The Guardians could spend the non-tender deadline doing more than just trimming the edges of the roster. With the lockout threatening to swallow a big chunk of the offseason, this month could turn into a fast-moving market, and that makes a few names in Cleveland’s clubhouse worth watching closely.
Jo Adell, Slade Cecconi and David Fry all sit in that zone where the Guardians have to weigh production, price and roster fit. None of the three is a lock to be cut loose, but each one could draw interest if Cleveland decides the best move is to cash in now rather than carry the uncertainty into a compressed offseason.
Adell is the most obvious candidate to move. The Guardians picked him up at the summer deadline, and he brought real power with him.
He also brought the same rough edges that followed him from the Angels, and that combination, plus a rising arbitration number, could push Cleveland to sell high while it still can. The Guardians gave up catching prospect Jacob Cozart to land him, so any return would need to match or beat that value.
There should be no shortage of clubs looking for outfield help, and a trade would also open a roster spot for someone currently sitting on the bubble. One possible outcome: “Prediction: Guardians deal Adell to the Phillies for INF prospect Alirio Ferrebus and LHP prospect Mavis Graves”
Cecconi fits a different kind of trade discussion. Cleveland brought him in two years ago hoping its pitching development could unlock more from his arm, and the results have been uneven.
He has shown real flashes, including his near no-hitter in September 2025, but his 4.59 ERA in 253 innings with the Guardians tells the fuller story. He looks like a back-end starter, the kind of arm that can soak up innings and still carry value around the league.
For a pitching-needy team, that makes him a reasonable trade chip. The Guardians once moved Cal Quantrill to the Rockies for catcher Kody Huff, who was at the Rockies Single-A affiliate at the time, and the expectation here is that Cecconi could bring back something in that range.
Fry is the toughest case because of what he was before the injury. He caught fire for Cleveland in the first half of the 2024 season, then everything changed when an arm injury led to Tommy John surgery.
Since then, he has not been the same player, and his most recent season ended with a .677 OPS in 91 games while bouncing around the field. He still matters to the Guardians’ bench mix, but the bat has not been helping enough.
At the same time, he may be more appealing to another club than he is to Cleveland, especially because the Guardians are built around defense while other teams are hunting for offense. The Brewers trade that brought Fry to Cleveland already worked out in the Guardians’ favor, and that deal could end up producing another piece this offseason.
In Other News...
Guardians Could Be Closing In On A High-Upside Infield Boost
The Guardians have spent the last few seasons leaning into youth, and it has helped push them into contention, including a recent trip to the ALCS. That approach has made Cleveland one of the more intriguing development stories in the league, with the front office continuing to look for the next wave of infield talent to add to the pipeline.
John Cruz appears to be the latest name to watch. The Dominican shortstop prospect is reportedly favored to sign with Cleveland, though he is not eligible to put pen to paper until the Jan. 15, 2027 international signing period. There is still plenty of time before anything becomes official, and details on Cruz remain limited, but the Guardians seem to be positioning themselves for another potentially high-upside addition. [Read more 🡒]
Two Guardians Arms Just Earned Serious October Respect
Postseason reputation can change fast, and two young Guardians arms just got a sizable boost from one of the games more familiar evaluators. Dan Plesacs list of the top 10 pitchers based on October impact included Cade Smith and Gavin Williams, a notable nod for a Cleveland staff that leaned heavily on both pitchers during its 2026 postseason run.
Williams checked in sixth after turning in a 2.16 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 16.2 innings, while Smith landed seventh with a 2.38 ERA across 11.1 innings and nine appearances. For a club that has spent plenty of time building around pitching depth, seeing both names land that high on a postseason list only reinforces how much those two mattered when the games tightened up. [Read more 🡒]
Chase DeLauter Has A Strong Rookie Of The Year Case
Chase DeLauters rookie season gave Cleveland plenty to think about, even if his name never made the official Rookie of the Year finalist list. The Guardians outfielder put together offensive numbers that stacked up well against the players who did get the nod, and in a comparison with finalist Kevin McGonigle, the gap at the plate was not as wide as the ballot might suggest. For a Cleveland club always looking to build around young, controllable talent, that kind of production from a rookie is hard to ignore.
The separation came more in the broader rsum than in the bat-only debate, with WAR and games played helping explain why the finalists were chosen the way they were. DeLauter can absolutely make a case for being in that conversation, and there is a reasonable argument that he belonged on the short list. Even so, the voters choices are understandable, which is part of what makes his season interesting for Cleveland: the performance was strong enough to invite the debate, and perhaps strong enough to hint at a bigger award case still to come. [Read more 🡒]