Guardians Are Facing Critical Stretch That Could Change Trade Deadline Plans

The Cleveland Guardians found out this week that they will be without superstar Jose Ramirez for 5-7 weeks and dynamic, up-and-coming talent Angel Martinez for 4-6 weeks. They are both dealing with fractures.

Additionally, Chase DeLauter is nursing a small rib fracture, too, so things are rough on the injury front. The team, however, is still putting up a fight and is actually first in the AL Central.

Will that be the case when the three injured stars return? Well, it remains to be seen, but how Cleveland fares in the upcoming 6-8 weeks, while they are decimated, will likely determine their trade deadline approach.

If they start losing a bunch of games amid all the injuries, they might not even be buyers if we consider past deadlines and recent patterns. President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti sure loves to stockpile young talent, and has historically been reluctant to part with it for star-level talent at the deadline unless it’s necessary.

You can even make the case that if Cleveland falls too far back by the time August 3 rolls around, they might even become soft sellers. On the other hand, if they manage to stay afloat while the trio of stars is out, it could be a sign for them to go and bring in some impactful, win-now talent.

We have already seen the Guardians’ offense when everyone is healthy, and while it certainly has an exciting ceiling, it’s still not a top ten unit. If they could acquire a consistent power hitter who plays the outfield and represents another threat, they could push that ceiling and reach new heights.

Likewise, the team needs at least another starter for depth, and probably a top reliever if it wants to compete with the best. How the squad performs in the upcoming weeks, however, will likely determine how aggressive they will be at the deadline.

You can say, without a doubt, that the Guardians are about to enter the most important stretch of their season, the one that’s going to tell them what they are made of, how far they can go, and what they need to reach those heights.