Boston’s collapse from potential division contender to the worst team in the American League has created an unusual opportunity for clubs in need of a power bat, and Cleveland finds itself squarely in that conversation. The Guardians rank near the bottom of the league in home runs and well below average in slugging from right-handed hitters, a glaring weakness that has lingered for much of the season.
Bleacher Report’s Zachary Rymer believes Cleveland could address that need by pursuing Willson Contreras, the most productive hitter on a Red Sox roster that appears headed toward selling off its veteran pieces.
Rymer outlined the framework of a potential deal between the two clubs.
Trade Proposal: Guardians get 1B Willson Contreras; Red Sox get OF Jaison Chourio (Guardians No. 8)
“In a vacuum, this is probably more than Contreras is worth. But scarcity matters, as the Red Sox can and should take advantage of the fact that he’s an elite right handed bat amid a season when such bats are hard to find. Yes, Jaison Chourio is Jackson’s younger brother. He lost some stock after entering last season as a top 100 prospect, but is gaining it back by batting .306 with a .416 on base percentage and a .482 slugging mark in the minors this season,” Zachary Rymer wrote.
Contreras has been nothing short of excellent for Boston this season, hitting 16 home runs with an OPS plus of 153 that ranks among the better marks at his position across baseball. The 34-year-old, born in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, brings a track record that includes three All-Star selections and a World Series championship, giving Cleveland a proven right-handed bat with postseason experience at a position where the roster has lacked thump all year. His ability to play both catcher and first base would also give Stephen Vogt added flexibility with how he constructs the lineup on a given night.
The proposed return of Jaison Chourio represents a real cost for a Cleveland farm system that has typically guarded its premium pieces closely. The younger brother of Brewers star Jackson Chourio, parting with him would mark one of the more aggressive moves the front office has made in recent seasons, a notable departure from the cost-controlled approach that has defined most of Cleveland’s deadline activity.
Whether the Guardians ultimately pursue a name of this caliber may come down to how the next several weeks play out in the standings. With Boston reportedly willing to listen on several veterans beyond just Contreras, Cleveland will have options at multiple price points as the August 3 deadline approaches, and the front office’s willingness to spend prospect capital on a difference making bat like this one could shape how seriously this roster is built to compete down the stretch.
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