What the Guardians need most at the trade deadline

The closer we get to the trade deadline, the more it becomes clear that the Guardians hold the keys for how the deadline could go. Two weeks ago, it looked like it could be a firesale at the corner of Carnegie and Ontatio as the team continued to drop down the standings. 

Now they’re in the midst of a hot streak, have gotten back to .500 and the fanbase is ready to give up the farm for all of the top players available at the deadline. 

And while their trade deadline truth likely lies somewhere in the middle, it doesn’t change the fact that they’re going to be active in a year where the trade ecosystem is anywhere but settled. 

But, regardless of where the Guardians land on the buyer/seller matrix, there’s one thing they should target at the deadline: controllable outfielders. 

The Guardians need to make getting outfield help a priority at the trade deadline

Cleveland’s outfield is kind of a work in progress right now. Yes, Steven Kwan has been his usual All-Star self in left field, but the production from the production they’ve gotten from center field and right field has ranged between middling and downright atrocious. 

Lane Thomas is on the injured list for the third time this year and has been ineffective in the times he’s been on the field, while right field has gone from a platoon situation to a whole lot of nothing. 

The Guardians overpaid a bit for Thomas at last year's deadline because he had that extra year of control, but he’s getting some buzz as a trade deadline candidate who could be on his way out of Cleveland.

Nolan Jones has played better in right field, but he’s still been a negative player in terms of bWAR, while Jhonkensy Noel is currently wallowing in Triple-A after opening the year as his platoon partner. 

So all of that is to say, the Guardians need help in their outfield. In a perfect world Chase DeLauter has already broken through to MLB and getting a chance to prove that he belongs, but he’s once again dealing with injuries and may not get a chance with the Guardians this year.

CJ Kayfus has been one of the best hitters in Cleveland’s system this year and technically plays the outfield, but his future seems to be on the infield. 

The Guardians have been good at developing quality outfielders (especially ones who hit for power), so the best way for them to add an impact outfielder to their roster is through the trade market. 

And the white whale of controllable outfielders is Miami’s Kyle Stowers, who was acquired at the trade deadline last year from the Orioles and is in the midst of an All-Star season. He’s currently slashing .295/.372/.565 with 22 home runs and won’t be a free agent until 2030. The same can be said for Boston’s Jarren Duran, a one-time All-Star free agent who won’t be a free agent until 2029. 

And while both of them would be a boon to Cleveland’s system, the Guardians would need to really overpay for either of them, which could preclude the front office from making a deal for either of them. 

And, if that’s the case, there are plenty of lower-tier controllable outfield targets who should also be on their radar. 

One option could be former first-round pick Mickey Moniak, who is starting to put it all together for the lowly Rockies. Colorado has a (well-deserved) reputation for being an insular organization that doesn’t like to make trades, but the Guardians already linked up with them for a trade earlier this year, which could help them in trade talks. Moniak won’t be eligible for free agency until 2028. 

Two other options are Texas’ Adolis García and the Angels’ Taylor Ward. 

García and the Rangers have shaken off a rough start and are currently two games above .500 (and one game ahead of the Guardians in the Wild Card standings), but there’s been some reporting that the Rangers would be interested in getting rid of him regardless of where they are in the standings. 

Ward’s been a mainstay in trade rumors because of the Angels’ mediocrity, and this year has been no exception. The Angels enter play on Wednesday on the fringes of the postseason picture at 49-52, but they also have one of the worst pitching staffs in baseball. 

Ward’s already hit 25 home runs and driven in 76 runs this year, but this could be the perfect opportunity for the Angels to strike a Ward deal to add to their pitching core. The Guardians’ pitching factory is still churning plenty of MLB-ready starters off its conveyor belt, so they could link up with the Angels on the rare “buyer for buyer” trade. 

It’s anyone’s guess what the Guardians are going to do at this year’s deadline, but it’s clear they need help in the outfield. Luckily for them, there’s an abundance of options available, should they choose to grab some.