One Safe, One Smart, One Bold Move the Guardians Can Make at the Deadline

People might say dusting off the always fun trade machine isn't as fun when it's for the MLB and not the NBA or the NFL. 

When you reach the All-Star Break with the best record in the American League, I'd say dusting off the trade machine will be pretty fun. Here's one safe, one smart, and one bold move the Cleveland Guardians could make ahead of the 2024 trade deadline. 

Trade #1: The Safe Trade

I think we can all agree that the number one thing the Guardians need this year at the deadline is another starting pitcher (or two).

Yusei Kikuchi (Blue Jays) is my "safe" trade target for the Guardians at the deadline. Why? 

How much club control some of these guys have that are rumored to be available at the deadline will play a big part in how much they are worth. Kikuchi happens to be on an expiring contract, meaning he will be a free agent when the end of the 2024 MLB Season comes around; so, if they traded for him and it didn't work out, they aren't committed to him for too long. 

So far this season, Kikuchi has posted a 4-8 record with a 4.42 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. Are those numbers elite numbers? No. Remember, however. Kikuchi probably won't cost a ton given his numbers and his expiring contract, and the Guardians do still have Logan Allen and Triston McKenzie who they hope to have back at some point if they can figure things out in Columbus. To me, again, Kikuchi is their "safe" option. 

Trade #2: The Smart Trade

If you've been following the Guardians and their fans on X closely for the past few weeks, you've probably heard the name Erick Fedde (White Sox) a few times somewhere. Why is he the "smart" trade option for the Guardians? 

He's been one of the leagues better arms so far this season. He's got a team-friendly contract. He's under control for an affordable price again in 2025. Erick Fedde would be a smart move for the Guardians. 

Let's look at some of his numbers. Fedde is 7-3, has a 2.99 ERA, and boasts a 1.13 WHIP in 111.1 IP so far this season. You've got to be pretty good if you're 7-3 on a team that has an overall record of 27-71. 

Fedde is also really, really good at home. So far this season when Fedde pitches in Chicago, he has a 1.47 ERA in 49 innings of work. Acquiring Fedde shows fans pitching was a priority for them this season as they go down the stretch, and if your name is Chris Antonetti, pleasing the fans is always a smart thing to do. He might cost a bit more than Kikuchi, but he's better. 

Trade #3: The Bold Trade

75 years. That's how long it's been since Cleveland had a World Series champion. When I think of a "bold" trade, I think of a "chips all in" trade. One that if it works out, you're looked at as a hero and it most likely leads to a World Series title. If it doesn't work out, you're probably out of a job. For Chris Antonetti, I'd have a hard time believing it wouldn't lead to one or the other. 

Acquiring both Garrett Crochet and Luis Robert Jr. from the White Sox.

Did anyone think the Guardians would be sitting at the top of the AL Central at the All Star break this season after losing Shane Bieber a few weeks into the season?

Look, I know this trade would cost a fortune. That said, after the remarkable draft class the Guardians put together just a few days removed from today, it's time for Antonetti to spend a fortune. 

We're probably talking a mix of DeLauter, Cantillo, Noel, Arias, Rocchio, you name it here if a trade like this were to get done. I've even seen Angel Martinez' name thrown around if a huge trade like this were to go down. If they could manage this trade and keep Martinez, lookout. 

Crochet is a flamethrowing southpaw that immediately would become the one or two guy in just about any rotation across the MLB if inserted in. He's got a league-leading 150 strikeouts this season and has a 0.95 WHIP that ranks fourth in all of baseball. 

Robert Jr. is interesting no matter how you slice it due to the injury history he has. When he's on the field, however, he's a huge threat in the lineup. 

The Guardians have been trying to find a consistent power-hitting centerfielder for quite some time now, and if healthy, Robert Jr. would fit that mold perfectly. 

The big question here, obviously, is one most fans talk about all the time. Why would the White Sox ever trade a player of this caliber to a division foe in the Guardians? 

Well, the White Sox made history this year, as they now hold the MLB record for the most losses before the All Star break out of any team in league history. They're desperate, and they most likely won't be contending any time soon. If the Guardians are willing to risk it all for the long-awaited World Series Crown, who knows what could happen.