2 Guardians’ early trade targets to help Cleveland win AL Central

The Cleveland Guardians are a team that is going to compete hard for 162 games. However, there has been something lacking when it comes to offensive production. They simply don’t have the offensive firepower to go with their pitching and defense.

They do have Jose Ramirez at third base, and he is one of the most consistent players at his position in either league. However, while he is capable of producing clutch hits in key situations, he cannot carry the Guardians by himself. Ramirez and the Guardians need to add some key bats to the lineup if they are going to make the playoffs again this year — and then do some major damage in the postseason.

The numbers have not been kind to the Guardians from an offensive perspective. They are 20th out of 30 big league teams in both runs scored with 249 and home runs with 56. Based on their overall .232 batting average and .371 slugging percentage — those figures rank 25th and 27th, respectively — their offensive production is not likely to get much better.

Manager Stephen Vogt has one of the few American League teams that has been playing winning baseball. They are in first place in the American League Central with a 34-27 record, and they have a short lead over the upstart Chicago White Sox. Any American League team with a winning record appears to have an excellent shot at making the playoffs and the Guardians are very close to the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees when it comes to having the best record in the American League.

Guardians know that adding Jaren Duran of the Red Sox could be a huge boost

Adding one or two solid bats to their lineup could give them the impetus to get to the No. 1 spot in the American League. The teams with the two best records in the American League will get a bye in the first round of the playoffs.

The Boston Red Sox have been one of the most disappointing teams in baseball this season. They were a playoff team a year ago, but that seems unlikely this season as they are in last place in the American League East. The Red Sox normally dominate opponents at Fenway Park, but that has not been the case this season as they are 9-20 at home.

Left fielder Jarren Duran struggled through the first month of the season, but he got hot in the month of May and was one of the few players who showed some signs of life for the team. After hitting one home run in April, Duran hit nine home runs in May.

The Red Sox recently took 2 of 3 from the Guardians in Cleveland, and Duran hit two home runs in the series. His overall numbers have not been impressive — he is slashing .219/.286/.409 — but he has 10 home runs and is tied for the team lead in runs batted in with 33.

More than his home run power, Duran is one of the fastest runners in either league and he hustles every time he is on the field.

Duran could be a huge addition to a team that is gunning for its first World Series title since 1948. He is an excellent combination of power and speed, and his tendency to take the extra base could rub off on multiple teammates.

Adding Christian Gonzalez could also pay dividends

The Guardians had high hopes for 1st baseman Kyle Manzardo at the start of the season. He bashed 27 home runs a year ago and also drove in 70 runs.

The 2026 season has not been the same kind of season for Manzardo. He has just five home runs and 17 RBI along with .220 average to this point in the year. Vogt was expecting much more from his corner infielder, and if the Guardians are going to continue to win, they must get more production from that position.

The Guardians may want to work a deal with the Houston Astros for Christian Gonzalez. The Astros are struggling this season with a 27-34 record that has them in fourth place in the American League West. However, Gonzalez is getting the job done for the Astros.

He is slashing .249/.32/.511 with 16 home runs and 43 RBI. He is second on the team in home runs to powerful Yordan Alvarez, who has already belted 20 home runs.

The 35-year-old Walker has been a consistent home run hitter since the 2022 season when he hit 36 home runs for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He followed that with 33 home runs in ’23 and he belted 27 homers for the Astros last year.

The Guardians need to address their lack of offense in general and power in particular by trading for players like Duran and Walker.

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