Jose Ramirez is on the injured list. The Cleveland Guardians lineup already looked thin before that happened. Now it’s a real problem.
The Guardians have been searching for power all season. Angel Martinez leads the team with 11 home runs. That’s not great for a team trying to stay in the American League Central race. And with Ramirez out for at least a little while, the hole in the middle of the order just got bigger.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic floated a name that makes a lot of sense: Christian Walker. The Astros first baseman is 35 years old and in the final year of his contract. Houston is sitting at 35-41, which is bad but not bad enough to be out of the AL West race yet. They’re only 3.5 games back, believe it or not. So there’s no guarantee they sell.
But if they do, Bowden thinks Cleveland is the “perfect fit.”
Walker has 18 home runs this season with a .246/.315/.495 slash line and an .810 OPS. That’s not MVP numbers but it’s also not nothing. The Guardians could slot him in at first base or designated hitter, both of which are problem spots for them. They could also use an outfielder, but the power shortage at first and DH is more desperate.
Why the Astros might not trade Walker
The AL West is a mess. Houston is in fourth place but only a few games out. The Mariners are inconsistent. The Rangers are dealing with their own issues. The Astros might look at that and decide to hang onto Walker for a push. They’d have to fall off pretty convincingly in the next few weeks before the deadline for a sell-off to make sense.
Cleveland is 39-35 and sitting in second place behind the White Sox, who are 38-34. The division isn’t exactly a gauntlet. The Guardians have pitching — they always do — but the offense has been underwhelming. Adding a bat like Walker wouldn’t fix everything, but it would give them a proven hitter in a lineup that’s been relying on role players to produce.
The Guardians have a history of making smart, under-the-radar moves at the deadline. Walker isn’t a flashy name, but he’s consistent. He plays solid defense at first and he’s been durable. For a team that needs a reliable bat while Ramirez recovers, that might be exactly what they’re looking for.
Whether Houston actually puts him on the market is the big question. But if they do, Cleveland should be first in line.
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