It didn’t look like the Cleveland Guardians were going to do much at all as the clock clicked down toward the MLB trade deadline on Monday. A recent stretch of losses may have convinced the organization that it wasn’t worth becoming buyers, with a potential AL playoff berth possibly slipping out of reach.
But instead, the Guardians emerged as one of the most successful teams when the transactions were complete. They added the right-handed power hitter they were longing for in Jo Adell, a quality starting pitcher in Foster Griffin, and a veteran first baseman with World Series experience in Nathaniel Lowe.
Based on those moves, analyst Ken Carman is giving credit to Guardians ownership after the trade deadline, praising them for trying to capitalize on the diminished state of the American League.
“I’m so pleasantly surprised. I give credit to everybody involved with it. Yes, that includes the ownership. I was so surprised, elated, I think that would be the word for that. I expected them to sit on their hands. They didn’t. I think it’s a wide-open American League, and I think that they can go ahead and vie for the American League here. I don’t think I’m being over the top when I say something like that,” Carman said.
"I'm so pleasantly surprised. I give credit to everybody involved with it…yes, that involves ownership. I expected them to sit on their hands…they didn't. They can vie for the American League here."
➡️ @KenCarman to @SportsBoyTony on how the #Guardians trades change the… https://t.co/FgMenrgW5z pic.twitter.com/TAKpWCJ3L1
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) August 4, 2026
Cleveland actually made its first move of the process on Saturday, when it acquired relief pitcher Craig Yoho and outfielder Blake Perkins from the Milwaukee Brewers. Yoho made his Guardians debut on Sunday, before the flurry of activity on Monday, when the team had an off day.
The Guardians first acquired Adell from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for catching prospect Jacob Cozart. The outfielder arrives with 16 home runs this season and a .910 OPS against left-handed pitching, which will make an impact in multiple areas.
Then, in the final half hour before the deadline, Cleveland added Griffin in a trade with the Washington Nationals. A first-time All-Star at 31 years old, he was 12-3 with a 3.06 ERA in 22 starts for the Nationals after playing the previous three seasons in Japan.
About this time last year, the Guardians transitioned to a six-man rotation, which helped them rally to win the AL Central. This season, they have used the same five starters for all but one game, so it will be interesting to see how they deploy Griffin.
Lowe, who came in a deal with the Cincinnati Reds, was a World Series champion with the Texas Rangers in 2023 and could be part of a veteran platoon with Rhys Hoskins, now that Kyle Manzardo has been optioned to Triple-A.
NEXT: Analyst Is Hyped For Guardians' Trade Deadline Moves
