The Cleveland Guardians refuse to give up.
Stephen Vogt’s team has looked much better over the past three weeks or so, and they’re right back in the mix to get a playoff spot.
That’s why it wasn’t much of a surprise to see them continue their rise in Bleacher Report’s weekly Power Rankings.
This time, they moved another two spots, going from No. 20 to No. 18.
To discuss this jump, Joel Reuter gushed about their improved play over the last 17 games:
“Since wrapping up a brutal 10-game losing streak on July 6, the Guardians have gone 12-5 in their last 17 games to climb back into the thick of the AL wild-card race. Any rumblings of Steven Kwan, Emmanuel Clase or Cade Smith being traded have likely been silenced by their improved play, though they are open to flipping a rehabbing Shane Bieber. Can they find a productive outfield bat on the cheap?” Reuter wrote.
Unfortunately, contrary to what Reuter says, the trade rumors might not be silenced at all.
With Emmanuel Clase now on non-disciplinary leave over his alleged involvement in a sports betting investigation, the Guardians might not be interested in being buyers at the trade deadline.
Of course, this also decreases the likelihood of them trading away Cade Smith, but the same cannot be said of Steven Kwan.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that as many as four teams have already picked up the phone to make an offer for the All-Star outfielder, and given the Guardians’ history of trading their stars before they get expensive, he could be on the move.
Technically, the Guardians are still pretty much alive and could make a strong push for the postseason.
They have an easy schedule for the remainder of the way, and they’re just a handful of games back in the Wild Card race.
Even so, a lot of that will depend on what they decide to do in the wake of the Clase news.
NEXT: Steven Kwan Is Drawing 'A Ton' Of Interest From 4 MLB Teams
