2 early Guardians MLB trade deadline targets

A bounce-back Cleveland Guardians team could look to add starting pitching and outfield help before the MLB trade deadline.

A 16-win decline in 2023 saw the Cleveland Guardians go from AL Central champs and an ALDS squad to the team’s first season with less than 80 wins since 2012. But after these struggles, this plucky ballclub has bounced back meaningfully in 2024. The Guardians own the American League’s second-best record at 39-20, giving the club a four-game lead at the top of the AL Central.

The team is seventh in Major League Baseball in ERA — not surprising given the club’s history of strong pitching — but is also third in runs scored per game, a huge improvement from a 27th-place finish in that category last season. Yet even in this bounce-back year, Cleveland can still look to improve its existing squad. Here are two early MLB trade deadline targets for the Guardians.

Guardians needs

Starting pitching

What was a strength for Cleveland for many years has suddenly become a weakness. Guardians starting pitchers have a combined WAR of -2.1 — 26th in the Majors. Carlos Carrasco and Logan Allen have ERAs nearing 6.00, plus they own the two worst WAR totals on the Cleveland roster. Meanwhile, 2020 Cy Young winner Shane Bieber will miss the rest of the season with Tommy John surgery. Bieber is tied for second among Guardians SPs in WAR despite only making two starts on the year. Cleveland needs more pitching depth to sustain its lead atop the AL Central.

Outfield

“Offense” and “Cleveland outfielder” are two terms that rarely overlap, and this year is no different. Four of the five Cleveland outfielders with 20+ appearances this season have either a negative WAR or a batting average below .220. Steven Kwan is the only exception, and he desperately needs some help. Adding another solid bat takes the pressure of Kwan, Jose Ramirez, and Josh Naylor to be the primary producers in this Cleveland offense, as no player outside of Ramirez and Naylor has more than five home runs.

Shortstop

Starting shortstop Brayan Rocchio is batting a measly .203 and has yet to homer in 272 career plate appearances. While he provides good defense, an OPS of .568 is not ideal for the AL Central leaders.