The Cleveland Guardians have a 36-29 record as of Saturday afternoon. They boast a two-game lead in the AL Central, so yes: they have had a solid season to this point.
The goal, however, is to have an unforgettable season, and the only way fans remember 2026 forever would be if the team wins the World Series. That’s much easier said than done, though.
Cleveland, as a division leader and a contender, should do everything in its power to build the strongest possible roster before the trade deadline. That involves parting ways with some prospects, though.
Will President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti be willing to trade some of his best young minor leaguers in exchange for impact, win-now talent? We shall find out in a few weeks.
Analysts Adam “the Bull” Gerstenhaber and Wayne Randazzo discussed this topic on the Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show, with the former acknowledging that we haven’t really seen the Guardians be aggressive buyers at the deadline since the stretch between 2016 and 2018.
The loss of Aaron Judge to a stress fracture in his rib makes the New York Yankees more vulnerable, so the American League is wide open. The Guardians are part of a group of solid contenders who could take over the junior circuit with two or three impactful additions, now that their best player is back on track.
“Who will they (the Guardians) even compete against in the American League? I still think the Mariners are going to be a team that ends up fighting for that American League pennant as well. You know, maybe the White Sox are thinking the same thing, maybe they’re going to trade some chips—although it sounds like they’re thinking more about next year and being good for a long stretch of time here. But the Guardians certainly have what it takes to win the division. They won the division anyway the last couple of years, and now you look around the American League, and you don’t see a whole lot as far as there being that obvious favorite,” Randazzo said.
Randazzo also emphasized that this is the perfect time for the Guardians to trade some prospects and acquire veterans who can help the current core win it all.
To be precise, the American League doesn’t lack potential competitors. The Tampa Bay Rays are 37-23, and the Mariners were on the verge of making the World Series last year. Cleveland, however, is right up there with them and could get some separation with a few timely acquisitions.
They could use a starter, a top reliever or two, and a power hitter. Some of the names thrown around in the discussion were reliever Aroldis Chapman and outfielder Jarren Duran.
Cleveland has a golden chance to be aggressive this year and position itself for a deep postseason run. It’s a chance that Antonetti and his team shouldn’t throw away.
NEXT: Insider Believes One Guardians Player Could Soon Be Traded
