The Cleveland Guardians have to make a decision right now.
The front office needs to figure out whether they’re going to be buyers or sellers, as they’re not that far behind in the AL Wild Card race or the division, but they’re certainly not good enough to be considered a World Series contender.
Unfortunately, history suggests that this team will be more inclined to move pieces than to add other stars.
With that in mind, team analyst Bruce Drennan fired his predictions about the potential players who could be on their way out, and many fans won’t be pleased at all.
In the latest edition of his show, he argued that the Guardians might consider trading RHP Emmanuel Clase, OF Lane Thomas, and 1B/C Carlos Santana:
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Clase, Santana, and Thomas are all dealt to make room for these kids, to get their feet wet, to prepare for the 2026 season,” Drennan said.
Are Emmanuel Clase, Lane Thomas, and Carlos Santana all gone at the trade deadline? #GuardsBall
"To prepare for the 2026 season."
Presented by @drinkgaragebeer https://t.co/UsJc4UIb6p pic.twitter.com/LLj31TiBYg
— Bruce Drennan Show (@Bruce_Drennan) June 22, 2025
That makes perfect sense from one standpoint, but it would pretty much close the door on making a postseason run this year.
Granted, Clase hasn’t looked like his usual self this season, so perhaps the Guardians will just look to get ahead of the curve and move on from him while they can still get something valuable in return.
Thomas hasn’t had a good season, mostly due to injuries, but he’s still a serviceable veteran who can be of help for multiple contenders.
As for Santana, he’s obviously not getting any younger, and he’s no longer a star, but he’s been one of the few consistent sources of offense for Stephen Vogt’s team this season, not to mention a perennial fan favorite.
NEXT: Bruce Drennan Predicts Guardians' Starting Rotation In 2026
