Three things went right for Cleveland during the week of July 26, and the week carried more than just a slightly cleaner spot in the win-loss column. The Guardians also made a move at the deadline, took care of business against Cincinnati, and watched a long-dormant corner of the sport come back to life in Springfield.
The biggest shakeup came Saturday, when Cleveland broke from its usual habit of waiting until the final minute to act at the trade deadline. The club sent catcher Bo Naylor and reliever Codi Heuer to the Milwaukee Brewers and brought back outfielder Blake Perkins and pitcher Craig Yoho.
Naylor had spent most of the 2026 season at Triple-A Columbus and hit only .143/.200/.238 in his big league time this year. Heuer’s numbers weren’t much brighter, either, with a 4.66 ERA over 9.2 innings.
Cleveland’s return included Yoho, who posted a 3.00 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 21 innings, and Perkins, who was hitting .157/.250/.258. Perkins’ season has been rough, but a new setting might be enough to get his bat moving again.
The other clear win came against Cincinnati. Cleveland claimed the Ohio Cup with a 2-1 series victory over the Reds, securing the trophy in Cleveland for the 11th time in the last 12 years.
Monday’s opener never happened because of rain, but the delay may have worked in the Guardians’ favor after they had dropped five straight. Once the series got going, they opened with a 6-5 win powered by Kyle Manzardo’s grand slam and sacrifice outs from Chase DeLauter and Brayan Rocchio.
The middle game went the Reds’ way, as Cleveland was shut out, but the Guardians answered in the finale with a 6-1 win that left no doubt.
And then there was Springfield, where professional women’s baseball returned after more than 70 years. The Women’s Professional Baseball League opened play Saturday night with the Los Angeles Queens beating the New York Heights 10-8 in a comeback win sparked by a strong closing effort from pitcher Meggie Meidlinger.
In the second game, Kelsie Whitmore made her debut for the San Francisco Firebells against the Boston Hunters, and the Firebells rolled to an 11-3 win after jumping on the scoreboard early. The league’s four teams will keep playing each other over the next month in 14 more games at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois.
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 🡒]