Insider Names 6 Potential Trade Targets For Guardians

The next month or so is going to be pivotal for the Cleveland Guardians as they look to navigate the loss of Jose Ramirez to a broken hamate bone. He’ll be out potentially past the August 3rd trade deadline, and with the Chicago White Sox fighting so valiantly to keep pace with Cleveland atop the AL Central, the Guardians may need to make a big splash or two to counteract the loss of Ramirez.

At 39-34 and with a tough schedule over the rest of the first half, it will be interesting to see how the front office approaches this trade deadline. Cleveland rarely makes the blockbuster trade to go for a title, but the American League is as open as ever before and this could be the time to do so if the right piece becomes available.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan recently listed a handful of potential targets who would be great fits for Cleveland. Most of them are big bats to help keep the offense afloat without Ramirez and Angel Martinez, but there could certainly be a pitcher or two that catches GM Mike Chernoff’s eye.

“.@JeffPassan lists the Guardians as a fit for these potential trade targets:

• – Aroldis Chapman
• – Willson Contreas
• – Sandy Alcantara
• – Luis Arraez
• – Christian Walker
• – Jarren Duran,” said ESPN Cleveland.

.@JeffPassan lists the Guardians as a fit for these potential trade targets:

– Aroldis Chapman
– Willson Contreas
– Sandy Alcantara
– Luis Arraez
– Christian Walker
– Jarren Duran

Do you think the Guardians will make a big move at the deadline? pic.twitter.com/GdpZ7KbnAp

— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) June 17, 2026

Three of those players – Chapman, Duran, and Contreras – are from the flailing Boston Red Sox, who are having a nightmarish season and find themselves in the basement of the AL East. Cleveland’s bullpen is already a major strength and should get Erik Sabrowski back soon, so it’s tough to envision Chapman being a fit, but Duran and Contreras would change the lineup, particularly the latter.

Duran has struggled, but Contreras is having the best year of his career with a .952 OPS and is under team control through 2028. He’d immediately slot in at first base and provide massive power for a team that sorely needs it and is probably the best available right-handed hitter on the market.

Rhys Hoskins and Kyle Manzardo haven’t gotten the job done at first base this season. He’d cost a pretty penny and Boston likely wants to hang onto him, but if there’s anybody on this list who can change the trajectory of this Guardians team, it’s Willson Contreras.

Christian Walker has been great as well and is on pace for around 40 homers and 110 RBIs. He’d be an ideal Plan B if Contreras doesn’t work out and would likely cost less.

The AL hasn’t been this open in years. The time is now for the Guardians to be aggressive and finally go get that big hitter that has eluded them every offseason.