Carlos Baerga thinks the Guardians’ trade-deadline shopping list is pretty simple: add a bat, and add a reliever.
That lines up with the bigger picture in Cleveland. The pitching staff has carried its weight all season, posting a 3.77 ERA that ranks eighth in MLB and fifth in the American League. The strikeout numbers are strong, too, with Cleveland sitting fourth in baseball at 9.27 K/9, which is the best mark in the junior circuit.
The offense, though, has not matched that level. By wRC+, the Guardians are 26th in MLB with a 91. They’re also 28th with a .229 batting average and 25th with 79 home runs.
Baerga put the issue bluntly.
“That’s been the key right there-our pitching staff keeping us in the game. Thinking about what we need to keep going to the playoffs, we need another reliever with experience and one more hitter to help us out,” Baerga said.
Baerga’s view is straightforward, and the roster shape supports it. Cleveland already has an elite defensive duo behind the plate and appears set in the infield, so any meaningful addition would most likely have to come in the outfield or at designated hitter. That should give the front office options, since plenty of players are likely to become available as teams sort themselves into buyers and sellers.
The bullpen need is there as well. Hunter Gaddis and Shawn Armstrong have been reliable names, but both have had shaky stretches this season, and Erik Sabrowski is coming back from an elbow scare. Another late-inning arm would give Cade Smith and the rest of that group more support when games tighten up.
Some of those relievers should be obtainable without a massive price tag, which is why the expectation here is clear: Cleveland has the pitching foundation already. Now it needs help on the mound and, more importantly, a little more punch in the lineup.
In Other News...
Guardians Rookie Faces More Heat As Rough Lesson Continues
Cooper Ingles growing pains in left field continued against the White Sox, where the Guardians rookie was charged with his second error in two games after dropping a fly ball. The miscue stood out because Ingle is still a catcher by trade and is only beginning to learn the demands of a new position after a recent promotion.
Stephen Vogt has already tried to frame the situation as part of the learning curve, urging Ingle to move past the first mistake and keep playing. For Cleveland, the larger question is how quickly a player with so little outfield experience can settle in while the club keeps asking him to handle a spot that is still very new to him. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Suddenly Have A Breakout Star On The Verge Of Recognition
Parker Messick has gone from an afterthought in spring training to one of the most interesting pitchers in Clevelands season, giving the Guardians a legitimate breakout arm at a time when they needed one. The left-hander has paired steady results with strong underlying metrics, and his 2.85 ERA has put him among the American Leagues better starters while earning attention well beyond the clubhouse.
With All-Star rosters still not finalized, Messick is suddenly in the conversation as a possible first-time selection, which would be a remarkable turn for a pitcher who was not expected to be in the rotation out of camp. He has already turned heads inside the game, and the next step is whether that recognition turns into a trip to the midsummer showcase, something he has made clear would carry real meaning for him. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Seized Control Of The Central In Unbelievable Fashion
Chicago had spent much of the night looking like the sharper team, jumping on Cleveland early and putting the Guardians in a familiar chase mode at Progressive Field. But the home team kept hanging around, and the game turned into the kind of late-inning grind that can change the feel of a season, especially when first place in the AL Central is sitting there for the taking.
Brayan Rocchio delivered the swing that made it happen, a two-run shot in the ninth that sent Cleveland home with a 6-5 win and its second walk-off victory of his career. The result pushed the Guardians into sole possession of first in the division on a percentage basis, another reminder of how quickly a race can flip when a club keeps finding ways to finish. [Read more 🡒]