​The Sporting News originally published this Guardian trade deadline wishlist amid the Rhys Hoskins dilemma. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The Cleveland Guardians appear poised to be active at this year’s trade deadline, sitting just 1.0 game back of the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central standings. To close the gap and reclaim control of the division, Cleveland needs to bolster its offense this summer. While there are multiple areas where upgrades could help, one position stands out above the rest.
According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Guardians’ trade deadline wish list could include a slugger who can address their Rhys Hoskins problem. More precisely, they might pursue a right-handed-hitting first baseman. “As the Guardians await the returns of third baseman Jose Ramirez and outfielder Angel Martinez, a right-handed hitting first baseman could be on their wish list,” Rosenthal and Sammon write.
Cleveland has tallied just 368 runs this season, the second-fewest in Major League Baseball, ahead of only the San Diego Padres. It’s clear this club needs an offensive jolt, which is why adding a slugger by the August 3 trade deadline should be a top priority for the Guardians. Looking across the roster, improving production at first base seems essential, particularly in replacing Hoskins’ output. The 33-year-old right-handed slugger owns a .692 OPS this season and a 95 OPS+, marking him as below the league average. He has nine home runs and 31 RBIs, but his -0.3 bWAR and overall lack of impact at the plate highlight the need for an upgrade.
MORE: Astros showing ‘strong interest’ in Rockies’ Mickey Moniak and Jake McCarthy. If Kyle Manzardo factors into this equation, the Guardians would only need to acquire a right-handed-hitting first baseman who can hold his own against left-handed pitching. They could also pursue a high-end option like Willson Contreras of the Boston Red Sox to secure a true difference-maker. Alternatively, players such as Mark Vientos, Jorge Polanco, Spencer Steer, Vaughn Grissom, or Isaac Paredes could present viable paths to improvement.
With the trade deadline approaching in less than a month, Cleveland does not have much time to decide the exact profile of their first-base upgrade. Yet, given the clear need to compensate for Hoskins’ production, the Guardians are likely to be active in the right-handed-hitting first-base market this summer. The market for a legitimate upgrade at first base remains a focal point as the deadline nears. The plan includes evaluating potential targets, discussing fit with the current roster, and determining the best path to bolster the lineup for a late-season push.