The Cleveland Guardians struggled mightily in June, but they might be showing some signs of life in July.
However, even if their remaining schedule is somewhat more forgiving, and even after sweeping the Houston Astros, the Guardians might not have enough to reach the playoffs.
That’s why Jim Bowden of The Athletic believes they need to bolster their offense at the trade deadline.
The former MLB general manager made a case for the Guardians to move on from Emmanuel Clase and get a young hitter in return.
“The Guardians need offense. If they trade Clase, they need to focus on young bats. Offer him to the [Los Angeles] Dodgers for Andy Pages. Offer him to the [Philadelphia] Phillies for Aidan Miller. Offer him to the [Texas] Rangers for Sebastian Walcott. Offer him to the [Detroit] Tigers for Kevin McGonigle. Offer him to the [New York] Yankees for Spencer Jones. Offer him to the [Boston] Red Sox for Jarren Duran. You get my point,” Bowden wrote.
Clase was considered the best closer in baseball for the past couple of years, but he’s looked less than that this season.
That could open up the door for the Guardians to consider moving on before the regression is more evident, especially given his financial considerations.
Of course, losing a player of his caliber, even in a down year, will be a big blow, but it seems like the Guardians could do a better job of replacing him than finding someone who could bring an offensive spark.
They could also opt to call up star prospects C.J. Kayfus and Chase DeLauter, who are projected to have prominent roles for years to come.
The Guardians shouldn’t go through a panic sale by any means, but if they’re ready to move some players, they need to add offense.
NEXT: Guardians Could Make Big Run With Upcoming Schedule
