The Cleveland Guardians were defeated in the American League Championship Series by the Tampa Bay Rays, losing in six games. While the Guardians feature a number of talented players, going out and making a few trades would not be a bad idea this offseason. The offense unquestionably needs some upgrades. Many fans questioned manager Stephen Vogt's pitching decisions in the postseason, but the fact is that the Guards did not consistently score enough runs.
With that being said, the starting rotation wasn't deep enough in the playoffs either. Bringing in another reliable starter to join Parker Messick and Gavin Williams in the rotation should be a priority.
With all of that being said, here are three trades the Guardians must consider making after falling just short of reaching the World Series.
Jarren Duran, Boston Red Sox (or another outfielder with power)
The Guardians outfield was led by Steven Kwan and Chase DeLauter this season. DeLauter had a strong rookie season but his strength is his bat, not his glove. Meanwhile, Kwan is a tremendous defensive outfielder who can play left or center field, but he is a trade candidate.
It remains to be seen if Jo Adell will remain in Cleveland for the 2027 season. Even if he does, the Guardians could have Adell and DeLauter rotate between the outfield and designated hitter.
Cleveland needs one more outfielder, and Jarren Duran makes sense as a trade target. Duran has multiple years of team control remaining and he would fill areas of need on the roster.
The 2024 All-Star offers a quality blend of power and speed. Cleveland loves to steal bases, so Duran would be a natural fit in that sense. He has recorded 21 or more steals in each of the past four seasons.
One thing the Guardians don't do well is hit the long ball. Duran, meanwhile, has hit at least 16 home runs in each of the past three seasons. In two of those years, he hit at least 21 home runs. Additionally, Duran has recorded doubles and triples at respectable rates over the years.
Cleveland needs a reliable outfielder who can bring some extra-base prowess at the plate. Duran, in all reality, seems like the perfect fit. If the Guards are unable to acquire him, bringing in an outfielder with power still needs to be a priority.
Reid Detmers, Los Angeles Angels
There are a number of starting pitchers who may be available this offseason. Detmers still has a couple of years of team control remaining and he pitched well in 2026. He isn't necessarily a superstar, though, so Cleveland wouldn't have to give up too many star prospects in a potential deal.
Still, Detmers is a 27-year-old southpaw who turned in a 3.36 ERA while striking out 211 hitters this past season. He had been inconsistent throughout the years before 2026, but Detmers enjoyed a breakout campaign this season. Bringing him in would give the Guardians one of the best No. 3 options in a rotation in all of MLB.
Article Continues BelowA reliable everyday first baseman
Rafael Devers would be the dream addition here. As mentioned, Cleveland needs a power hitter who can make a significant impact. The Guardians typically wouldn't try to add a superstar with a massive contract, however. Devers is under contract through 2033 while making a lucrative amount of money each season, so don't expect Cleveland to acquire him.
Regardless of who it is, the Guardians need a reliable everyday first baseman. They attempted a platoon of Rhys Hoskins and Kyle Manzardo to begin the '26 campaign, but it did not work. They ended up acquiring Nathaniel Lowe at the trade deadline. Lowe is a respectable option against right-handers, but he's not the answer at the position from a long-term standpoint.
Cleveland's top prospect Ralphy Velasquez can play first base or outfield, but he's only 21 years old. Making him the everyday first baseman out of spring training next year seems unlikely.
There are not many other obvious trade candidates, but one player who could make sense is Alex Bohm. Bohm is going to be a free agent, however, so this wouldn't be a trade scenario. He could command a fairly lucrative deal, so Cleveland may prefer to go the trade route.