With the Cleveland Guardians only making a few moves at the trade deadline, their plans for the remainder of the season come to light. Despite fielding interest in Steven Kwan, the team didn’t move him, revealing the Guardians’ plans for the season.
Henry Palattella of Away Back Gone on Fansided.com pointed out how the moves the Guardians didn’t make signify that the team is still looking to compete this season.
“The only two players the Guardians traded away at this year’s trade deadline were Shane Bieber and Paul Seawald,” Palattella writes, “neither of whom had contributed to any kind of major league winning so far this year.”
Between the two moves they did make, and the Guardians’ decision to keep Kwan, the team didn’t make any major changes to the roster. While Bieber is a noteworthy trade, he hasn’t pitched this season and is a major unknown.
All of the moves they did make won’t have a detrimental effect on the team’s chances of making the postseason in 2025. While they didn’t buy at the deadline, the Guardians are just three games out of a wild card spot, and can easily become a postseason team.
MORE: Guardians to trade Cy Young starter Shane Bieber to Blue Jays
Their decision to keep Kwan, and also not trade Lane Thomas and Carlos Santana, even if it’s for very little, indicates that the team isn’t planning to punt on this season. As Palattella points out, neither of the players traded away made much of an impact on the roster this season.
Cleveland kept the majority of the roster together, and while they may still make some changes in the form of players being designated for assignment or demoted to the minors, their overall plan is clear: keep the best players together to have a chance this season.
Even with Emmanuel Clase on leave through August 31st, the Guardians still have a solid chance to contend for a postseason spot.
If the offense can turn the corner, or maybe their top prospects, like C.J. Kayfus, can get called up, the Guardians might be looking at a season turnaround that wouldn’t have happened if they sold Kwan and others at the deadline.
MORE MLB NEWS:
