Guardians Trade Deadline Manifesto 2025

Let’s take a look at some potential targets

What will the Cleveland Guardians do at the 2025 MLB trade deadline?

For many years now, whether on the Covering the Corner FanPosts or as a staff writer or site runner, I’ve been writing a huge trade deadline manifesto piece for the Guardians. I have been known to spill over 3,000 words on it. Why? Because I enjoy playing armchair GM. I called that they would trade for Leonys Martin once and it fed my addiction. I wanted them to target Brent Rooker for two straight years and then he broke out, of course, after the Athletics claimed him off waivers. I have also missed on TONS of guys, but those hits are so enjoyable. It’s also a great way to get know players across the league.

With that said, I don’t believe the Guardians will be particularly active this trade deadline. Their primary issues - starting pitching, shortstop and right/center field - seem set to be solved with internal options or to have few external additions available (trading for a clear upgrade at shortstop or centerfielder is extremely cost-prohibitive). I do believe they will explore the possibility of finding a proven lefty reliever to add to the mix with Tim Herrin’s control being a real issue this season. Also, maybe they find another Lane Thomas-type to pursue (a right-handed hitting outfielder to fill in for Jhonkensy Noel’s failure to get going this year and Thomas’s plantar fascitis issues). So, now that I’ve lowered your expectations, let’s take a look at some names who may be available this July:

Outfielders:

Jarren Duran, LHH LF/CF, Red Sox, 28 years old, FA 2029 - Career 111 wRC+, was amazing in center last season but has been below average there every other year.

Analysis: Duran would be a big prize if the Red Sox actually deal him, as has been rumored. If you believe in him as a centerfielder, he seems a safe bet to be an above average bat there. The Red Sox would have to be looking for young starting pitching, and I don’t see the Guardians trading either Gavin Williams, Luis Ortiz or Slade Cecconi for him, and I suspect that’s what it would take.

Taylor Ward, RHH RF, Angels, 31 years old, FA 2027 - Career 111 wRC+, slightly below average fielder in right

Analysis: Ward hits left-handed pitching well (career 122 wRC+) and gives you a solid floor in right field. I’ve wanted him for YEARS but I probably don’t want them to give up assets for him now at the age of 31. But, I’m not going to complain if they do. Don’t expect the Angels to trade him, though, because they never do what makes sense.

Cedric Mullins, LHH CF, Orioles, 30 years old, FA 2026 - Career 108 wRC+ but 122 wRC+ this season, average fielding centerfielder

Analysis: Mullins will be a sought-after prize if he is traded this deadline, as I expect he will be. He has killed Guardians’ pitching for his career so maybe the Guardians should target him to avoid that. I don’t really see the Guardians’ pursuing a rental centerfielder with Lane Thomas set to come back soon and Angel Martinez and Nolan Jones looking like they have signs of life.

Ryan O’Hearn, LHH RF(???), Orioles, 31 years old, FA 2026 - Career 105 wRC+ but 171 wRC+ this season, career 111 wRC+ vs RHP

Analysis: O’Hearn will be moved, but I am not sure how much to buy into this being a career year for him offensively OR on the idea he can legitimately play right field without killing a team defensively there. But, hey, this is likely solid slugging vs RHP at the least. Something at least to consider.

Luis Robert, RHH OF, White Sox, 27 years old 2026-2027 club options - career 110 wRC+ but only a 57 wRC+ this season

Analysis: I feel like SOME team is going to gamble that they can fix Robert away from the stench of the White Sox. I don’t know that this is a smart gamble and I do not want it to be the Guardians who make it. His defense in center has also slipped... he looks like a player who just doesn’t care and I wouldn’t want to take a chance on that.

Rob Refsnyder, RHH cOF, Red Sox, 34 years old, FA 2026 - career 101 wRC+ but 152 wRC+ this year

Analysis: With the Guardians’ apparent distrust in Johnathan Rodriguez and Noel’s struggles, does it make sense to pursue a proven right-handed bat who can hold his own in right field? If so, Refsnyder’s career 126 wRC+ against LHP makes a lot of sense and it shouldn’t be cost-prohibitive to acquire him.

Austin Hays, RHH cOF, Reds, 29 years old, mutual option for 2026 - career 108 wRC+ but 139 wRC+ this season, slightly below average right fielder for his career.

Analysis: With a career 124 wRC+ vs. LHP, Hays is similar to Refsnyder and provides the Guardians a Lane Thomas replacement for 2026 if they want.

Lourdes Gurriel, RHH cOF, Diamondbacks, 31 years old due $14M in 2026 but can opt out after this season, club option for 2027 - career 111 wRC+ but 100 wRC+ this season

Analysis: Can’t really see the Guardians taking the risk for a 31 year old outfielder who may be declining, but his career 123 wRC+ vs. LHP and overall numbers will probably motivate some team to pursue him if the Diamondbacks are motivated to deal him.

Jordan Beck, RHH RF, Rockies, 24 years old, under team control until 2031 - 122 wRC+ vs LHP this season

Analysis: Would the Rockies enjoy doing their own version of what the Guardians did by trading Alex Call? Then this is Cleveland’s chance to try to reverse that! Or...

Alex Call, RHH RF, Nationals, 30 years old, under team control through 2029 - 111 wRC+ this season, 105 vs. LHP for his career

Analysis: ...the Guardians could pull their second Uno Reverse card and re-acquire ANOTHER outfielder they gave up on a bit too early in Call. But, to be honest, he looks like a very replacement-level player and is 30 so I’d pass here.

Jesus Sanchez, LHH RF, Marlins, 27 years old FA 2026 - career 113 wRC+ vs RHP

Analysis: Do you think you could make Sanchez a better hitter in short order away from the Marlins stink? Then, this is something worth considering. If not, then it’s kinda redundant if Chase DeLauter or George Valera stay healthy and get ready. The Marlins will definitely be open for business here.

Overall Takeaway: Could definitely see the Guardians and Reds connecting on a trade again and Cleveland renting Hays’ services for the rest of 2025 at the right price. If not that, Refsnyder would make sense. But, my guess is that they don’t make a move here and bank on internal options.

Infielders

Brandon Lowe, LHH 2B, Rays, 30 years old FA 2026 club option - 125 wRC+ for his career, 132 wRC+ vs RHP

Analysis: Move Daniel Schneemann to shortstop and do a quasi-platoon of Lowe and Angel Martinez at 2B and forget about Gabriel Arias and Brayan Rocchio for the rest of the year, and, heck, for 2027 while you’re at it! Hey, I’m in. We are do for an annual Guardians-Rays trade anyway. Let’s not talk about how shaky a Lowe-2B-Schnee-SS combo might be defensively, though...

Bo Bichette, RHH SS, Jays, 27 years old FA 2026 - 113 wRC+ this year, below average defender at short

Analysis: I don’t really think the Jays will trade Bichette, but, if they do, it’s probably the only reasonable upgrade at shortstop reasonably available. And so, it’ll cost a good bit to get him even as a rental, so I don’t expect the Guardians to pursue this.

Left-Handed Relievers:

Aroldis Chap... NO

Ryan Borucki, LHP, Pirates, 31 years old, FA 2026 - career 3.44 FIP vs. LHP

Brennan Bernardino, LHP, Red Sox, 33 years old FA 2030 - career 3.20 FIP vs. LHP

Taylor Rogers, LHP, Reds, 34 years old FA 2026 - career 2.19 FIP vs. LHP

Justin Wilson, LHP, Red Sox, 37 years old FA 2026 - career 1.57 FIP vs. LHP

Analysis: I am not sure if the Guardians feel a need to upgrade from their Tim Herrin, Koby Allard, Joey Cantillo and rehabbing Erik Sabrowski collection of bullpen lefties, but if they do, Wilson and Rogers make a lot of sense as rentals who should be able to be acquired at a reasonable return.

Starting Pitchers:

Sandy Alcantara, RHP, Marlins - 29 years old club option for 2027 signed for $11.2M a year - former Cy Young winner but has yet to find his form since Tommy John with a 5.04 FIP in 2025

Reid Detmers, LHP, Angels - 25 years old FA in 2029 - the Angels have moved him to the pen but their pitching group is terrible, so there should still be starter upside here. He has a 3.23 FIP out of the pen.

Merrill Kelly, RHP, Diamondbacks - 36 years old, FA in 2026 - 3.34 FIP

Framber Valdez, RHP, Astros - 31 years old, FA in 2026 - 3.24 FIP. Don’t expect Houston to deal him.

Kevin Gausman, RHP, Blue Jays - 34 years old, FA in 2027 owed $11M per year before then, 3.22 FIP

Chris Bassitt, RHP, Blue Jays - 36 years old FA in 2026, 3.57 FIP - I don’t expect the Blue Jays to drop far enough out of the hunt to trade players, but if they should, they definitely have some interesting trade chips.

Edward Cabrera, RHP, Marlins - 26 years old 3.99 FIP FA in 2029

Mitch Keller, RHP, Pirates - 29 years old, 3.20 FIP FA in 2029

Analysis: I think the Guardians will bank on Shane Bieber and John Means as their trade deadline starting pitcher acquisitions because starting pitching is incredibly expensive to acquire and they have a good core of young starters on hand. But, you can never have too much pitching, and, if another injury were to crop up, I could definitely see them being in on conversations for any of the above names. If the Marlins really try to cash in on a young player to rebuild their farm even more, I could see the Guardians being willing to part with a good haul for Cabrera, who seems like a guy they would quickly maximize into a front of the rotation arm.

Bottom Line: I wouldn’t be particularly surprised if the Guardians did almost nothing at the trade deadline, nor would I be particularly upset. In every year since I’ve written these pieces, I am begging them to fill a roster hole or two, but I see a lot of internal options to try to fill those holes. I would most like to see them take another gamble at fixing the right-field issues by acquiring another right-handed hitter for that spot in either Taylor Ward, Rob Refsnyder or Austin Hays. But, I’m not opposed, of course, for a bigger swing for a player like Jarren Duran, pitcher Edward Cabrera or even Cedric Mullins or Brandon Lowe on a rental basis. Mostly, I think Cleveland fans should prepare for a quiet deadline and place their expectations/hopes on Chase DeLauter, George Valera, Shane Bieber, John Means, Trevor Stephan, Erik Sabrowski and just MAYBE a slight shred of hope for Daniel Espino getting healthy and making a significant impact on the big league club.

The Guardians always make a move, but this year, I expect the deal they make to be similar to the Eli Morgan-Alfonsin Rosario deal; move a slightly redundant player for a prospect of interest from another team. To nail down WHO exactly is almost impossible, but the Guardians will ALWAYS be looking for prospects who are starting pitchers with good control and extension and for minor-league hitters with some defensive versatility who show some ability to pull-fly balls whether contact oriented or slugging-heavy.

For the fun of making a specific prediction, I will say that the Guardians acquire Rob Refsnyder who seems like he should have played here at some point. Refsnyder platoons with DeLauter or Valera (whoever can stay healthy) in right, Thomas and Jones platoon in center, and Martinez moves to more of a full-time role at second base with Schneemann more full-time at short by the time August comes around.