Jo Adell’s incredible start to Guardians tenure could lead to him netting unique Silver Slugger win 

Every year countless players switch leagues at the trade deadline, which can create some funky situations around MLB’s various awards. 

Take Cleveland’s mid-season trade of CC Sabathia to the Brewers in 2007 that led to Sabathia finishing fifth in the National League Cy Young race despite him spending only two months in the league. Or in 2015 when Yoenis Céspedes won the American League Gold Glove in center field despite being traded to the Mets at the deadline. 

But for every one of those trades, there are countless players who are able to keep building their award case via a trade to a team in the same league. 

One of the players who finds themselves in that situation this season is new Guardians outfielder Jo Adell, who has helped build his Silver Slugger case thanks to a strong start with the Guardians. 

Jo Adell’s quietly been building a strong Silver Slugger case with Guardians 

Adell entered play today with a .239/.293/.408 slashline with 20 home runs and 80 RBI this season across his time with the Angels and Guardians. Solid enough numbers. 

But Adell’s hit a new level since joining the Guardians. Not only has he recorded a solid .243/.325/.486 slashline with Cleveland, but he’s also recorded four home runs and 18 RBI. That RBI total is the AL’s second-highest total since the deadline behind Baltimore’s Pete Alonso. 

All that sets up what could be an interesting Silver Slugger race. Although his on-base percentage is an obvious knock to his case, his 80 RBI lead all primary American League right fielders while his 20 home runs are second to Boston’s Wilyer Abreu (22). 

Abreu has arguably the best case to win the award thanks to a solid .254/.333./460 slashline to go along with those 22 home runs, but Adell’s incredible RBI pace could end up swaying the vote his way so long as he’s able to keep it up. 

Adell’s been a mainstay at the top of Cleveland's lineup since the Guardians acquired him, and he should get plenty more opportunities to hit with runners on base thanks to José Ramírez and Steven Kwan getting on base ahead of him.

Although Adell drove in 62 runs with the Angels, most of the advanced metrics don’t love his production since it came in low-leverage situations on a lowly Angels team, but his tenure with Cleveland has looked a bit different. 

He’s also improved as a defender, which is part of the reason why he’s been worth 0.8 bWAR and fWAR in his short time with Cleveland after being worth -0.4 bWAR and 0.1 fWAR during his stint with the Angels. 

But those defensive improvements won’t matter in the Silver Slugger race. That’s just about offense, and he’s provided the Guardians with plenty of production since joining the team. 

Aaron Judge’s injury left a vacuum in the AL’s right field Silver Slugger race, and Adell could end up becoming a huge beneficiary.

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