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Position players are best trade chips in farm system ahead of Aug. 3 deadline

By 9 Mins Read


The Guardians just finished up a series in early July battling for first place with the Chicago White Sox.

Barring anything catastrophic (one could argue the catastrophic already happened when Jose Ramirez, Angel Martinez and Chase DeLauter were all injured in the first five innings of a game on June 13 — but at least none of them were ineligible to play due to gambling allegations), the Guardians should be buyers at the Aug. 3 trade deadline.

No, the Guardians shouldn’t accept the returns of Ramirez and Martinez as “additions” because their offense struggled when they were healthy. That also doesn’t address their bullpen needs.

A right-handed hitter in the outfield/first base/DH and a left-handed reliever, and maybe a second reliever, should all be on the Guardians’ wish and shopping lists for the trading deadline.

It will be a seller’s market — and it always is, thanks to the extra wild cards — but the Guardians’ farm system should put them in position to compete for any player on the trade block, if they want to be aggressive enough.

Their top two trade chips are undoubtedly first baseman Ralphy Velazquez (Triple-A Columbus) and shortstop Angel Genao (Triple-A Columbus). While nobody is untouchable for the right return, unless the Guardians are landing one of the bigger names available at the deadline, it’s unlikely either of those two will be moved.

The position-player group by far has the Guardians’ strongest trade chips. There is a bit of a gap between Velazquez and Genao, and then the next group.

Juan Brito, left, and Angel Genao, shown during a Guardians-Dodgers spring training game Feb. 24 in Phoenix. (Brynn Anderson/The Associated Press)
Juan Brito, left, and Angel Genao, shown during a Guardians-Dodgers spring training game Feb. 24 in Phoenix. (Brynn Anderson/The Associated Press)

Outfielder Jaison Chourio (Double-A Akron) has broken out this year as a 21-year-old who is hitting .287/.393/.455 and hit his fifth homer of the year on July 4, only his second as a right-handed hitter, however. But he has the ability to play center and has speed, upside and MLB bloodlines, which gives him plenty of value.

Another outfielder, Juneiker Caceres, is young (18) and on the smaller side (5-foot-10) and in Single-A, but has the kind of upside as a hitter that teams may covet, especially if it’s a team looking further away.

Braylon Doughty is probably the only higher upside pitching prospect the Guardians can deal at this deadline. The 6-foot, 20-year-old right-hander allowed eight runs on 10 hits in 2 1/3 innings during his Double-A debut this past week. But his velocity has consistently been up this year in the mid-90s and has hit 97 mph, along with two-plus breaking balls, with 74 strikeouts and just 11 walks in 59 2/3 innings at High-A.

Cooper Ingle is somewhere in the second tier of prospects. Being in the majors, and not catching, as well as struggling defensively in left field, complicated that. But if a team believes in his approach at the plate and the ability to catch, he will have value in a trade.

Outfielder Kahlil Watson is also in the majors and his speed, defense and his electric bat speed have been an asset so far for Cleveland. When Martinez comes back, will Watson go back to the minors? Teams can see the tools and know his pedigree as a 2021 first-rounder. You can live with some of his issues with swing and miss and chase because he can hit the ball hard and use his speed.

Outfielder Robert Arias (Single-A Hill City)  might have been a good trade chip for Cleveland after a breakout lower in the minors, but is out long-term with ankle surgery.

The next grouping of players is interchangeable, and their value will be in the eye of any beholder. Outfielder Alfonsin Rosario (Double-A Akron) hit half of his 13 homers in June and is off to a torrid start to July. He has real power, and he did cut 8% off his strikeout rate in June (33% to 24%), for a month anyway, and can play right field with a good arm. If a team wants some louder tools and can overlook strikeouts, he’s a good candidate.

High-A Lake County outfielders Jace LaViolette and Aaron Walton (both 2025 draft picks) could carry some value with big power, speed and ability to play center, but LaViolette has major strikeout issues and fell in the draft for a reason. Infielder Dean Curley, who was a part of that draft as well, has shown power this year and could be due for a promotion to Double-A, but has some strikeout and defensive issues.

As for other arms, Logan Allen, who isn’t a prospect, is pitching well in Triple-A. If a team wants a ready-now fifth starter, if Cleveland could stomach giving up the pitching depth. Right-handers Yorman Gomez and Austin Peterson are both in Triple-A and might interest a team as a lower-tier pitching prospect.

Right-hander Khal Stephen is down with elbow surgery, which takes him out of being a candidate. Right-hander Justin Campbell is having a major comeback year in 2026 after not pitching since college in 2022, could be someone teams have an eye on, but he left his first Triple-A start this week with an oblique issue before throwing a pitch. Left-hander Franklin Gomez (High-A Lake County) hasn’t pitched since mid-June due to an elbow injury.

Infielders Welbyn Francisca and Dauri Ferndandez could be late wild-card types in a trade.

Perhaps some teams could be interested in Bo Naylor, CJ Kayfus, or Juan Brito as major-league depth in a trade. But they would be a low-value add to a trade at this point.

Right-hander Joey Oakie at Hill City has control problems but a big arm, and could garner interest as well, but Cleveland would be selling well. Nelson Keljo is a lefty who throws in the mid-90s with a good slider. He could provide value as a low-level piece to a deal.

Guardians prospect news and notes

• Two Guardians prospects were named to the Futures Game — Velazquez and Ingle. Ingle will be unlikely to participate since he will be up with the Guardians likely through the All-Star break. Velazquez previously made the Futures game back in 2024.

Velazquez also continues to get more work in left field in the Triple-A. Cleveland really didn’t give Ingle much time there before calling him up, and he has struggled on both sides of the ball. Given that Velazquez does not need to be added to the 40-man roster until the 2027 offseason and the looming lockout means any player on the 40-man roster cannot report to spring training or play, it still seems unlikely they will take the risk on adding Velazquez to the roster this year.

Velazquez took a nine-game hitting streak into the week, and it ended on July 2. Despite some struggles, chasing out of the zone more and swinging and missing, he held his own in June, hitting .287/.367/.425. He notched his third Triple-A homer on July 4.

• Justin Campbell was on a great roll this year, making it to Triple-A after not pitching the last three seasons due to multiple arm surgeries and injuries. But he was warming up in his first Triple-A start and had to come out before throwing an official pitch. Oblique injuries are never good, but given his history of arm injuries, this is a better scenario.

• Outfielder Alfonsin Rosario hit seven of his 13 homers in June and shaved 8% off his strikeout rate. He already has two more homers in July. He’s either going to put himself in line for a Triple-A promotion, or as a trade, as mentioned above.

• Right-hander Braylon Doughty allowed over nine runs over his final five starts in High-A, but allowed eight runs in 2 1/3 innings in his Double-A debut.

• Bennett Thompson finally got an overdue promotion and hit a grand slam in his level debut on July 1. Cleveland released catcher Cameron Barstaad and promoted catcher Tyler Howard from Hill City to replace Thompson in Lake County and make room for him in Akron. He’s played some first base so far, too, because of catcher Jacob Cozart being on the roster, and Thompson’s bat is ahead of his glove.

• Cleveland finally announced this week it placed left-hander Franklin Gomez on the IL in High-A Lake County with elbow soreness. He hadn’t pitched since June 13.

• In a trade with the Phillies on July 4, Cleveland traded the $250,000 in international signing bonus money from the Nolan Jones trade with the White Sox for right-hander Ryan Degges. The 23-year-old was the Phillies’ 14th rounder in 2024 with good stuff but shaky control and will likely report to High-A Lake County in the wake of injuries.

• Left-hander and 2025 draft pick Ryan DeSanto (Penn State, Single-A Hill City) has had a tough year with control, but the 22-year-old struck out a career high eight and had just one walk in five innings on July 3.





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