The Cleveland Guardians have big goals in the 2026 campaign. They have made the postseason seven times in the last 10 years, but want to take the next step and mount a World Series challenge.
That, of course, is much easier said than done. As of Tuesday morning, the Guardians are 47-44, one game behind the 47-42 Chicago White Sox in the fight for the AL Central. The 44-47 Minnesota Twins are also lurking.
To get over the hump, Cleveland will need to get Jose Ramirez and Angel Martinez back from the injured list soon and in good shape. However, if they want to really make a difference, they should venture into the trade market ahead of the August 3 deadline.
What do they need? Well, we will let team insider Andre Knott take that one. The short answer: a little bit of everything.
“Both [hitter and pitcher], I think. I think this weekend plays it out. Nobody knows what’s going on next year, and they know, at this point in time, you can’t take getting this far for granted. It’s been great to have all these young guys, but if you can get one more bullpen guy with a legitimate arm and a legitimate right-handed hitter, I think they have to. The owner is not comfortable with where they’re at financially, and he’s been willing to help. I think they’re gonna do something,” Knott said.
Are the Guardians more likely to go after a pitcher or hitter in the trade market?
"Both, I think," – @DreKnott on potential Guards trade deadline actions 👀 pic.twitter.com/FlPDr9X4jS
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 6, 2026
The Guardians’ offense is currently 22nd among all 30 MLB teams with a 93 wRC+, a well-below-average figure that suggests they need one or two impact bats. The preference would be a right-handed bat to complement what’s already on the roster, and if it’s an outfielder, then the fit would be perfect.
However, you could also make a case for the team to go out and aggressively pursue a top bullpen arm and a depth starter. If something happens to Parker Messick, Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, Joey Cantillo, or Slade Cecconi, the Guardians would need to resort to Logan Allen, and if two of those hurlers go down with an injury, things could get ugly.
The bullpen can look shaky at times, so a top relief pitcher would go a long way toward fortifying the unit. The Guardians have a top farm system, and some of their prospects are already generating interest around the league. With the uncertainty surrounding the future of the league due to the looming lockout, it might be time to go for it.
NEXT: Guardians' Young Core Is Quietly Building Something Special
