With help already on the way, where do Guardians look at Deadline?

CLEVELAND -- One way or another, the Guardians will receive some reinforcements after the All-Star break. The question is to what degree those could include an external boost ahead of the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline.

The Guardians’ season reached a critical juncture on June 13, when third baseman José Ramírez and outfielders Angel Martínez and Chase DeLauter each suffered an injury that ultimately landed them on the IL. An offense that has struggled for extended stretches this season suddenly lost three key contributors.

Record at the break: 51-46 (Tied for 1st with White Sox in AL Central)
Record at the break last year: 46-49 (Fourth in AL Central, 12.0 games back)
Playoff odds: 61.9% (via FanGraphs)
Remaining strength of schedule: .467 (30th, easiest in MLB)

Ramírez suffered a fractured left hamate, which required surgery. Martínez suffered a non-displaced left foot fracture, while DeLauter went down with a fracture in his right rib cage.

DeLauter came off the IL on June 28, and the Guardians have done well to tread water in the continued absence of Ramírez and Martínez. Cleveland entered the break 12-13 since that trio initially went down, capped off by its three-game sweep of Miami over the weekend. Soon, all three will be together within the Guardians’ lineup.

Ramírez was given a five-to-seven-week timeline following his surgery on June 16, when the Guardians also announced Martínez’s return timeline was four to six weeks. Their looming returns will help, but Cleveland is in a position where it can augment its roster beyond that.

The American League is wide open this season; only the Guardians, White Sox (50-45), Rays (56-38), Yankees (54-42) and Rangers (49-47) entered the break above .500. Cleveland has a favorable second-half schedule on paper and an enviable starting rotation. The Guardians (whose 3.69 rotation ERA ranks seventh in MLB) are the only big league team to use five starters this season.

Offensively, the Guardians have been more inconsistent. They rank 29th in MLB in runs per game (3.97).

Cleveland entered this season looking to give runway to its up-and-coming players, and there have been some inevitable growing pains. There have also been encouraging developments, such as the emergence of rookies DeLauter and second baseman Travis Bazzana, and shortstop Brayan Rocchio, which engender confidence in what’s to come this year and beyond.

However, there’s a balance the Guardians can strike here to supplement the young hitters from the outside, certainly if there’s an addition who can be part of their mix beyond this season. We saw that logic play out before the 2024 Deadline. The Guardians acquired outfielder Lane Thomas from the Nationals. Though he had an injury-riddled ‘25, he came to Cleveland with a season and a half of club control.

Cleveland also has a promising farm system to trade from. MLB Pipeline ranked it No. 6 in baseball entering the season.

A lot can change between now and the Deadline. For example, it’s hard right now to pinpoint which AL teams will be sellers given the compact nature of the standings. The Central division in particular has grown increasingly tight. The Twins (48-49) and Tigers (44-52) are under .500, but sit just three games and 6 1/2 games behind first place, respectively.

One week of play can change the calculus for any team. The Guardians have a chance to put their stamp on the race by continuing to trend well on the field, and with their maneuverings leading up to Aug. 3.

Biggest need: Offense, preferably a right-handed hitter

No contender ever has enough bullpen help, and the Guardians are thin on big league-ready rotation depth in the Minors. But the need for help offensively is greater, certainly from the right side. The Guardians have just four purely right-handed hitters on the active roster. They rank 28th in OPS against lefties (.659). The returns of switch-hitters Ramírez and Martínez will help, but adding a right-handed bat could bolster the lineup while balancing the overall mix.

Biggest chip: Angel Genao (No. 2 prospect, No. 41 overall)

The Guardians promoted Genao to Triple-A Columbus on May 3, but he doesn't have a clear pathway to the Majors currently. The 22-year-old is a shortstop who has experience playing second and third base. Cleveland has Rocchio, Bazzana and Ramírez occupying those positions. While there doesn’t have to be any rush to move Genao, given the logjam, he could be a trade chip if the Guardians want to make a splash.

Key player for the second half: José Ramírez

No surprise here. Ramírez has advanced into a hitting progression in his rehab from surgery, and it may not be long before he begins a rehab assignment. For as much as Cleveland has done well treading water without the 33-year-old, it’s eagerly awaiting his return. The Guardians’ lineup is on a higher level with the presence of its superstar third baseman in the middle of the order.

Determining factor: What happens after the break

How the Guardians fare in their 16 games before the Deadline could sway the nature of any potential moves they make. They entered the break on a four-game winning streak. Building upon that momentum, starting with Friday’s series opener against the Pirates, will bode well for their place in the standings, and perhaps the level of upgrades the front office has an appetite for.