The Cleveland Guardians need more punch, and the front office has a few different ways to go about finding it before the MLB trade deadline. If the goal is to balance out the lineup, right-handed hitting has to be near the top of the shopping list.
Three names stand out as possible trade targets: Jo Adell, Dane Myers and Ty France.
Adell would give Cleveland a power bat with a clear split advantage. The Los Angeles Angels have made themselves one of the few sellers, and the 27-year-old outfielder could fit as a platoon piece for the Guardians.
His overall production this season sits at a .694 OPS, but he has been excellent against left-handed pitching, posting a .313/.349/.591 slash line against southpaws. Even with limited success versus righties, his pop would matter in Cleveland’s lineup.
His 16 home runs would lead the Guardians.
Myers is a different type of target. He recently took away a potential ninth-inning rally from Cleveland on Tuesday night, but if the Reds decide to sell, he could become available.
He has put together a solid year with Cincinnati, hitting .270/.374/.378. Unlike a pure platoon bat, Myers has been steady against both sides, carrying a .772 OPS against lefties and a .734 mark against righties in 2026.
If the Guardians landed him, he would likely step in as the everyday center fielder.
France might be the most complete fit of the group. Cleveland reportedly had interest in him over the offseason before he signed with the San Diego Padres, and the idea still makes sense now.
He is in the middle of a resurgent season and is on pace for a career-best .877 OPS. That would be a major upgrade over Cleveland’s first base platoon, which has posted a .661 OPS.
France’s 16 home runs also match what Kyle Manzardo and Rhys Hoskins have done this season. On top of the bat, he brings value with the glove, where his seven outs above average rank in the 95th percentile.
And with Cleveland and San Diego having a long history of transactions, the Guardians could have a path that works in their favor if they decide to push for him.
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Guardians Suddenly Linked To The Kind Of Bat Fans Have Begged For
The Guardians search for a right-handed bat has reportedly led them to a familiar trade partner in Toronto, with George Springer emerging as a possible fit. Cleveland has been looking for offense, and Springers profile makes sense on paper because he can help at designated hitter or in the outfield, giving the lineup a veteran presence without forcing a complete roster shuffle.
Financially, though, this is where the conversation gets complicated. Springer still has a sizable salary attached for next season, even if Toronto has already absorbed most of it, and Cleveland may need the Blue Jays to eat more money before anything gets serious. The two clubs have done business before, but for now this feels like the kind of idea that makes sense for the Guardians right up until the part where the bill arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians May Have Found A Deadline Bat Fans Would Actually Feel
The Guardians have spent enough summers trying to patch together enough offense to survive a deadline, so a bat with real thump and some defensive flexibility is the kind of idea that at least makes sense on paper. The latest name floating into that conversation is a slugger who can handle the outfield and even pick up some designated-hitter work, which matters for a club that has to squeeze value out of every roster spot.
There are still reasons to pause before treating him as the answer, though. His recent track record against left-handed pitching points to more of a platoon profile than a true middle-of-the-order fix, and the price tag would not be light for a player under arbitration control through 2029. For Cleveland, the question is whether adding that kind of bat is worth dipping into a prospect group it has been careful to protect. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians May Finally Have A Marlins Bat Worth The Risk
As the trade deadline approaches, the Guardians are still searching for a bat that can change the look of their lineup without forcing them to overpay for a short-term fix. Miami has at least one outfielder who fits that broad description, and the appeal is obvious: Cleveland needs more impact from the left side, and any realistic addition has to be good enough to matter while still fitting the clubs usual cost-conscious approach.
The catch is that this kind of move rarely comes cheaply, especially when a contender is trying to pry away a player who could step into the lineup right away. For the Guardians, the decision is less about whether the fit makes sense and more about how much of the farm system they are willing to part with to make it happen, a calculation that could shape the rest of their deadline. [Read more 🡒]