of scuttlebutt about what the Guardians will (or won’t) do, but former MLB general manager Jim Bowden offered a positive update on Cleveland’s trade deadline plans earlier today when he listed the Guardians as “definite buyers.” 

Although Bowden’s report came at the same time that fellow MLB insider Jeff Passan made it seem like the Guardians were going to sit out this year’s deadline, it’s still a promising update as the Guardians look to fix all the obvious flaws on their roster. 

Jim Bowden offered some hope about the Guardians’ trade deadline 

It’s worth noting that, while Bowden had the Guardians listed as a buyer, he didn’t mention them as a potential landing place to any one player, which likely speaks to the Guardians’ varied trade deadline approach. 

Even if they end up being buyers, they’re likely still going to make some kind of creative move that adds to their long-term roster picture. 

The Guardians have a clear need on their roster for pitching depth along with a right-handed hitter, and Bowden’s classification of the Guardians makes it seem like there’s at least a chance they try to add at least one of those players before the deadline. 

Speaking of that…

Athletics reliever Hogan Harris would be a welcome addition to Guardians’ bullpen 

Although Harris may not be the biggest name floated at this time of the year, he has all the traits the Guardians tend to covet in relievers. 

Although his fastball is “just” 95 miles per hour, he’s struck out nearly 30% of the batters he’s faced while ranking in the 87th percentile in hard-hit rate and average exit velocity. 

He’s struggled with walks throughout his career, but he’s walked just 7% of the batters he’s faced since the start of June while recording a 39% strikeout rate. In total, he has a 3.38 ERA with nine saves in 48 innings.

The left-handed Harris would be a great fit in the Guardians’ bullpen behind fellow lefties Tim Herrin and Erik Sabrowski. And if that’s not enough, he’s also under club control until 2031. 

The Athletics are in desperate need of pitching as they look to build out their core for their move to Vegas, and the Guardians have a variety of minor league pitching that could help get this deal across the finish line. 

It’s hard to imagine The Athletics turning down a return that has Yorman Gómez or Justin Campbell (should the Guardians choose to dangle them in talks). 

Even if Harris wouldn’t solve the problems with the Guardians’ offense, he’d help Cleveland’s bullpen even more of a weapon. 

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