Surprising news: The Cleveland Guardians trade their most talented player to another weak baseball team.
Unexpected development: The Cleveland Guardians send their best player to a different underperforming team.
What the Cleveland Guardians need to add to their lineup in order to challenge for the AL Central and make the postseason for the second straight season is rather evident. A similar gap was attempted to be filled in the summer by the front staff with Josh Bell and Mike Zunino, but those moves have not worked out.
The Guardians require a powerful, home run-producing hitter, ideally one who can play outfield.
Fortunately, the MLB trade season will start in the following several weeks before the August 1 deadline. Cleveland can trade for many players that are available, and they should not be afraid to strengthen their team in areas where it is lacking.
Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas is one player who might be moving in the upcoming month.
At.856, the 27-year-old is cutting.301/.347/.509. For the first half of the season, Thomas has also slugged 14 home runs and contributed 45 RBI.
Left-handed pitching has always been a problem for the Guardians, and Thomas may assist there too. In 113 plate appearances versus the Southpaws, he now has an OPS of 1.116 and a batting average of.385.
Terry Francona and company would have to move Thomas to the outfield in order to get him at-bats. Currently occupied by Will Brennan, right field is where Thomas has played 82 of his 83 games.
Brennan can handle center field defensively, so it makes sense for him to slide there while Thomas takes over in right. As such, Myles Straw would be removed from the starting lineup in favor of a greater offense.
