CLEVELAND -- The Guardians were not shy about wanting to improve their offense before Monday’s 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline. Cleveland has struck a deal to bolster its mix.
The Guardians have acquired outfielder Jo Adell from the Angels, the club announced on Monday, in exchange for catching prospect Jacob Cozart. Cleveland designated infielder Juan Brito for assignment to make space on the 40-man roster.
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TRADE DETAILS
Guardians receive: OF Jo Adell
Angels receive: C Jacob Cozart (LAA's No. 18 prospect)
The Guardians have collectively struggled offensively this season, having entered Monday ranked 29th in the Majors in runs per game (3.95). Entering the campaign, they embraced giving opportunity to the young talent in the organization, while leaving room to address any deficiencies in-season if needed.
Enter Adell, a sensible addition given he can help down the stretch and next season. He’s under club control through 2027.
A longtime top prospect who was the Angels’ first-round Draft pick in 2017, Adell had a breakout season in ’25, when he slashed .236/.293/.485 with 18 doubles, 37 home runs and 98 RBIs over 152 games. His power numbers have declined this season, though he has maintained elite bat speed (77.3 mph, 97th percentile in the Majors) while slashing .239/.287/.395 with 16 doubles, 16 home runs and 62 RBIs over 111 games.
Entering Monday, the Guardians’ team leader in home runs was first baseman Kyle Manzardo, with 13.
Adell’s club control makes him a logical fit for the Guardians, as does the fact that he hits right-handed. Cleveland has struggled offensively overall this season, but certainly against left-handed pitching -- against which it has recorded a .652 OPS (28th in the Majors). Adell has a .910 OPS in 130 plate appearances against southpaws this season.
The Guardians have four-switch hitters on their active roster (Patrick Bailey, Angel Martínez, José Ramírez and Brayan Rocchio), but lean left-handed. They have four strictly right-handed hitters in Gabriel Arias, David Fry, Austin Hedges and Rhys Hoskins.
Only Hedges, who has experienced an offensive revival in his age-33 season, has an OPS above .700 among that quartet (.740 in 168 plate appearances).
Adell has experience playing all three outfield spots, but has spent his most time this season in right, where he has logged -2 Outs Above Average over 105 appearances. He memorably robbed three home runs in a game against the Mariners on April 4. But he also had a ball hit off his glove and head for a four-base error on June 2.
Chase DeLauter (51 starts) and Martínez (24) have seen the most time in right field for the Guardians this season. But Martínez has also made 35 starts in left and three in center, and the designated hitter spot offers additional flexibility. Adell figures to see his most of his time in right in Cleveland, at least against left-handed pitching.
Cozart was the Guardians’ second-round Draft pick in 2024. The 23-year-old (who was ranked as Cleveland’s No. 18 prospect by MLB Pipeline) has spent the entire season with Double-A Akron. He has slashed .239/.330/.384 with 11 doubles, 10 home runs and 44 RBIs with 36 walks and 81 strikeouts over 79 games.