The Cleveland Guardians are searching for offense, and one name has surfaced that fits the bill: George Springer.
Cleveland is 56-54 and in the market for a right-handed-hitting outfielder. If the Toronto Blue Jays decide to move pieces, Springer stands out as the kind of bat that could make sense for the Guardians.
Toronto is 50-59 and, despite making the 2025 World Series and coming that close to winning it, has been one of baseball’s most disappointing teams this season. As of Thursday afternoon, the Blue Jays were 14 games back in the AL East race.
CBS’s Mike Axisa connected the dots this way: “George Springer to the Guardians,” CBS’s Mike Axisa wrote. “The Guardians rarely swing big at the deadline, and while George Springer is a household name, he’s a platoon guy/lower-level bat at this point, not someone who will cost your firstborn in a trade.
That’s more up Cleveland’s alley. The supply (Springer is a rental) and demand (the Guardians need a bat) align.
Springer can DH and push Chase DeLauter to right field.”
There’s logic behind the fit. Springer would not mean a long-term commitment for Cleveland, which matters because he turns 37 in September. His production this year has been solid rather than flashy, with a 104 wRC+ and 12 home runs, though that comes after a huge 2024 season in which he posted a 166 wRC+, hit 32 home runs and finished with 5.2 fWAR.
The money is the tricky part. Springer is owed a 2026 salary of $24.17 million, a number the Guardians likely would not be eager to take on. Toronto has already paid most of that by now, though, and if the Blue Jays were willing to cover some of it, Cleveland could be in position to land a prospect or two in return.
These two clubs have done business before, including the Shane Bieber trade, the Miles Straw one, and the deal involving Andres Gimenez. That history could matter if the sides decide to talk again.
Springer’s best seasons are behind him, but he still has the kind of bat that could help a contender. He’s also picked up lately, with seven hits over his last five games, including two homers and seven RBI. If Cleveland wants to make a push, Springer could be one of the names that helps get them there, even in a limited role.
In Other News...
Twins Finally Made A Bullpen Move That Changes The Deadline Mood
The Twins finally made a bullpen move ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline, and it came with the kind of practical purpose this front office has been chasing for weeks. Minnesota landed left-handed reliever A.J. Minter from the Mets, giving the late-inning mix a needed arm from the left side while parting with prospects Billy Amick and Bruin Agbayani in a deal that says as much about urgency as it does about depth.
Minter has already made 20 appearances this season and is only recently back after surgery, which gives the Twins a useful reliever with some uncertainty still attached. The return package also reflects where the organization is in the calendar, moving two prospects whose recent playing time has been limited by injury and turning them into a bullpen piece that could matter right away as the deadline pressure keeps building. [Read more 🡒]
Two Former Twins Fan Favorites Are Suddenly Back In Deadline Rumors
With the trade deadline closing in, the Twins have already dipped into the market by adding A.J. Minter, but the bigger ripple for Minnesota fans may be the familiar names popping back up in rumor season. Two former Twins who once fit neatly into the clubs recent roster churn are now on the move radar again, a reminder of how quickly deadline conversations can circle back to players this fan base knows well.
Willi Castros situation is tied to a Rockies team buried in the standings and weighing what its future looks like, while Luis Arraez has kept producing for the Giants and remains one of the more intriguing pieces in play. For Twins followers, it is the kind of deadline subplot that mixes nostalgia with a little curiosity, especially when both players still feel connected to the recent past even as their next stop starts to come into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Bullpen Buzz Suddenly Comes With A Costly Family Twist
The Twins have been linked to a bullpen upgrade that would bring in one of the games more unusual relief arms, a pitcher whose low-slot delivery and knack for weak contact make him stand out in any trade discussion. For a club that can always use more late-inning stability, the appeal is obvious: this is the kind of arm that can change how a manager lines up the back end of a game, especially when the market starts thinning out.
The catch is the price tag, and it is not just about prospects. Minnesota would be taking on a contract that runs well beyond this season, with significant money attached in each of the next two years and a possible vesting option down the road. So the Twins are weighing more than bullpen help here, because a move that looks sensible on the mound could also shape how much flexibility they have to build the rest of the roster. [Read more 🡒]