Yes, it is still May. Yes, you are reading a trade deadline article. Some say you really should wait until the dust settles on the first half of the season before debating what a team will do at the deadline. I am not one of those people.
What do the Guardians have to offer?
Well, the Guardians have, by most outlets, a top 5 farm system. Even with the graduation of a top 40 prospect (Chase DeLauter) and the imminent graduation of a top 20 one (Travis Bazzana), the Guardians still have three top-100 prospects per MLB Pipeline. That is either as many or more top-100 prospects than 17 MLB teams. That is, of course, not accounting for helium candidates who could very well crack the top 100 within the Guardians farm system this season (Caceres, Watson, Doughty, Campbell). Nor is it accounting for the rising of already top-100-ranked prospects like Velazquez and Ingle, who should both crack the top 50 on MLB Pipeline by their next update. The former, however, is much more likely to crack the top 30 than stay outside the top 50. This is all to say that the Guardians’ system is loaded. They could very easily do whatever they want to at this deadline.
Why this year?
A wonderful question. It is very fair to curb your enthusiasm with the deadline by wondering why this year will finally be the year the Guardians make a splash at the deadline. Well, I’m full of optimism and whimsy and would love to share some of that onto with you. (If you’ve listened to the Disgusting Baseball podcast you’ll know what I’m about to say) The Guardians’ front office is not acting in the ways we’ve all become accustomed to. They’re being aggressive with prospect promotions: Delauter on the OD roster and batting 2nd in the OD lineup, Bazzana called up in April, Velazquez promoted from Akron to Columbus after 36 games. They sent Bo to Arizona a little over a month into the season and immediately traded for a 3x Gold-Glove winner in Bailey. There is nothing that suggests the Guardians aren’t going to be aggressive all year (internally), but I’m pretty confident they’ll be aggressive at the deadline too. (Author’s note: As I was editing this article, the Guardians decided to move Bazzana up to the leadoff spot. Another aggressive move!)
What do the Guardians need?
Well, like most teams, there are a few holes needing to be filled. You may feel inclined to argue with me over some of these assertations, I would ask that you not. I am almost always right and do not appreciate criticism. Kidding! Okay, so the first thing I think they might go after is a starting pitcher. Yes, the rotation has been fantastic (6th in MLB in ERA, 12th in FIP, 9th in K-BB%). Parker Messick and Gavin Williams both look to be bonafide Game 1 starters. But, Bibee has been somewhat shaky (albeit better with Bailey), Cantillo has command issues that could cause an implosion, and Slade is, brutely, not good enough to start a playoff game. Who might be available? Let’s get into that.
SP Trade Candidates (work in progress)
Clay Holmes, NYM (2.39 ERA, 3.21 FIP)
Why Holmes? I’ve been a big fan of his for a while, and did want the Guardians to sign him back when he was a free agent. He’s running the 3rd highest groundball rate among qualified SP in MLB, which would fit perfectly in front of our infield defense. I have no idea if he’ll be available, but if the Mets are still skidding come July, they should be open for business. They have the internal depth to cheaply fill Holmes’ rotation spot. Holmes has a player option for 2027 at $12m, and is making $13m this season (about $6m for the Guardians).
Tarik Skubal, DET (2.70 ERA, 2.10 FIP)
This is mostly a joke. Mostly. But, the Tigers are in freefall. Skubal is a free agent next year, and is making north of $30m this year. There are a laundry list of reasons why this will never happen, chiefly that the Guardians never make landmark trades within the AL Central and this would be nigh impossible for the Tigers to sell to their fans, regardless whom they got back. But, Skubal talks about how much he appreciates Cleveland’s fans all the time and he owes us a trade demand because he hit Fry in the face, right? Right??!!
The bullpen, however, is the much more pressing concern. Although it’s been better recently with the stabilization of Cade Smith and the emergence of Colin Holderman, the Guardians could really use another power lefty (especially with Sabrowski’s injury). They could also, just in general, use another leverage reliever. Who might be available, you ask?
RP Trade Candidates
LHRP Jojo Romero, STL (3.04 ERA, 4.24 FIP)
Romero has been markedly worse this year than he was last year and in 2023. His sweeper usage is down from last year, and his feel for the pitch is a little shaky. His sinker command has been exceptional, however, which should be a good building block for the Guardians. I’m pretty confident that he’s just a few tweaks away from being a stalwart reliever again, and this presents a fantastic buy-low opportunity for the Guardians.
LHRP Brooks Raley, NYM (1.40 ERA, 2.79 FIP)
Raley has been consistently good every year since 2022. Although he has been affected by some injuries in both 2024 and 2025 with New York, he’s still been good. He’s a rental (yay) and old (double-yay), so his price should not be exorbitantly high.
(Author’s note: Hello, me again. These next two are simply being advocated for from a baseball standpoint. I do not condone their past behavior)
LHRP Josh Hader, HOU (career 2.64 ERA, 2.89 FIP, 14.56 K/9)
Hader’s a fun one. I have no idea what Houston will do at this deadline (but I do have a very fun trade candidate who shares a clubhouse with Hader later on in the article), but Hader seems like he could realistically be traded. He’s on the third year of a 5y/$95m contract, and hasn’t pitched yet. He is slated to make a few more rehab appearances in MiLB before his activation of the 60-day, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. He’s been one of the best, if not the best, left-handed reliever in baseball since his debut. He could easily take over the closer role from Cade, and Cade could go back to being the all-world fireman that he was in his rookie season. Win-win.
LHRP Aroldis Chapman, BOS (0.51 ERA, 1.85 FIP)
(Editor’s Note: We rarely take an official site position on something, but CtC opposes the idea of acquiring Chapman. Please, NO).
RHRP Garrett Whitlock, BOS (2.79 ERA, 2.89 FIP)
Not a lefty, but Whitlock is an elite reliever. He ranks in the 85th percentile or above in Chase%, K%, and Hard-Hit%. He’s 29 and on the last year of a 4-year extension with the Red Sox. He has club options for 2027 and 2028 at $8.25m and $10.5m, respectively.
RHRP Bryan Abreu, HOU (career 2.86 ERA, 3.21 FIP)
Another Astro! Abreu has, since 2022, been a lockdown leverage guy. From 2022-2025, he had a 2.30 ERA and a 2.79 FIP, pitching 70 innings 3 times. This year has been atrocious for him. His walk rate has ballooned from a career 4.35 BB/9 mark to 10.69 this year. He seems to be cutting his fastball more this year, which has led to an extremely high xwOBA allowed, and a whiff rate that is 12% less than it was last year. Another somewhat reasonable buy-low and hopefully easy-fix reliever. Although, unlike most other organizations, the Astros are probably much less likely to sell low on a pitcher. But, we’ll see.
Onto the (limited) position player candidates. You can always add on hitters at the deadline, especially when you’re the Guardians. The offense has been much better this year than in year’s past, but you can always improve. Let’s start with a fun one.
Position Player Trade Candidates
DH Yordan Alvarez, HOU (179 wRC+, .481 xwOBA, 2.2 fWAR)
Yes, this is unrealistic. But, the Guardians appear to be in contention mode and they have all the pieces to make a trade for Alvarez viable. He hasn’t just sneakily been the best hitter in baseball. His xwOBA is 60 (SIX-ZERO) (SIXTY) points higher than the next best hitter. He’s a monster at the plate, and an at worst top 5 hitter in baseball when healthy. He has a career 156 wRC+ in the postseason (7th all-time, min. 150 PA). He’s a monster. He immediately takes you from contender to odds-on pennant favorite. There are not enough positive things that I can say about Alvarez. There are, however, some concerns. He has a somewhat lengthy injury history, which is especially notable considering he’s transitioned into almost a full-time DH. He has played some outfield in the last two years, but I think the Guardians should never play him in the field. He’s a bad defender, even in Houston’s little-league LF. He should really only see the field on days in which Jose *has* to DH. It’s not a perfect fit, but you can move some pieces from your MLB roster (Manzardo, Hoskins) to free up the DH role most days.
1B/DH Willson Contreras, BOS (140 wRC+, .393 xwOBA, 1.7 fWAR)
For what it’s worth, I really wanted us to get Contreras last offseason. He filled a lot of the holes on this roster that existed at the time, and would’ve been a perfect clean-up hitter. He’s a RHH 1B/DH (who used to catch but doesn’t at this point) who destroys the ball. Is he also a cranky player who occassionally trucks the opposition’s catcher? Yes.
Normally, I’d have more hitters on this list, but the number of productive RHH who would also be feasibly available at the deadline is pretty small, even for being at this point in the season. However, given where the Guardians are at right now, I think that their needs lean more heavily toward relief pitching than offense. They have, theoretically, all the bats you need at all the positions of need in the minors. If Manzardo keeps hitting the way he’s been hitting in the month of May and if Fry and Hoskins keep being productive, there might not be a need for an impact right-handed bat at the deadline.
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