5 expendable Guardians players Cleveland can move at the trade deadline for pitching

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The Cleveland Guardians are in the midst of an impressive start to the season. New manager Stephen Vogt has the team rolling through the season at rates rarely seen in Cleveland. This has all come despite the injury bug biting the pitching corps rather aggressively. This isn't unique to Cleveland, but it's come at a price regardless.

With Shane Bieber's early season injury ending his season and Gavin Williams hitting the injured list before the season even started, Cleveland started down two of their best arms. The rest of the staff has picked up the pieces well enough, but it's no secret Cleveland should be looking to add starting arms before the trade deadline. Even with Williams nearing a return, there still needs to be additional starting pitchers added to the unit to get through not only the season but deep into the postseason.

Next. Oakland starter Paul Blackburn would be an ideal trade target for the Cleveland Guardians. Oakland starter Paul Blackburn would be an ideal trade target for the Cleveland Guardians. dark

So far this season, Cleveland has had just 18 quality starts from their starting pitchers, being labeled as six innings or more while giving up three or fewer runs. Only four teams in baseball have fewer - Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers, and Miami Marlins. Of those, Milwaukee is the only team above .500 or with more than 26 wins, sitting at 37-26. Yet, somehow, Cleveland has managed to get to 41-22, tied for the second-best record in the American League with Baltimore behind only the Yankees.

With that taken into consideration, it's clear that Cleveland should be looking for pitchers at the deadline. However, that will come with a price. Cleveland won't want to deal top prospects if possible or tear apart the core of the team that is working towards a postseason run. So, what players could be on the block to be moved out of the Cleveland Guardians organization at the deadline for a starting pitcher?

1. Gabriel Arias

Washington Nationals v Cleveland Guardians / Nick Cammett/GettyImages

This one seems a bit obvious. It's been a tough start to the season for Gabriel Arias, and he's slowly falling out of the rotation for Cleveland, especially with the arrival of Daniel Schneemann. If Cleveland can find a suitor, he may be the perfect piece to move at the deadline.

Arias is still just 24 years old and a change of scenery could be the best option for him. In Cleveland, he doesn't havea trueposition. He's been used all over the field andjustcan't settle in.Almostreminds me of Gio Urshela's situation. On top of that, his bat just hasn't translated. This year, he's batting .210,which would bea career-high over his three years in the majors. In 2023, he struck out 113 times with just 28 walks.

Now, Arias wouldn't be the core of the deal. Other parts would be needed to get this deal done, but there is still an upside to Arias that an organization, like maybe Oakland, could see benefit in. The potential is still there, but he doesn't have the opportunities in Cleveland to work through the kinks and improve. He needs semi-steady playing time for that to happen.

As for Cleveland's side of things, the loss of Arias wouldn't hurt too bad. With Brayan Rocchio, Schneemann, and others coming up through the organization, Arias is an expendable asset that the team can replace.

2. Will Brennan

Cleveland Guardians v Texas Rangers / Ron Jenkins/GettyImages

This one is alittle more shocking and a bitharder to sell, but Will Brennan's upside is far more desirable and could bring in a better pitcher than other players on the block.Although, it could be a more difficult replacement.

Brennan has been a fan favorite and has shown flashes, but those flashes could bring in a starting pitcher for the team. Brennan has been a decent player, but he's only hitting .234 with a career-low .291 on-base percentage. What it boils down to is that Brennan is replaceable.

Familiar names like Myles Straw and Estevan Florial are still within the organization and could move up to the role should Brennan be moved. On top of them, there are others on the 40-man that could step up. We've already seen Johnathan Rodriguez this season, plus George Valera and Jhonkensy Noel could make the jump up to the outfield to replace Brennan as well.

As for Brennan's prospects, he's still just 26 years old. His flashes could be enough to intrigue another team. Like Arias, other pieces would be needed to get a deal done, but Brennan could be an easy move and replacement to bring in a starting pitcher.

3. Myles Straw

Cleveland Guardians v Cincinnati Reds / Dylan Buell/GettyImages

This is a bit harder of a sell, but it's a possibility. It seemed like Myles Straw's time in Cleveland was most likely over when he didn't make the 40-man at the beginning of the season. However, there could be other suitors around the league down the stretch.

Turning 30 in October, the prospects for Straw will be vastly different from others on this list. Teams in rebuild mode won't be too interested, but teams trying for a postseason berth may be. If there's a team that has an overload of pitchers with a need for defense in the outfield and speed on the bases, Straw could be a piece to move.

The bat still isn't great for Straw. With Triple-A Columbus, he's still batting just .239, but he has tallied nine stolen bases. A team interested in Straw would have to be a contender, which would be harder to get an asset from, but it's not impossible. It would also take additional pieces to get a deal done.

From the perspective of Cleveland, Straw's time in the majors is done with the Guardians. Younger options with better offensive upside are moving past him in the organization. Including him in a deal for a starting pitcher would do little to the team now. At best, Straw is just a postseason roster add for speed and defense, but Cleveland can get that from others on the roster.

4. Brayan Rocchio

Cleveland Guardians v Los Angeles Angels / Katelyn Mulcahy/GettyImages

This one is tough and depends more on other players on the roster than it does on Brayan Rocchio. If Daniel Schneemann can settle in and prove he can play shortstop at themajorleague level, that gives Cleveland some flexibility in moving other middle infielders like Rocchio.

While Rocchio has been one of the more stable options at short for Cleveland so far this season, his offensive stats say otherwise. He's hitting just .213, only three points better than the heavily criticized and aforementioned Gabriel Arias. Rocchio has a decent on-base at .314 thanks to 23 walks but has just one home run and 11 RBI.

Defensively, Rocchio has been strong. He's posted a .983 fielding percentage with three errors on 172 chances, which is actually better than Andres Gimenez at second (.975). Albeit strong, it's a number that can be replaced.

Additionally, plenty of recent mock drafts, pretty much everyone I've clicked on in recent days, has Travis Bazzana at the top of the class going to Cleveland. Adding another middle infielder to the mix would only drop the value of Rocchio in the organization's eyes, especially if Schneemann or anyone else puts together an impressive group of games. In the short term, others can fill the void rather easily.

5. Chase DeLauter

Oakland Athletics Spring Training / Michael Zagaris/GettyImages

This is probably the most shocking name on the list, but just hear me out. Yes, Chase DeLauter is currently the top prospect in the organization. Yes, at the beginning of the season, I thought he would be our starting right fielder by the end of June. But maybe this is the time to cash in on his upside.

A first-round pick for Cleveland in 2022, DeLauter has looked every part of what you would hope for from a first-round selection. Turning 23 in October, he's raced his way up the minors and was knocking on the door of the majors before an injury sidelined him. Unfortunately, it's his injury history that makes me wonder if the time to move him should be now.

During his final season at James Madison, DeLauter broke his left foot. In his year and a half since being drafted by Cleveland, he's hurt the same foot twice more already. In 2023, he missed multiple months with a fractured left toe. And then this season, he's been sidelined with another fracture in his left foot.

DeLauter has shown upside, and his age makes him the perfect player to move for a top-tier starting pitcher. If Cleveland wants to make a splash, it's going to cost DeLauter, but that's a price worth paying. DeLauter's injury history doesn't bode well for longevity or durability in the majors, and if Cleveland can move him now with his value still high, they should. While he would be an upgrade over the current options in right, the team is doing just fine without him and would benefit far more greatly from a pitcher he could help bring in.

1. Gabriel Arias

2. Will Brennan

3. Myles Straw

4. Brayan Rocchio

5. Chase DeLauter

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