Trade for former Cubs World Series nemesis could help solve Guardians' power problem

While the MLB postseason isn’t over yet, hot stove season is already upon us. And, after the Guardians’ early exit from the postseason, the discussion around what the Guardians can do to get back to October has already begun. 

And while we got our first taste of that discussion this week thanks to well-placed ad in the Plain Dealer, things will kick into overdrive over the next couple weeks when the postseason ends and free agency begins. 

Although the Guardians likely won’t be in on the top-tier free agents (even if they should be), they always seem to make at least one splash via trade. 

But, after subtracting from their major league roster via trade last year, could this offseason be the one where they finally add a much-needed power bat into the fold? 

In a new article for Covering the Corner, Quincy Wheeler outlined his plan for the Guardians’ offseason, with the main move being an acquisition of Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals. 

A three-time All-Star with the Cubs, Contreras still has two years and $34.5 million remaining on the five-year contract he signed with the Cardinals ahead of the 2023 season and is coming off a season where he hit .257 with 20 home runs and 80 RBI. 

While he wouldn’t be a perfect fit defensively since he’s a full-time first baseman (he began his career as a catcher and outfielder), he’s slugged 20+ home runs in four of his last five seasons and has finished with an OPS+ above 100 in every season since 2018. 

He started his career with the Cubs in 2016 (where he helped lead them to a World Series win over the Cardinals) and spent parts of seven seasons on the South Side before joining the Cardinals. 

Willson Contreras would add some much-needed length to the Guardians' lineup

It also doesn’t seem like it would be hard for the Guardians to get him. The Cardinals have missed the postseason three seasons in a row and also have a new president of baseball operations in Chaim Bloom. While Contreras is a productive player, Bloom may be interested in getting out from under his contract. 

And the Guardians have plenty they could offer in a trade, especially when it comes to pitching. The Cardinals’ rotation had the sixth-worst ERA in baseball last season (4.65) and was spearheaded by the 35-year-old Sonny Gray and the 36-year-old Miles Mikolas, so they need an influx of young, controllable pitching talent. 

The Guardians could offer some major league ready options like Parker Messick or Joey Cantillo along with some younger prospects in Braylon Doughty or Joey Oakie, among others. 

Things could get complicated if the Guardians are one of the 10 teams that Contreras could block a trade to, but Cleveland could work around that by upping their trade return for him, as Wheeler mentioned in his article. 

Contreras could help spell Kyle Manzardo at first base while also spending time at designated hitter, which should be freed up now that David Fry will be able to play in the field. 

It’s not as perfect of a fit as a veteran outfielder, but his power would make up for that. 

The Guardians’ offense went out with a whimper this October. It’s hard to imagine that happening with Contreras in the fold.