The Cleveland Guardians enter the final stretch before the trade deadline with a lineup that could use one more legitimate power threat, and according to one former MLB executive, the answer may already be sitting on a National League roster having the best season of his career. Casey Schmitt has quietly turned into one of the more productive infielders in baseball this year, and his versatility across the diamond makes him exactly the type of piece a contending team like Cleveland should be targeting.
Former general manager Jim Bowden identified Schmitt as the ideal fit for the Guardians in a recent breakdown of realistic trade deadline targets across the league.
“Cleveland Guardians, Casey Schmitt, INF/OF, San Francisco Giants. The Guardians could use another power bat and Schmitt is having a breakout season with the Giants. The 27 year old has already established career highs for homers, doubles, RBIs, hits and stolen bases. His ability to play all over the diamond also makes him a great fit in Cleveland,” Bowden wrote.
Schmitt’s numbers this season back up that assessment. He has already set new career highs across the board, launching 21 home runs and driving in 55 runs while posting a 781 OPS, a significant step forward from the modest offensive output he provided during his first three seasons in San Francisco.
Cleveland has built its identity around versatility and defensive flexibility up and down the roster, and Schmitt fits that mold well given his ability to handle multiple infield spots as well as time in the outfield. Adding a bat capable of providing thump in the middle of the order, while also offering the kind of roster flexibility Cleveland has consistently valued, checks multiple boxes at once heading into a stretch run where every roster spot matters.
Whether the Guardians ultimately pursue Schmitt specifically remains to be seen, but the logic behind the fit is difficult to argue with.
NEXT: One Return Hasn't Sparked The Turnaround Guardians Fans Hoped For
