No reason for Guardians not to call up Kyle Manzardo and George Valera

Enough is enough. The Cleveland Guardians are obviously in need of some changes to get their offense out of their current funk, and yet, the two best options that could help them remain in Columbus.

It is beyond time for the Guardians to call up Kyle Manzardo and George Valera. These two have nothing left to prove in Triple-A, and now is the time to find out if they can cut it in the majors. Continuing to ignore the clear offensive woes plaguing the major league club while keeping these two in Columbus is insulting to the team, the fans, and to these two players in particular.

Despite struggling during his 30 games with the Guardians, the time is now to bring Manzardo back into the mix. Manzardo has a 138 weighted runs created plus in 79 games in Columbus this season thanks to 19 doubles, 18 home runs, and a .259/.395/.533 slash line. Inserting Manzardo back into the first base/designated hitter mix could provide Josh Naylor with a little bit of time off, which would allow him to fix his approach at the plate that is leaving a lot to be desired at the moment. Additionally, it would be best for the Guardians to find out now if Manzardo will be a foundational piece moving forward or another future cast-off.

Regarding Valera, they are running out of time to see if he can ever make a tangible impact in Cleveland. The former highly regarded prospect is in his final option year, and the Guardians need to make a decision about his future with the organization. Like the above-mentioned Manzardo, Cleveland needs to give Valera a chance to face major league pitching to see if he can cut it. Valera currently has a .254/.332/.469 slash line with 16 home runs and 14 doubles in 78 games for Columbus this season. With numbers like that, it is pretty safe to say he is ready to be tested at the major league level.

There needs to be a sense of urgency within the Guardians organization right now. Cleveland has seen their lead in the American League Central reduced to just one game, and they could very well see that completely eliminated by Tuesday night. It must be understood that this team needs an influx of talent and energy to help push them past the finish line and into October. If these obvious moves are not made, it could be very concerning for their chances to achieve either goal.