Guardians to 'look at all opportunities' to improve before Deadline

CLEVELAND -- José Ramírez's return from the injured list on Wednesday was a big reinforcement for the Guardians. The Aug. 3 Trade Deadline is also coming up fast, and Cleveland is in a position to buy.

So, who’s on their shopping list this year?

“Let me give you the list,” Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti joked Wednesday afternoon.

All kidding aside, Cleveland is in position to add before the Deadline. The Guardians are firmly in contention for a postseason spot in a wide-open American League. They entered Wednesday 54-48 and in a virtual tie with the White Sox (53-47) atop the AL Central standings.

Antonetti obviously wasn’t going to reveal any trade targets, but he conceded the Guardians will be looking to enhance their mix.

“We'll look at all opportunities to try to improve the team,” Antonetti said. “Obviously, we made one significant trade in our mind already, and we've seen the dividends of that with the impact that [catcher Patrick Bailey] had. We'll be aggressive in trying to find ways to improve.

“Now, whether that means we'll ultimately be able to get to the finish line on a deal or multiple deals, I have no idea. It's impossible to predict, but we'll certainly try.”

Acquiring Bailey from the Giants on May 10 netted the Guardians a two-time Gold Glove Award-winning catcher who has enhanced Cleveland’s run prevention. But that deal was not made with offense in mind. That’s where the Guardians need the most help now.

The Guardians entered Wednesday ranked 29th in MLB in runs per game (4.02). They felt the loss of Ramírez, who missed five weeks with a left hamate fracture. Along with him, Angel Martínez (non-displaced left foot fracture) coming off the IL in the near future should provide a boost, too.

Ramírez and Martínez are switch-hitters. The Guardians (who have four strictly right-handed hitters on their active roster) entered Wednesday 28th in MLB with a .660 OPS against left-handed pitching this season.

“Getting Angel and Hosey back, both are switch-hitters and really good against left-handed pitching,” Antonetti said. “That should help us, but that won't limit our pursuit of external options.”

In an ideal world, the Guardians would have more lineup balance. Their main priority would be improving however they can, though. They haven’t been great against righties, either (.702 OPS entering Wednesday, 22nd in MLB).

Looking from a big-picture perspective, the Guardians entered this season looking to give young players runway. We’ve seen that bear fruit with the development of rookies such as Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana, and the breakout of shortstop Brayan Rocchio.

There’s a budding core here. That’s why the Guardians don’t have to just think about 2026 this Deadline. If there’s a move that can help now and in the future, it would make a lot of sense. They have a healthy farm system to trade from.

Antonetti noted he doesn’t sense money or player contracts would be a limiting factor. Realistically, the condensed nature of the American League standings may have the most to say league-wide about what deals come together.

Six AL teams entered Wednesday with a .500 or better record. One, the Red Sox, appeared to be headed toward selling a few weeks ago. They’ve since won 15 consecutive games to take control of a postseason spot. That’s an extreme example, but it shows things can change between now and the Deadline.

“We're focused on where are we and what can we do to improve the team,” Antonetti said when asked whether there is clarity in the AL trade market. “Ultimately, each team has to make their own determinations about what they're trying to accomplish at the Deadline.

“Hopefully, there are opportunities for us to line up with some of those teams. But that's kind of outside of our control.”

Another interesting dynamic is the postseason field’s expansion to 12 teams in 2022. Fewer teams are clearly defined as buyers or sellers compared to years past. Some will be strictly thinking about the future, and some the present. Some may dip their toes into both lanes.

The Guardians, Antonetti noted, have had some level of contact with almost every team ahead of the Deadline. That includes some of their AL Central rivals. It’s all about lining up on value at this point of the year.

“Now, when each team gets to a decision point and when they're willing to move, hard to predict,” Antonetti said. “History says the vast majority of those deals will come down within the last 24 hours of the Deadline.

“But if there was something that made sense before then, we'd be prepared to move just like we were when we acquired Patty.”