Cleveland Sports Forum

rusty - Personally I like the idea of one stop shopping.

Angels - Tyler Anderson as an inning eater and Taylor Ward as a RH veteran bat.

Bonus Tyler Anderson is a lefty.

Mark I think that is a great idea. Best one so far.

which takes us back to the need for Bibee and Williams and Allen to solidify the staff. McKenzie seems a long shot

In his podcast yesterday, Terry Pluto asks for promotion of Jose Tena to try his hand at SS and sees no reason to delay Matt Boyd's escalation to the majors.

Guardians notes: Trade deadline, payroll, pitching needs and hitting slumps

By Zack Meisel
4h ago

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CLEVELAND — Imagine you’re a major leaguer. After a game, you’re called into the manager’s office, where you learn you’ve been traded. That means a new team, a new residence, a new environment for at least the next few months.

In this scenario, though, you pack up your belongings and head to the airport to board a flight with all of your ex-teammates.

The trade deadline is 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday. The Guardians play the Tigers at Comerica Park at 1:10 p.m. So, the deadline will pass right around the time the Guardians head home from Detroit. It’s not too likely that they’ll make a last-minute trade involving players from their big-league roster, but it’s not impossible. It’ll be worth monitoring the dugout for any curiously timed hugs that afternoon, the only day game on the schedule.

There’s never a convenient time for a trade deadline, especially since team executives often wait until the pressure of the ticking clock forces some action. For the Guardians, the chances of awkward flights or goodbyes would increase if they were sellers. It also helps that their airtime to Cleveland from Detroit is 37 minutes, rather than some cross-country journey.

Last year, Josh Bell was playing cards in the center of the visitors clubhouse in Houston when the deadline passed. He was then called into Terry Francona’s office, where he learned he had been traded to the Marlins. A delay with MLB’s system to process the deal added to the confusion.

Josh Naylor was originally slated to bat cleanup that night, but he was scratched with an oblique injury that ultimately cost him a month of action. Bell slid up to the No. 4 spot instead, but when he was traded less than two hours before first pitch, the Guardians had to cobble together yet another lineup. They were no-hit that night, a fitting cap to a brutal few days. Aaron Civale arrived at Minute Maid Park a day earlier for his day-after-start arm-care routine and instead was told he was being dealt to Tampa.

There’s a healthier vibe around a club that expects additions to walk through the clubhouse doors, rather than what the Guardians endured last summer. So, odds are, there won’t be a player filing into a seat on his former team’s aircraft Tuesday evening. But the timing of the trade deadline leaves the door open for some strange situations.

Here are some Guardians notes ahead of the deadline.

1. In Cleveland, it’s impossible to talk about additions without considering the organization’s stinginess in spending. The Guardians’ payroll sits at about $100 million, one of the league’s lowest figures. One source with knowledge of the club’s plans said the Guardians aren’t too concerned with taking on any player’s 2024 salary — two-thirds of that salary has already been paid — but future salaries are another matter. Someone with a player option or guaranteed salary of more than $20 million, for example, would be off-limits, unless the other team covers some of that expense. To chip in more cash, a team typically will require a sweeter prospects package, and that seems like an arrangement the Guardians, who have a reputation as being stubborn trade negotiators, would prefer to avoid.

That would presumably eliminate Blue Jays starters Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt. Giants lefty Blake Snell has a $30 million player option for next season, though half of it is deferred.

2. Matthew Boyd can’t rescue Cleveland’s rotation on his own, but he’ll make his next rehab start Friday for Double-A Akron, and team president Chris Antonetti suggested he could join the Guardians in a couple of weeks. Boyd, 33, is returning from Tommy John surgery and he owns a career ERA of 4.94, so it’s not as though this is some ace charging back after a brief absence.

Even with Boyd around to potentially help the rotation for the final six weeks of the regular season, the Guardians need more. They’re scheduled to have Ben Lively, Carlos Carrasco and Xzavion Curry face the Phillies, owners of MLB’s best record, this weekend at Citizens Bank Park. Those three were not slated for the club’s rotation at the beginning of the year. Lively, a former Phillie, has soared past every expectation, but Carrasco, a former Phillies farmhand, and Curry haven’t demonstrated much to suggest the rotation is in healthy shape.

Antonetti noted at least “18 or 19” teams consider themselves buyers, which creates an imbalance of supply and demand, especially on the pitching front and especially in an era in which elbows snap and shoulders shred on a daily basis. The teams vying for that help in the rotation are the same teams jockeying with the Guardians for playoff positioning. Any player the Guardians don’t acquire could wind up with the Orioles or Twins or Yankees or Royals or Astros.
David Fry’s average has dropped from .310 at the end of June to .285 after Thursday’s game. (Jason Miller / Getty Images)

3. It’s not just the pitching side, though. The Guardians need a lift in the lineup, too. They have been held to two runs or fewer in 11 of their 20 games this month. An outfield addition would make sense.

More than anything, though, the Guardians sorely need their All-Stars to emerge from their funks.

Slash lines in July:

Steven Kwan: .263/.298/.388
Josh Naylor: .221/.312/.353
José Ramírez: .244/.298/.346
David Fry: .191/.264/.213

The quartet went 2-for-12 on Thursday in Cleveland’s 3-0 loss to six Tigers pitchers.

“No matter what happens at the trade deadline,” Antonetti said, “it’s important to remember that the group of guys in that clubhouse are the ones who have played and put us in a position to win the amount of games that we have, and our success in the second half is going to continue to be determined by that group of guys.”

4. One market that always has demand, but actually has some supply: the reliever market. As many as five closers could be moved: Tanner Scott (Marlins), Carlos Estévez (Angels), Kirby Yates (Rangers), Kyle Finnegan (Nationals) and Pete Fairbanks (Rays), and there should be plenty of other useful middle- or late-inning options available.

The Guardians boast the league’s best bullpen (2.50 ERA, next closest is Atlanta at 2.95), but there’s always room for another reliable arm. Sam Hentges is playing catch, but seems to be at least a few weeks away from returning from shoulder inflammation.

James Karinchak’s season could be over before it ever began, as he hasn’t been able to generate his usual velocity or pitch quality while rehabbing in Arizona. “He’s starting to run out of calendar,” Antonetti said. “I’m not sure we can plan for (him to return).”

They do have Andrew Walters, Anthony Gose and Nick Mikolajchak at Triple-A Columbus. Walters, a second-round pick last summer, has quickly risen through the system. Fry recalled facing him in January at the team’s complex in Arizona, a few weeks before the start of spring training. Walters’ fastball was already clocking in at 97-99 mph. Will Brennan left the batter’s box impressed.

One consideration that has not been broached yet: Would they shift Triston McKenzie to the bullpen in, say, September? Would it benefit him if he only has to navigate through one inning, the way Carrasco thrived with that new mindset in 2014, which fueled his eventual return to the rotation and emergence as a frontline starter? Just a thought. McKenzie only logged 16 innings last year, so it could help prevent late-season fatigue, too. He issued seven walks in his latest Triple-A outing.

Cleveland Guardians Emerging As Top Trade Destination for Star Pitcher

The Cleveland Guardians have emerged as a top contender to trade for a star pitcher before the deadline.

Evan Massey | 6 Hours Ago

The Cleveland Guardians are heading into the 2024 MLB trade deadline with a couple of needs to address.

One of the main needs is to acquire a starting pitcher to beef up the rotation. Another need would be to try and acquire another impact outfielder.

When it comes to a starting pitcher, there are quite a few potential fits that the Guardinas could pursue. They are emerging as a top contender to acquire one star pitcher from the Detroit Tigers.

That pitcher is none other than 28-year-old starter Jack Flaherty.

MLB.com has named Cleveland as one of the top potential destinations for Flaherty. There were two other destinations mentioned as well, with those teams being the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

Flaherty is a player that is widely expected to be moved ahead of the deadline. He has put together a strong 2024 season and would not break the bank due to being a rental option.

In 18 starts this season, Flaherty has compiled a 7-5 record to go along with a 2.95 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP, a 7.0 K/BB ratio, and 106.2 innings pitched.

Those numbers show exactly why the Guardians should try to acquire him. He would instantly take their rotation to the next level. Assuming the price is right, he should be at the very top of their wishlist.

Should they be unable to get Flaherty, there are a couple of other starters that could make sense. Both Jameson Taillon and Tyler Anderson could be ideal fits for Cleveland.

Expect to hear a lot of rumors surrounding the Guardians leading up to the trade deadline. They would like to acquire a couple of pieces to enhance their chances of competing for a championship.

Fans should keep a very close eye on Flaherty. Right now, Cleveland appears to be one of the most likely teams to pull off a trade for him.

[ Better Hurry. He's Scheduled To Pitch On Monday vs the Guards ]

[ Don't think we need to trade for a slugging outfielder. We have one in Johnathan Rodriguez. ]

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someone else at MLB.com suggested Fedde instead of Flaherty. I'll be happy with either one. He also thought they might go for Tommy Pham who's a relatively cheap rental

Some other story connected CLE with Reid Detmers who had a 6.1$ ERA this year with the Angels; sent to AAA where's he had similar success. He was good a couple years ago.
Reminds of Giolito pickup last year.
We could do better bringing back Logan Allen

Paul Hoynes

PHILADELPHIA -- MLB’s trade deadline casts a long shadow.

When the Guardians arrived in Philadelphia on Friday to take on the National League’s best team, no one knew that their cleanup hitter Josh Naylor was going to have the weekend off. Did it mean he was getting traded? Probably not, but the explanation that he needed time to recover from various bumps and bruises seemed to be a stretch. After all Naylor just had four days off -- interrupted by a brief appearance at the All-Star Game -- over the All-Star break. But Naylor didn’t play this weekend and the Guardians won the series.

It sounded like Naylor would return to the lineup Monday night against Detroit, but nothing is definite.

Which leads to another interesting development. Jack Flaherty is Detroit’s scheduled starter against the Guardians on Monday. He’s a free agent at the end of the year and is ranked high on every team’s list that needs a starter for the stretch run. That includes the Guardians. The Tigers are playing solid baseball, but they trail Cleveland by 12 games in the AL Central and are 5 1/2 game out of the third wild card spot.

Could they trade Flaherty before Monday night? Could they trade him to the Guardians? We’ll know for sure after 6 p.m. Tuesday when the trade deadline expires.
By the way, Flaherty has faced the Guardians in three of his last four starts. He’s gone 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA (three earned runs in 18 innings) in those starts.

Interesting article about the Guardians very strong preference for left handed hitters.
I think the link should work. It saves me the trouble of copying and pasting and eliminating lots of ads


https://search.app/?link=https%3A%2F%2F ... s%2Fm2%2F5

Clutch 'pen, Kwan help Guardians take set between MLB's top teams Between? Between who?[

PHILADELPHIA -- In the third inning of Saturday’s defeat, Guardians leadoff hitter Steven Kwan skied a ball to deep center field at Citizens Bank Park. Phillies center fielder Brandon Marsh plucked it from the sky above the wall’s 401-foot sign. It wasn’t a clear-cut robbery, but Kwan certainly would’ve had extra bases -- and maybe more -- if Marsh hadn’t been there.

Asked later if he thought he missed a home run, Kwan didn’t bat an eye.

“No,” he said. “I don’t hit very many home runs to center, so I’ve been hedging myself for a good amount of time.”

There was no such confusion a day later, when Kwan lifted the Guardians to a 4-3 series-clinching victory over the Phillies on Sunday afternoon with a no-doubter in the seventh inning. Kwan's solo homer, on a 98.3 mph sinker bearing off the plate inside against left-hander José Alvarado, and the club's lockdown bullpen ensured Cleveland overcame No. 10 prospect Joey Cantillo’s shaky MLB debut to take two of three from the National League’s top team.


“It was huge,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “That game could’ve easily gotten away from us, and Kwan came up with a huge swing. Home runs help. It’s not [a big] part of who we are, necessarily, but we have been able to hit some in big moments.”

As speculation swirled about how active Cleveland will be at the upcoming Trade Deadline on Tuesday, the club’s strengths and weaknesses were on full display this weekend in the City of Brotherly Love. It rode a strong Ben Lively to victory in Friday’s opener but dropped a laugher behind Carlos Carrasco on Saturday. Then in Sunday’s rubber game, another big performance by their MLB-best ‘pen underscored why the Guardians (63-42) sport the American League’s best record as the calendar creeps toward August.

“[Our kind of bullpen] is super rare,” Kwan said. “Top to bottom, different arm slots, different angles, different velocities, left, right. It’s a lot of fun [to play behind them].”

Summoned from Triple-A Columbus to fill Cleveland’s revolving door of a fifth rotation spot, the 24-year-old Cantillo allowed a leadoff homer to his first batter, Kyle Schwarber, and coughed up another homer to Schwarber in the third. The left-hander exited after 3 1/3 innings, allowing those three runs while also walking and striking out three apiece.

But the Guardians’ pen is so airtight it can keep them in pretty much every game if they find a way to score enough runs. Jhonkensy Noel made sure they did with a Statcast-projected 436-foot three-run homer in the fourth, and Cade Smith, Nick Sandlin and Tim Herrin kept the game tied until Kwan’s go-ahead jack in the seventh.

Hunter Gaddis, Scott Barlow and Emmanuel Clase then combined to lock down the final nine outs. Guardians relievers allowed only three baserunners after the fourth inning.

Cleveland Guardians show they have ingredients for October, but they need help Jul 28, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan (38) and outfielder Jhonkensy Noel (43) celebrate win against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
By Zack Meisel
4h ago


PHILADELPHIA — Jhonkensy Noel grabbed some sunflower seeds in the visitors dugout Friday afternoon and then peered out at the unfamiliar field. The left-field fence at Citizens Bank Park is alluring for any right-handed slugger. The seats near center, a long way from home plate, present an enticing challenge.

This was Noel’s first trip to the Philadelphia Phillies’ ballpark, which hosted three sellout crowds over the weekend. When he visits a new venue, there’s one item Noel likes to check off his list.

“I want to hit one in every park I play in,” he said.

He was alluding to a home run, of course. And on Sunday, he powered the Cleveland Guardians to a series-clinching win against the only team with a better record. The behemoth nicknamed “Big Christmas” silenced a crowd infamous for booing Santa Claus.

The series served as a reminder that the Guardians — who, at 63-42, sit two games behind the Phillies for baseball’s best standing — can hang with anyone. They’re 28-20 against teams with winning records. It also offered reminders about where they need the most immediate help as the clock zips toward Tuesday’s 6 p.m. ET trade deadline.

1. The formula is simple, and it’s reminiscent of the recipe that propelled Cleveland to the World Series eight years ago: Hand the bullpen a lead and get out of the way. The Guardians’ pen boasts a league-best 2.47 ERA, and no one’s particularly close to them on that leaderboard. The Atlanta Braves (2.90) and Milwaukee Brewers (3.31) rank second and third, respectively. Cleveland’s group covered 5 2/3 innings Sunday and limited a high-powered Philadelphia lineup to one harmless single.

It has become, perhaps unfairly, predictable. Ho hum, another scoreless sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth, recorded mostly by pitchers who until late in spring training weren’t even expected to crack the Opening Day roster.

“They’ve done it to themselves,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “When they do give up runs, we’re like, ‘What happened?'”

Vogt, who spent last season as the Seattle Mariners bullpen coach, has masterfully deployed his relievers to find the best matchups at the right time. He summoned Cade Smith on Sunday to preserve a 3-3 tie. Smith could be handling the eighth or ninth inning for many teams. Instead, he entered in the fourth, as Vogt treated a Sunday in late July like an October bout.

Vogt turned to Hunter Gaddis, who lowered his ERA to an absurd 1.08, in the seventh instead of the eighth so he could face the top of the Phillies’ order — Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner and Bryce Harper. A year ago, Gaddis was a struggling spot starter. Now, he’s a late-inning executioner.

“I would have loved to believe that (this was possible),” Gaddis said. “I don’t know if I really would have, but I would have loved to.”

Gaddis has allowed one run — one! — in 35 innings since the start of May. Gaddis, Smith, Tim Herrin and Emmanuel Clase all own sub-2.00 ERAs.

Steven Kwan admitted it’s easy to take the group for granted, assuming they’ll record nothing but zeroes each night.

“Even with that one-run lead,” he said Sunday, “it felt comfortable.”

This bullpen could be a massive advantage in the postseason, but the club still needs to shore up its pitching staff in other ways this week.

2. Trade conversations evolve by the minute at this point in the schedule. The Guardians have checked on a number of available starting pitchers, including Chicago White Sox right-hander Erick Fedde. Internally, they’re trying everything. But it’s not enough.

Tanner Bibee and Ben Lively have been the club’s two reliable entities in the rotation. The Guardians are hopeful Gavin Williams is on the way to joining them as he knocks off any rust remaining from a three-month absence.

Then, it gets messy. Carlos Carrasco’s ERA sits at 5.68. He’s 37. There isn’t more potential to unlock. The problem is, that’s not the only rotation spot in flux.

The Guardians have tried Spencer Howard, Xzavion Curry and Joey Cantillo in the final rotation spot in recent weeks. There’s still no answer. They’re taking it one start at a time, and assuming Chris Antonetti and Mike Chernoff watched their team over the weekend, there’s no way their longstanding desire to trade for a starter wasn’t strengthened.

There haven’t been many starting pitchers dealt, but that should change. Jack Flaherty is scheduled to start for the Detroit Tigers against the Guardians at Comerica Park on Monday night, but Detroit is almost certain to deal Flaherty prior to Tuesday’s deadline. The Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets could all use a starter, to varying degrees.

Triston McKenzie (12 walks in his last two starts) and Logan Allen haven’t offered a ton of encouragement since being optioned to Triple-A Columbus. Just to survive 162 games, the Guardians need external help, even if it’s merely a mid-rotation play, someone like Yusei Kikuchi, a rental the Toronto Blue Jays are likely to move. Matthew Boyd should return in a couple weeks, but coming off Tommy John surgery (and being five years removed from his best season), expectations must be tempered.

It’s one thing to experiment with one rotation spot, but searching for answers for two spots puts a lot of strain on that dominant bullpen (and on a lineup that has been in a month-long slumber).

3. Speaking of which, the Guardians could use another bat, too. They did sniff around the Randy Arozarena market, but it’s unknown how close they were to landing him. Every team that misses out on a player wants it known it finished second.

The Guardians hope to get Josh Naylor back from injury Monday. Aside from acknowledging the bruise on Naylor’s right arm from being struck by a pitch, Vogt would only say the first baseman has been “beat up” for much of the year. They need him healthy and producing.

They also need to figure out if Kyle Manzardo can help them this season. Antonetti went out of his way last week to commend Manzardo on having “a really successful season,” despite an underwhelming first taste of the majors. The Guardians could have used his bat in Naylor’s absence, or when David Fry was battling arm soreness.

So, should they trade for another arm or a bat? There’s never been a more fitting time to ask, “Why not both?” They’ve been laying the groundwork with other teams to make upgrades for a month. It’s time to cash in.

4. Kwan socked his 11th homer in 319 at-bats this season Sunday. In his first two big-league seasons, he hit a combined 11 homers in 1,201 at-bats.

The keys for Kwan have been learning how he best functions as a hitter, understanding how pitchers prefer to attack him and capitalizing when he sees a pitch he knows he can drive. He spent his first two seasons, he said, trying to convert strikes into singles. Now, he’s spending more time hunting pitches he can damage. His pitch recognition and plate discipline afford him those chances.

He particularly likes to turn on inside pitches. He credits his “shorter limbs” for allowing him to yank a fastball off the plate. He deposited a 98 mph sinker in that area from José Alvarado into the right-field seats for the go-ahead homer Sunday. Alvarado watched video of the pitch afterward, noticed the location and said: “He’s lucky he hit it.” Well, no. That’s where Kwan prefers it.

“It’s just knowing yourself,” Kwan said.

Guardians strike on the trade market, and Lane Thomas’ new teammates are relieved WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 20: Lane Thomas #28 of the Washington Nationals celebrates his RBI-double against the Cincinnati Reds during the seventh inning at Nationals Park on July 20, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
By Zack Meisel
Jul 29, 2024

46
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DETROIT — About 20 minutes after the Guardians’ victory Monday night, José Ramírez insisted he was unaware Cleveland’s front office had completed a trade.

“Tell me,” he said.

They packaged three prospects for outfielder Lane Thomas.

“From the…” he replied.

… Washington Nationals.

“Oh, OK. OK. Good player,” said the face of the franchise, stamping his approval on the deal.

The Guardians stand atop the American League at 64-42, one game behind the Phillies for the best record in the sport. They took two of three from that Philadelphia club over the weekend. Cleveland boasts a healthy farm system and a young, talented (and imperfect) big-league roster worth supplementing before the 6 p.m. ET deadline on Tuesday.

That’s how those in the Guardians’ clubhouse see it. And they’re relieved to know the front office agrees.

“It’s good to be on the same page,” Ramírez said.

Tanner Bibee has publicly voiced his hope that the front office would make additions. After pitching Cleveland to a win on Monday, he said the trade “definitely uplifts us.”

“That’s a crazy monkey off the back,” Bibee said. “I don’t think a lot of people really know how much that clears the mental.”

Manager Stephen Vogt likes to say there are only good days and great days in the big leagues. He suggested Monday afternoon that a three-run top of the first inning could elevate his day to the better of the two classifications. The clairvoyant then watched his team record a three-spot against the Tigers in the opening frame. The Guardians had scored a total of one run in the first inning in their previous 15 games. They had been held to two runs or fewer overall in 10 of their last 18 games.

Hence, the trade for Thomas.

It’s a start. Thomas fills a need.

The team still has starting pitching issues that could hamper its efforts over the final two months.

“We’re definitely not done pursuing things,” said team president Chris Antonetti. “Whether or not that leads to another deal or more deals, it’s really hard to forecast.”

As for the trade that already happened, Thomas can crush left-handed pitching, can swipe a bunch of bases and totes a cannon in the outfield. The Guardians needed stability out there.

Myles Straw is earning a bunch of money while relaxing in an inner tube on the Olentangy River. Ramón Laureano was a $5.15 million flop and didn’t survive May on the roster. Trading for Estevan Florial proved to be a bust. Will Brennan hasn’t capitalized on his opportunities and is 0-for-20 since returning from the injured list earlier this month. Angel Martínez, Daniel Schneemann and Jhonkensy Noel have joined the fray, with varying degrees of success.

Thomas is under control through next season. If he can boost his production against righties — even just so he’s within shouting distance of league-average — he’ll be a valuable lineup piece. If not, he’s still the best version of the Brandon Guyer/Ryan Raburn/Jordan Luplow platoon types the club has employed in recent years.

Against lefties this season, Thomas owns a .326/.410/.512 slash line. That’s a guy you want hitting second between Steven Kwan and Ramírez. Against righties, his numbers plummet to .224/.299/.365.

There’s hope, though. Thomas had a dreadful April and then landed on the injured list with a knee sprain, which sidelined him for five weeks. Since he returned on May 27, he has compiled a .282/.363/.470 slash line.

His profile has shifted this year to involve more contact and less impact. He slugged a career-high 28 home runs last season. This year, he has improved his walk and strikeout rates, which the Guardians covet in any hitter.

He ranks in the 93rd percentile in the league in sprint speed, and his aggressive approach has resulted in a career-high 28 stolen bases this season. He has also been nabbed 12 times.

He also ranks in the 95th percentile in arm strength, which explains his 23 outfield assists since the start of last season.

The Nationals dangled Thomas last year, too, when his value was higher as he embarked on a career year. The Guardians have eyed him for a while, but it took until now for the teams to align. And even that was challenging.

“We gave up a lot of value,” Antonetti said. “That’s what the market necessitated.”

If the Guardians are willing to part with a pitcher a year after drafting him, it’s probably wise to trust them, based on their track record with pitching development. They shopped Alex Clemmey, their second-round pick in 2023, in other potential deals as well. His strikeout numbers glisten, but he has struggled with command this season. It’s also worth noting the Guardians just drafted 17 pitchers with their 21 picks, including nine in the first 10 rounds.

José Tena, who is also headed to the Nationals along with a lottery ticket in infielder Rafael Ramirez Jr., was blocked in Cleveland’s middle-infield logjam, which figures to ultimately settle with Andrés Giménez and first overall pick Travis Bazzana at the keystone positions. The fact that they never granted Tena a chance to seize playing time at shortstop, even with Gabriel Arias and Brayan Rocchio struggling to muster anything at the plate, spoke volumes. Tena was piecing together a great year at Triple-A Columbus; he’s 23 and ready for a big-league opportunity.

“It’s painful to make deals like this,” Antonetti said, “but this is one we felt we had to make.”

Tells you how fragile these players are.

I respect them

Guardians takeaways: How Lane Thomas and Alex Cobb fit the team with MLB’s best record WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 24: Lane Thomas #28 of the Washington Nationals slides into home plate and scores in the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Nationals Park on July 24, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
By Zack Meisel
7h ago

14
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CLEVELAND — A whirlwind of a trade deadline is in the rearview, the Guardians are entering August with MLB’s best record and pennant races are about to heat up.

Here are five takeaways ahead of a four-game battle for American League supremacy between the Guardians and Orioles.

1. There are legitimate questions about what Lane Thomas can offer against right-handed pitching and, therefore, about how often Stephen Vogt should scribble his name in the starting lineup.
go-deeper

GO DEEPER

Lane Thomas fills significant need, but Guardians pay hefty price to Nationals

Against a left-handed starter, Thomas is a perfect fit between Steven Kwan and José Ramírez.

2023 vs. LHP: .332/.375/.573 slash line
2024 vs. LHP: .322/.406/.506 slash line

He’s also valuable off the bench on days he doesn’t start. He’ll make opponents think twice about turning to a southpaw, as every team seems to any chance they get. Vogt can seek out the best matchup and deploy him at the perfect time as a pinch-hitter. Or, he’d be valuable as a pinch-runner (with elite sprint speed and a career-high stolen base total) or a defensive replacement (with elite arm strength in the outfield).

So, even if Thomas isn’t starting seven days a week, he should probably see the field in some capacity daily.

2. As for Thomas’ shortcomings against righties, if he could even return to his 2023 form, that’d be a plus.

2023 vs. RHP: .242/.292/.427 slash line (about 5 percent below league-average production)
2024 vs. RHP: .226/.299/.364 slash line (about 12 percent below league-average production)

If he’s a tick below league average against righties and a superstar against lefties, along with a threat on the bases and an asset in the outfield, that’s a strong pickup. At worst, he’s probably a more well-rounded version of the Brandon Guyer/Ryan Raburn/Jordan Luplow platoon-outfielder types the club has employed over the years.

3. It felt as though a new trade surfaced every other minute on Tuesday afternoon. And yet, there weren’t many noteworthy names changing teams.

What drove such a chaotic-yet-underwhelming deadline? Entering action on Wednesday, the Guardians and Phillies were tied for the best record in baseball, but 16 other teams were within 10 games of them in the standings. That’s 18 teams, or 60 percent of the league, with a win total between 55-65.

Having three wild-card berths in each league dampens the thrill of the deadline. So does the draft lottery, which discourages clear tanking (which is a good thing). Many teams enduring disappointing seasons would rather recalibrate and pull the old “thread the needle” trick the Guardians have tried, rather than initiate a full teardown.

Isaac Paredes was arguably the most productive hitter moved, and he went to the Chicago Cubs, a club with a sub-.500 record. The Blue Jays opted to hang onto Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and Chris Bassitt, even though they’ll all enter contract years next season and the AL East won’t be any easier to conquer.

So, for the Guardians, the Thomas and Alex Cobb additions might seem like doing the bare minimum to achieve a passing grade on a term paper. Just type any words that come to mind until you reach 20 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font. The Guardians were certainly positioned to swing big this summer. But few of the trades completed around the league were needle movers.
go-deeper

GO DEEPER

Guardians to acquire Alex Cobb from Giants to fortify their rotation: Sources

4. How will the AL Central race shake out? The Guardians and Twins will collide for four games over about 51 hours next weekend at Target Field. Cleveland holds a six-game lead over the Twins and Royals.

The Twins added only Trevor Richards, a changeup artist from the Blue Jays. The Royals bolstered their bullpen with hard-throwing Lucas Erceg and Hunter Harvey, and they scooped up infielder Paul DeJong.

As things stand, three AL Central teams would qualify for the postseason.

And then, well, the White Sox exist. They have lost 17 consecutive games. They would need to finish the season 36-15 to sidestep a 100-loss campaign. There’s a real chance they wind up with a record-setting loss total, eclipsing the 1962 Mets, who finished 40-120.

Which team has the White Sox defeated the most? That would be the league-best Guardians, of course. Chicago is 5-5 against Cleveland and 22-79 against everyone else.

That’s baseball in a nutshell.

5. The Guardians are hopeful Cobb needs only one more tuneup before he can join their rotation. He would have returned from the injured list already if a blister hadn’t interrupted his rehab assignment.

Cobb spoke with The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly about the trade. From a distance, Cobb has noticed Cleveland’s emphasis on contact at the plate and the club’s defensive ability. He cited their standing atop FanGraphs’ Defensive Runs Saved leaderboard and noted how his sky-high ground ball rate could be a perfect pairing with the team’s sure-handed infielders.
go-deeper

GO DEEPER

MLB Trade Grade: Can Alex Cobb return to form with the Guardians?

“You keep reminding yourself about the situation you’re going into,” Cobb said. “It’s the team with the best record in the league. I’m hoping to fulfill my dream of pitching in the postseason again.”

Cobb’s wife asked if he knew any of their players. He said no, but he has relationships with several members of the coaching staff: Vogt, bench coach Craig Albernaz and field coordinator Kai Correa.

“She said, ‘OK, well, thanks. That makes me feel old,’” Cobb said.

Cobb and Vogt came up together through the Rays’ system, from short-season Hudson Valley to the big leagues. Vogt caught Cobb in the minors, but never the majors. In fact, they only appeared in the same major-league game once, Sept. 17, 2012. Vogt entered as a pinch-hitter after Cobb had exited the game, though.

“Even then, you noticed how contagious his attitude was,” Cobb said. “With his personality, you knew he was destined to be a manager. He’s absolutely hit the ground running with that team. I can’t wait to be a part of it.”