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Cleveland Guardians rumors: Aaron Civale predicted to be traded before deadline

By James Mastrucci

Kansas City Royals v Cleveland Guardians
Kansas City Royals v Cleveland Guardians / Ron Schwane/GettyImages
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Even though the Cleveland Guardians sit just 1.5 games back of the American League Central division-leading Minnesota Twins, it is still believed by some that they could move one of their starting pitchers ahead of the deadline.

An article featuring trade predictions for all 30 teams appearing in The Athletic has the Guardians trading Aaron Civale to the Baltimore Orioles. This is not the first time that Civale has been mentioned as an option to head to the American League East as he was also mentioned as a potential target for the Boston Red Sox.

Stephen J. Nesbitt predicts that Cleveland sends Civale to the Orioles in exchange for two prospects, Connor Norby and Cade Povich. Nesbitt had the following to say about the Guardians' situation at the moment and potential return from Baltimore.

"The Guardians are in tailor territory: not out of it, but looking toward 2024. In this market, a starter with a 2.54 ERA and two more seasons of club control is extremely valuable. Still, Orioles fans will read this and be incensed at the idea of giving up Norby, who can play second base or fill the Guardians’ long-term need for a controllable corner outfielder, and Povich, a pitching prospect acquired in the Jorge López deal last summer who was just promoted to Triple A. And Guardians fans will demand Heston Kjerstad instead. As an armchair GM, you can’t make everyone happy. But you can make everyone mad. "

- Stephen J. Nesbitt on Aaron Civale

Considering that the Guardians recently made a deal to add a starting pitcher in Noah Syndergaard by way of trading Amed Rosario, it may not be all that likely that a trade of Civale is in the cards. Cleveland believes that they are going to be able to make a run for the AL Central title and that task becomes more difficult if Civale were to be moved. With that being said, the Guardians could still end up trading Civale if the right package comes along. The front office has found ways to compete while trading starting pitching in the past and it would not be surprising to see them take that approach again.