The Cleveland Guardians’ current five-game losing streak not only changed their position in the tight AL playoff race, but it revealed even bigger problems than they may have been willing to admit. It might also drastically change their approach to the upcoming MLB trade deadline.
The Guardians were said to be on the market for a productive hitter who could provide a boost to their lineup. But now, after being swept by the Tampa Bay Rays in a potential postseason preview, getting shut out in the last two games of the three-game set, Cleveland may need much more than that to realistically compete.
With that in mind, analyst Jay Crawford said he isn’t convinced the Guardians will make a move before the trade deadline arrives on Aug. 3, because it will likely prove to be for naught.
“They’re not buyers. Why would you buy with this club? You better not make a move because you are not one player away, you are not two players away. You’re five batters away from becoming a team that can compete in the AL East,” Crawford said.
“They’re not buyers. Why would you buy with this club?” 👀⚾@JaycrawfordCLE says the #Guardians should stand pat at the MLB Trade Deadline because they're not one bat away…
They're more like FIVE bats away. 😳https://t.co/3Dx8Kr6d07 pic.twitter.com/842CdLIUMZ
— Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show (@ultCLEsports) July 27, 2026
Before taking on the Rays or New York Yankees in a potential playoff series, the Guardians will first have to get there. It looked like Cleveland would remain in contention for the AL Central title, or at least a wild-card berth, especially with Jose Ramirez and Angel Martinez about to return from the injured list.
But since they have been back in the lineup, those two top offensive players have combined to go 3-for-27, with Ramirez having the only hits, all singles. In addition to the two recent shutout losses, Cleveland scored just one run in a 12-inning loss to the Minnesota Twins, and according to Crawford, the Guardians are batting .030 with runners in scoring position over the past four games.
The discouraging slump has come at a most inopportune time with important decisions about to be made. Cleveland enters play Tuesday trailing the first-place Chicago White Sox by 2 games in the division and just one game ahead of the third-place Twins. The Guardians also have fallen to third in the AL wild-card standings, just 3.5 games ahead of the eighth-place Detroit Tigers.
Unless there is a drastic turnaround, the Guardians will be challenged to make the playoffs without improving their lineup, but the risk of acquiring one may not result in the desired reward.
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