The Cleveland Guardians are in a real dogfight with the Chicago White Sox, and the Minnesota Twins are lurking close enough to make things interesting. On paper, Cleveland already has what it takes to win the division. Jose Ramirez coming back from injury later this season is like getting a star player at the trade deadline without giving up a single prospect. But the Guardians should still make moves. Real moves. Here’s why.
What Cleveland actually needs
You don’t need to be an MLB insider to see the Guardians need a jolt on offense. Chase DeLauter is back from injury, which helps. But even with Ramirez in the lineup earlier, the offense was brutal at times. Right now, Cleveland ranks 28th in runs scored, 28th in batting average and 28th in OPS across all of baseball. That’s not great.
The pitching is a different story. The rotation has been excellent, ranking seventh in team ERA and third in strikeouts. The bullpen hasn’t been as dominant as past seasons, but it’s still solid. Cade Smith is closing games and looking like a star.
So where do they need help? Specifically: first base and outfield.
Ramirez is elite at third. Rookie Travis Bazzana is holding down second. Brayan Rocchio is the shortstop. First base has been a platoon of Kyle Manzardo and Rhys Hoskins, and it’s been inconsistent at best. Catcher is a defensive priority for Cleveland, and they traded for Patrick Bailey earlier this season for that exact reason. Austin Hedges is still around because he can frame pitches, and he’s actually hit better than expected in 2026.
But the outfield is the real problem. Steven Kwan is a Gold Glove defender but hitting barely over .200 this year. Angel Martinez is banged up. DeLauter is producing, but he can’t do it alone.
Trade one: Call the Angels about a two-for-one
The Los Angeles Angels have a way of refusing to sell when everyone knows they should. But with Perry Minasian fired, maybe there’s a new willingness to listen. Joe Adell is having a down year after smashing 37 homers in 2025, but he’s still hitting .248 with 11 home runs this season. That would tie him for the team lead in Cleveland. He’s an upgrade, plain and simple.
The Guardians could try to package Adell with a reliever. Chase Silseth (2.37 ERA in 2026) or Sam Bachman (3.35 ERA) would both help stabilize the bullpen. If they can pull that off, the outfield mix of Kwan, DeLauter, Martinez and Adell suddenly looks a lot more dangerous.
Trade two: Go get Willson Contreras from Boston
The Red Sox have pieces that fit. One of them is first baseman Willson Contreras. He’s 34 years old and hitting .281 with an .898 OPS and 17 home runs. That kind of production would give Cleveland a legitimate threat behind Ramirez in the lineup. Pitchers can’t pitch around Ramirez if Contreras is waiting on deck.
Would those two moves be enough to pull away in the AL Central? Probably. The division is there for the taking. It just depends on whether the front office is willing to be aggressive. If they make these deals, the White Sox and Twins will have a much harder time keeping up.
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