Another name has entered the Guardians’ trade conversation, and this one comes with real power: Marlins slugger Kyle Stowers.
Stowers is part of the broader pool of possible deadline targets the Guardians could explore, even if the expectation is still that Cleveland leans toward smaller moves. The idea there is straightforward enough: a Bo Naylor deal and a castoff or undervalued reliever. But if the Guardians decide to think bigger, Stowers is the kind of bat worth a look.
He fits the profile of a player who could actually be available. He’s 28, under arbitration control through 2029, and the Marlins should at least consider moving him.
That’s especially true because his breakout in 2025 has come with some real limitations. Over the past two years, Stowers has posted a 131 wRC+ and a .503 slugging percentage, but he also carries a 29.5/9.9 K/BB%.
He has not hit left-handers well, with a 71 wRC+ against LHP over the past two years.
That split matters, but it doesn’t make him irrelevant. The Guardians don’t exactly have a lineup full of hitters who punish right-handers, either.
Stowers’ value comes from the other side of the equation: he’s one of the few true sluggers who could realistically be in play, and he’s doing it with a skill set that could fit Progressive Field. His pulled-fly-ball rate has climbed over the past two years, and the short right field corner in Cleveland could help that play up.
Defensively, he’s not a clean fit everywhere. Stowers grades as a below average left fielder and an average right fielder. He also has a career 106 wRC+ as a DH, which suggests he’s finding ways to make the offensive rhythm work even when he’s not in the field.
If the Guardians wanted to chase that kind of upside, it would take real prospect capital. One possibility would be moving a player from the Genao/Velazquez/Doughty/Chourio/Ingle group, plus an additional valuable prospect, to land him.
A lineup with Stowers in it would look different, and a lot more powerful:
Kwan CF
Jose 3B
DeLauter DH
Stowers RF
Bazzana 2B
Martinez LF
Manzardo 1B
Bailey C
Rocchio SS
In Other News...
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 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 🡒]