The Guardians head into the 2026 All-Star break in a familiar spot: right in the middle of a tight race, with the trade deadline looming and the front office weighing how much to add.
At 51-46, Cleveland is locked in a virtual dead heat with the Chicago White Sox, who sit at 50-45, in the American League Central. The Minnesota Twins at 48-49 and the Detroit Tigers at 44-52 are still hanging around, but the deadline could push those clubs in a different direction than the Guardians.
For Cleveland, the biggest internal boost might come from a pitcher who has already forced his way into the conversation. Parker Messick has been one of the stories of the first half, earning an All-Star selection after putting together a 2.73 ERA across 19 starts.
He began spring training as one of six starters competing for five rotation spots, and he’s emerged as the best of the group in 2026. Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams have had their rough patches, Joey Cantillo has been steady but uneven, and Slade Cecconi’s strong recent run came after a tough start.
Messick, though, has been the most consistent arm in the mix and even flirted with a few no-hit bids. He joins Cade Smith and Travis Bazzana as the Guardians’ All-Stars, and he’s become one of the most important players on the roster for the second half.
Steven Kwan is another name Cleveland badly needs to get going. By his standards, the first half was rough.
Through June 22, over 71 games, he was hitting .206 with a .572 OPS, and that slump was enough to send him from his usual leadoff role down to No. 9 in the order. There’s been a better stretch since then, though.
Over his last 18 games beginning June 23, Kwan has hit .309/.387/.418 with an .805 OPS, along with four extra-base hits, three RBIs, five runs and three stolen bases. With the Guardians still searching for more offense and a few rookies occupying the top of the lineup, a return to form from Kwan would ease pressure across the board.
Cleveland also faced one of its biggest winter decisions when it chose to keep him, and that choice has been complicated by his first-half production.
The other major help could come from the injured list. Jose Ramirez and Angel Martinez are effectively being treated like deadline additions by the Guardians, even if they’ll come from within the organization.
Ramirez, out with a hamate bone injury, is expected back around the end of July, though the timeline could shift. Martinez fractured his foot at the same time Ramirez went on the injured list and was given a similar recovery window, with a return possible in the next two to three weeks if nothing changes.
Cleveland has managed to stay afloat without them, and if both are back around the same time, the club could be in a strong position coming out of the break.
There’s also some Rookie of the Year intrigue attached to this roster. Chase DeLauter made noise in the first week of the regular season, while Bazzana and Messick both earned All-Star recognition, with Bazzana doing it without starting the year in the majors.
All three remain in the mix for finalist consideration, though they’ll have to chase down two AL Central rookies who are leading the race. Detroit infielder Kevin McGonicle is the favorite, Chicago White Sox infielder Munetaka Murakami is second, and sportsbooks have a group of about seven players - including Bazzana, DeLauter and Messick - still in the hunt.
As for the deadline itself, the Guardians usually stick to a clear formula. They’ll explore plenty of options, but the front office tends to favor smaller, practical upgrades over a splashy gamble.
That’s been the pattern for years, with the 2016 trade for elite reliever Andrew Miller standing out as the major exception. Otherwise, Cleveland has typically used the deadline to round out the roster rather than overhaul it.
This year, that points to an outfielder or a reliever as the most likely target. The Guardians also view the earlier addition of catcher Patrick Bailey as a move that came before the deadline rather than at it, and Ramirez and Martinez could provide another layer of help without any outside acquisition.
If Cleveland goes after an outfielder, names that could surface include Colorado’s Mickey Moniak, Baltimore’s Taylor Ward, the Los Angeles Angels’ Jo Adell and Milwaukee’s Garrett Mitchell, assuming the price lines up. Ward and Adell are right-handed hitters, which could make them especially appealing for one of the most left-handed lineups in recent memory.
Relief help is another obvious lane. Every contender can use more bullpen depth for the stretch run, and the Guardians could look for a high-leverage arm or two to support All-Star closer Cade Smith.
Among the relievers mentioned as possible targets are Boston’s Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock, Tampa Bay’s Pete Fairbanks, Baltimore’s Yennier Cano, St. Louis’ Riley O’Brien, the New York Mets’ A.J.
Minter and Brooks Raley, Miami’s Lake Bachar and Anthony Bender, Colorado’s Antonio Senzatela and San Francisco’s Caleb Kilian.
There’s no shortage of names out there. The challenge, as always, is finding the right fit without paying too much.
In Other News...
Guardians First Place Push Could Soon Get A Major Lineup Lift
The Guardians head into the All-Star break on a four-game winning streak and tied for first in the AL Central, and the timing of that surge matters as much as the record itself. Cleveland has spent much of the first half piecing together its offense, but there are signs the lineup may finally be getting healthier and more dangerous, with Steven Kwan beginning to shake off a rough start, driving in runs and flashing his usual elite defense, while Kyle Manzardo is also showing early signs that his power stroke may be coming around.
Jose Ramirezs return from a hand injury is still a key piece of the puzzle, and Angel Martinez is also working back from a foot injury, giving the club a chance to add impact bats without waiting on outside help. Even if the internal reinforcements arrive on schedule, the front office could still look for more at the trade deadline, especially with young talent and some payroll flexibility giving Cleveland options as it tries to stay on top of the division. [Read more 🡒]
Ralphy Velazquez Put Guardians Fans On Notice At The Futures Game
Ralphy Velazquez used the Futures Game to give Guardians fans another reason to keep an eye on his rise. The first baseman, one of Clevelands top prospects, was in the American League Rising Stars lineup and made his presence felt on both sides of the ball, adding a timely offensive contribution while also flashing the kind of awareness that can stand out in a showcase setting.
Velazquez has already moved quickly this season, beginning at Double-A before reaching Triple-A, where he has continued to look like a bat that belongs on the radar. The Futures Game performance fit the larger picture around him: a young player whose path is moving upward, with enough polish to make a national audience take notice and enough upside to leave Cleveland wondering how soon he might force the issue. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Face A Rotation Decision Fans Have Been Dreading
Foster Griffins rise with Washington has turned him into one of the more interesting names on the market, and it is easy to see why clubs in need of rotation help would be paying attention. Signed to a one-year deal, the left-hander has given the Nationals exactly the kind of stability they were hoping for, working to a 2.77 ERA with 109 strikeouts in a little more than 110 innings while earning an All-Star nod as a replacement.
For Cleveland, the appeal is obvious because Griffin profiles as a solid No. 3 starter, the sort of arm that can deepen a staff without asking too much of the rest of the rotation. The catch is just as obvious: any serious pursuit would likely force the Guardians into a difficult roster decision, and those are the kinds of moves front offices usually prefer to avoid unless they are convinced the upgrade is worth the cost. [Read more 🡒]