The Guardians already moved one catcher over the weekend, shipping Bo Naylor to the Brewers, but Cooper Ingle still looks like the name that could bring back the most if Cleveland decides to keep dealing.
That’s where the Dodgers come in. They’re thin behind the plate, and Sunday night showed exactly why that matters.
With Dalton Rushing scratched late because of an arm issue, Eliezer Alfonzo was forced into action and went 0-for-3 while also turning in subpar defense in an eventual 8-4 loss to Boston. Rushing only had to step in because Will Smith is on the 60-day injured list with an injury that could keep him out all season.
So yes, the Dodgers may have the best pitching staff in baseball. But the catchers they’re asking to handle that group are not remotely in that class.
Ingle could fit that need. He’s still viewed as a top-50 prospect, he has hit at every minor league stop, and he can handle both catcher and left field.
The Guardians don’t seem to trust him much as a big league catcher, and he’s stuck behind a crowd in the outfield, but that doesn’t erase the value he has right now. His brief major league look earlier this season didn’t do much for him, though 21 at-bats don’t define a player’s future.
What makes him so intriguing is that his trade value may never be higher. Cleveland could use that to chase a big league bat that helps a lineup in need of more punch, while the Dodgers would get a short-term answer behind the plate and another option once Smith returns. Ingle could back up Rushing, then shift into a third-catcher role while also picking up some outfield time.
The problem is figuring out the return. Alex Call would be the easy name to float, and Eric Lauer would make sense as well, but neither seems enough for Ingle.
Ryan Ward is another possibility because he hits right-handed and can move around the field, though he’s 28. Noah Miller, the younger brother of former Guardians utility man Owen Miller, is also in the mix, but he doesn’t bring the same kind of bat.
That’s why a straight Guardians-Dodgers swap for Ingle may need a third team to make the pieces line up.
Cleveland does not have to move him. There’s still a path for Ingle to help the Guardians’ own lineup. But if the club decides to cash in, the best team in baseball may be the one that makes the cleanest fit.
In Other News...
Guardians Trade Regret Just Got Even Harder To Ignore
The latest reminder of how the Alex Cobb deal has played out for Cleveland came from San Francisco, where the Giants promoted a young player who had quietly become part of the return in that trade. The move filled a need behind the plate after Jess Rodrguez landed on the injured list, but it also brought fresh attention to a swap that has not offered the Guardians much immediate benefit.
Cobb arrived in Cleveland with the expectation that he could help stabilize the rotation, yet injuries limited his availability and kept his impact modest. Meanwhile, the player the Giants just elevated has continued to build a strong minor league track record, which only sharpens the contrast between what San Francisco is getting from the deal and what Cleveland has been able to count on so far. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Paid A Real Price To Strengthen Their Rotation
The Guardians kept their most prized young talent intact, but they still had to pay up to shore up a rotation that already looks formidable. Their latest move brought in a left-handed pitcher with an All-Star nod and a 2.77 ERA before the deal, adding another experienced arm to a staff that has become one of the clubs real strengths.
To get it done, Cleveland sent four prospects to Washington, including pitchers Will Dion, Josh Hartle and Kendeglys Virguez, plus outfielder Nick Mitchell. It was the kind of prospect package that says the Guardians were serious about upgrading now, even if it stopped short of touching the top of the organizations farm system. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Finally Found The Right-Handed Bat This Lineup Needed
The Guardians spent the winter looking for a better fit on the right side of the plate, and they found one in Jo Adell. Cleveland brought in the right-handed hitting outfielder from the Angels in a move aimed squarely at adding some much-needed thump to a lineup that has wanted more home run power, especially against left-handed pitching.
For the Guardians, it also comes at a time when the roster has been built with an eye toward keeping options open beyond this season. Adell brings the kind of pop that can change the shape of a game, and the price tag speaks to Clevelands belief that this is the sort of swing worth making. Now the interesting part is how quickly the bat can translate into everyday value in a lineup that has been searching for exactly this kind of offense. [Read more 🡒]