The Guardians made their move before Monday’s 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline, landing outfielder Jo Adell from the Angels in exchange for Minor League catcher Jacob Cozart, Cleveland’s No. 18 prospect.
It was the third deal the Angels completed on Monday, following the trades of starter José Soriano to the Blue Jays and lefty reliever Brent Suter to Atlanta.
Adell arrives in Cleveland after finally putting together the kind of season that once made him one of the game’s most talked-about young talents. A first-round pick in 2017, he broke out in ‘25 by blasting 37 homers and driving in 98 runs across 152 games. This season, the power has backed up a bit, even though the bat speed still looks elite and his batting average and on-base percentage have stayed close to last year’s levels.
Defensively, Adell has been a useful piece in right field. He flashed that ability in a memorable April 4 game against the Mariners, when he robbed three home runs.
But he also had a rougher moment on June 2, when a ball caromed off his glove and head for a four-base error. He has played all three outfield spots, including center field last season, though right field remains his best fit.
Now 27, Adell has seven partial Major League seasons under his belt and won’t reach free agency until after next year. His early offensive struggles gave way to real progress in ‘24, and last season he took another step forward at the plate.
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Angels Give Up On Jo Adell In A Trade That Says Plenty
Jo Adells run with the Angels has been long enough to carry real weight, and the move to Cleveland marks a clear turning point for both sides. The Guardians sent prospect catcher Jacob Cozart to Los Angeles in exchange for Adell, a seven-year veteran who is being brought in to help the lineup over the rest of the regular season.
For the Angels, getting a Double-A catcher back says plenty about where the organization sees Adell at this stage and how it chose to value the exchange. For Cleveland, the deal is a bet on immediate offense, while Cozart becomes the kind of developmental piece that can keep a farm system moving even as the major league club tries to stay in the race. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Deadline Bullpen Trade Puts The Return Under A Harsh Spotlight
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What remains under the microscope now is the return, especially with the player coming back carrying a winding year of his own. Kyle Robinson has already been traded twice this season and has bounced through multiple minor league levels, which gives the Angels a developmental project rather than an immediate answer. In a deal like this, the long view matters, but so does the pressure to show there is something tangible in the pipeline after moving a reliever with Yatess resume. [Read more 🡒]