Perplexing trade suggestion for the Cleveland Guardians at the deadline

When it comes to what area on the roster the Cleveland Guardians could look to upgrade at the trade deadline, a few positions usually come to mind. Starting pitcher, outfielder, and shortstop are more often than not what is being suggested, but a completely out-of-touch suggestion was recently made by Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter.

Appearing in Reuter's 10 Fresh MLB Trade Ideas 1 Month from 2024 Trade Deadline, the proposed deal for the Guardians has them acquiring catcher Elias Diaz from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Cleveland's 10th-ranked prospect C.J. Kayfus. 

The focus here appears to be on improving the offensive output from the catcher position, which is understandable but ignores the value their current backstops provide.

"Young catcher Bo Naylor is hitting .202/.270/.330 for a 73 OPS+ on the year, and while he has picked up his production of late, the Guardians could still be searching for a potential upgrade this summer. Utility man David Fry is best served as only an occasional option behind the dish, while Austin Hedges has been his usual glove-only option."

Joel Reuter on Guardians catchers

Bo Naylor is someone who is still finding his way as a hitter in the majors but is still valuable defensively. Austin Hedges' contribution on the field is defense, although it would be a mistake not to mention his impact in the locker room. Hedges is a big-time vibes guy and his presence was clearly missed last season. David Fry has positional versatility that allows first-year manager Stephen Vogt to make in-game substitutions as needed to improve their defensive alignment or in the event someone gets injured at a position he can play in the field.

The issue with this suggested trade is that who gets bumped in favor of Diaz? Naylor is not going to be removed from the mix at catcher any time soon. Hedges is a more than adequate backup who is able to be the much-needed veteran presence in the clubhouse. Fry is far too valuable due to his versatility at multiple positions. Unless someone goes down with a long-term injury or suddenly becomes unplayable, there is no reason to believe the Guardians will be acquiring a catcher via trade any time soon.