Guardians Rumors: Marlins offer potential trade fits who could help Cleveland's outfield, pitching

Earlier today, the Miami Marlins gave us some evidence that they're going to thread the needle between buying and selling by dealing catcher Liam Hicks to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for three prospects.

But they may not be done moving pieces, which could end up helping the Guardians.

According to the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson, the Guardians have expressed some interest in Miami starter Braxton Garrett, who has spent most of the season in Triple-A.

Couple that with a report from earlier this week from The Athletic about how the Guardians could be interested in Miami outfield Kyle Stowers, and all of a sudden South Beach is looking a one-stop shop that could help add some additional reinforcements to Cleveland's roster.

Braxton Garrett and Kyle Stowers are clear Guardians trade targets

Garrett's an intriguing option for a Guardians team that's still in desperate need of some pitching depth.

The Guardians have been able to use just five starters this season outside of Logan Allen starting one game of a doubleheader, but they're one injury away from disaster.

The Marlins took Garrett in the first round in 2016, and he announced himself to MLB in 2023 with a 3.66 ERA in 159 2/3 innings, but he made just seven starts in 2024 (one of which was a shutout) before suffering a UCL tear that kept him out for 2025.

He's appeared in two big league games this year but has allowed seven runs in 4 1/3 innings.

According to Jackson, part of the reason why Garrett hasn't pitched in the big leagues much this year is because he didn't incorporate some arsenal changes that the Marlins wanted him to.

The Guardians have one of the best pitching factories in baseball, and Garrett may be more open to change in a new environment.

If the Guardians did add him, he'd a perfect swingman option who could start his tenure with the team in the bullpen before moving into the rotation if there's an injury and/or Slade Cecconi's struggles.

Gavin Williams, Parker Messick, Tanner Bibee and Tanner Bibee are clearly entrenched in the top of the Guardians' rotation, but Cecconi's inconsistency has been maddening at the back of the rotation.

Allen's is Cleveland's top depth arm in the minors, but he's shown the kind of pitcher that he is.

Meanwhile Stowers would add even more power to a Guardians outfield that got better earlier today thanks to Cleveland's trade for Jo Adell.

Stowers has taken a step back from his All-Star campaign last year, but he still has an OPS+ of 117 with 16 home runs. He's started playing first base this year (39 appearances), so the Guardians could easily alternate him between a corner outfield spot and first base depending on matchups.

He does hit left-handed, but adding him to Cleveland's already lefty-heavy roster is a bit easier now that Adell's in the fold.

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