Tigers starter named as trade target for Guardians

With a 49-26 record and a playoff berth growing increasingly likely, the Cleveland Guardians are among the group of teams considered to be buyers at the upcoming trade deadline. While an argument can be made that the Guardians need to at at least one impact bat, there is another, more pressing issue that needs to be addressed. Starting pitching.

Cleveland's rotation took a hit before the season even began, as Gavin Williams is yet to throw a pitch for the Guardians in 2024. The Guardians then lost Shane Bieber for the year after two starts, resulting in a ton of pressure being put on the likes of Tanner Bibee, Logan Allen, Ben Lively, Triston McKenzie, and Carlos Carrasco. While they have managed to get the most out of this group, it is very clear that adding another arm to bolster their rotation is an absolute must.

An intriguing name from a division rival was identified by Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer in his Top MLB Teams' Most Desperate Trade Deadline Needs, Detroit's Jack Flaherty. The Tigers signed Flahert to a one-year deal this past offseason, and it has paid off handsomely for them, as he is expected to be one of the top names on the market. Rymer believes that Flaherty's expiring contract and relatively high salary could make him acquireable for the Guardians.

Flaherty is nominally one of the best starters who could be had this summer, but he's also a pending free agent with a $14 million salary. That will limit his value. If it's so much so that the Guardians can get him, they'd stand to gain a pitcher with a 2.92 ERA and an 8.3 K/BB ratio.

Of course, it must be stated that there is going to be an in-division tax that Cleveland would have to pay to get Flaherty from the Tigers, but that should not stop them from attempting to do so by any means. Cleveland has been able to get by with their current starting group, but questions of sustainability exist considering the outings they have received from Carrasco, Allen, and McKenzie. They are winning with these guys for the most part and not because of them, and they must find a way to add a pitcher who falls into the latter category rather than the former.

If the Guardians are going to capitalize on what is a clearly open contention window, they are going to have to make trades to solidify their roster, including acquiring someone the caliber of Flaherty. Adding depth to their rotation will make the possibility of a deep postseason run much more realistic, and that must take priority over everything else with the trade deadline rapidly approaching.