BREAKING: Cleveland Guardians fascinating piece of surprisingly hot start
Earlier today, ESPN’s Jeff Passan, a leading baseball reporter, released an early Trade Deadline preview, detailing each team’s likely positions as of June 4.
The Cleveland Guardians were notably highlighted. Positioned at the top of the “Likely adders” section, Passan comments on their unexpectedly strong start, driven by an excellent bullpen and a hot offense. Within this context, there were two key points of interest.
Earlier in the article, Passan discussed the Blue Jays, labeling them a “Hinge team” and suggesting they could become major players at the deadline if they decide to sell by the end of July. However, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins has dismissed the idea of trading Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or Bo Bichette, stating that while they’ve received inquiries, such moves don’t align with the team’s plans.
Nevertheless, Bichette might be a more logical trade candidate than Guerrero, given his higher upside and impressive career start. Among shortstops with at least 2,000 plate appearances since 2019, Bichette’s 16.2 fWAR ranks 10th, and his 122 wRC+ ranks sixth, despite a slow start this season.
Regarding the Guardians, Passan highlights their significant struggles at shortstop. Cleveland’s current shortstop rotation, primarily featuring Brayan Rocchio and occasionally Gabriel Arias, has been underwhelming. Their shortstops rank 26th in fWAR (0.2), 28th in wRC+ (63), and 29th in slugging percentage (.260). Given the team’s overall progress at the plate this season, replacing these players with a more established shortstop would be a smart move. This need is underscored by the recent start of Daniel Schneemann at shortstop in their series opener against the Royals. Passan even suggests Bichette as a potential target for Cleveland.
The shortstop market is expected to be very limited at the Deadline. With several teams (including Cleveland, Boston, Detroit, Atlanta, Arizona, and San Francisco) in need of a shortstop and competing for wild card spots or division titles, Bichette’s asking price could be very high. However, if teams like Boston and Detroit fall out of contention, it could create a more affordable opportunity for the Guardians.
Passan also mentioned the Guardians might seek a designated hitter if Kyle Manzardo’s slow start persisted, although Manzardo appears to be improving.
Additionally, Passan linked the Guardians to a potential search for a starting pitcher. He notes Gavin Williams’ anticipated return and progress but suggests that acquiring a fifth starter would still be beneficial.
Lastly, Passan touched on the Guardians’ payroll flexibility. Due to their strong start, owner Larry Dolan may allow the front office more financial leeway, unlike previous seasons. This suggests the team could be more aggressive in making deadline moves. General Manager Chris Antonetti, known for actively pursuing talent when given the resources, may lead the Guardians through an exciting and dynamic next six weeks.