The Cleveland Guardians and Baltimore Orioles have been two of the best teams in baseball thus far in the 2024 season. Both currently sit atop their respective divisions, with the Guardians holding a 2.5-game lead over the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals, and the Orioles a game ahead of the New York Yankees.
Given how tight the races look like they are going to be for postseason positioning, both teams should be keeping their eyes on opportunities to upgrade. For Cleveland, questions remain about their offense and if the production is sustainable.
The offense is not an issue for Baltimore, who leads the American League with 180 runs scored. Only the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, who have played three and four more games than the Orioles, have scored more in the MLB this season with 203 and 190.
That has led to MLB senior writer Jim Bowden of The Athletic to pitch a trade idea between the two clubs. Both have surpluses of what the other needs, which could make them ideal partners in a swap.
In the suggested trade by Bowden, the Orioles would send highly regarded outfield prospect Heston Kjerstad to the Guardians in exchange for right-hand pitchers Hunter Gaddis and Cade Smith. Both teams would address current and long-term flaws with this deal.
“The Guardians need to upgrade right field for the short- and long-term and acquiring Kjerstad, the second overall pick in the 2020 draft, would accomplish both aims … However, the Orioles outfield is overcrowded … Kjerstad is talented but could be expendable … The Guardians could afford to deal both righties because they have a deep bullpen … along with relievers working their way back from injuries and more good arms in the minors who are ready for promotions,” is an excerpt of some of Bowden’s analysis. (H/T Cleveland Baseball Insider)
In theory, this is the kind of deal both teams would benefit greatly from. But, in reality, it is hard to imagine the Orioles trading away a top-rated prospect for two relief pitchers, regardless of how well they have performed to this point.
But, Kjerstad is the exact kind of player the Guardians should be looking to acquire. Even if it isn’t in a deal with Baltimore, expect them to be on the hunt for some bats ahead of the trade deadline later this summer.
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