There is a difference between a team trying to compete in a given year and one that is a sustainable contender. The former recognizes that there’s an important collection of talent on the roster that given season and pushes its chips to the center of the table aggressively. The latter, on the other hand, is more sensible when managing resources and thinks about tomorrow, not only about today.
You can classify the Cleveland Guardians in the latter category. Although they could certainly do a better job pushing their chips to the center of the table more often, there is no denying that they have built the perfect ecosystem for prospects to develop and become contributors one day.
The Guardians might not spend much, but they know how to spot talent, nurture it, and give it a platform to succeed. This has allowed them to build a top-ten farm system in baseball even after Travis Bazzana, Parker Messick, and Chase DeLauter’s graduations.
Now, to take the next step, the Guardians need to leverage their amazing farm into two or three real difference-makers before the August 3 deadline. That’s what this roster needs: a couple of veteran producers who can be counted on.
Guardians insider Paul Hoynes says that the time to turn their prospects into trade pieces is now.
“One of the reasons you have prospects is their trade capital. You sign prospects, you groom them and, if you have a chance to make a run at the postseason, that’s what they’re there for. You trade them,” Hoynes said.
The vast majority of prospects on a team’s farm system won’t even reach the majors. Even those in an organization’s top 30 list aren’t a lock to make it, not all of them at least.
The Guardians themselves have had numerous top prospects flame out over the years. Young minor leaguers are, essentially, a risk. Some of them will become stars, others will have solid, if unspectacular careers; others will be up and down multiple times during their careers, and others won’t even get the call.
Why not trade three or four of them for one or two established, proven major leaguers every once in a while? It’s worth the risk, and for Cleveland, it’s virtually the only way to hang with the top spenders. Cooper Ingle, for example, could become an enticing trade piece, and so can Angel Genao, just to name two.
The hope is that, come August 4, the Guardians acquire a power bat and a top reliever, at the very least.
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