Three Moves the Guardians Can Make at The Deadline

The Guardians are a confusing team. I'm not saying anything groundbreaking with that statement. From one lens, the Guardos sit two games out of first; from another lens, they've massively underachieved in a division resembling comedy central rather than the AL Central. The Guards have one of the best bullpens in the league, but they give you the impression they can't hold leads. The offense doesn't hit for any power, yet over the past month, have been one of the better offenses in MLB. If you've had whiplash from this last three months from this team, I don't think anyone would blame you. That's why this upcoming trade deadline is one of the most complicated in the Tito Francona era.In normal years a 47-49 record doesn't scream competing for the division, especially with Shane Bieber and Triston Mckenzie shelved for most of the year; it would be understandable for the team to pack it in. Though, there is still hope that the guardians can find ways to improve as the deadline approaches, so instead of beating to death how they got here, why not discuss the potential pieces who might be on the move by August 1st, shall we?Aaron CivaleAs soon as the Shane Bieber trade boat sank, the only plausible pivot for the front office was Aaron Civale. The 5th year starter has been steady for the Guardians, rocking a 2.71 ERA and a 3-2 record through 63 innings. With two years of arbitration left at a cheap rate, he might be one of the more underrated trade pieces in MLB, especially with an underwhelming class of pitchers expected to be dealt. The problem is with every trade; there is always a catch. Despite Aaron Civale's recent success on the mound, he's been pulled out of games early, one against the Texas Rangers because of "fatigue" and another because of a noticeable drop in velocity in Pittsburgh.https://twitter.com/mike_petriello/status/1681740879957032961?s=20For a pitcher that has only pitched 100+ innings once in his career, the ringing in your ear is the alarm bells you think they are. Especially with already spending time on the IL this season, if there is any inkling that Civale is drawing interest, it might make sense why the Guardians are coddling him. Though, with the rotation now populated with rookie pitchers whose workload is being monitored, he's the only innings eater available, further complicating any trade possibility with the Guardians still gunning to win the division. He might be their best chip to get any available help, but he's also one hang nail away from that quickly evaporating.Amed RosarioNow to a less controversial figure, Amed Rosario. The polarizing shortstop is at a crossroads with the franchise, as he is impending free agency hangs over his status with the team. So far this season Rosario has slashed .262/.305/.360 with a WRC+ of 87 ( 13% below league average production in layman's terms) with ugly defensive metrics that make you wonder, "Why exactly is he playing every day again?" It wouldn't surprise me if a change in scenery might be in order soon. With Tyler Freeman and Gabriel Arias on the roster waiting in the wings, they might be more incentivized to figure out what they have than playing Rosario. Considering the defensive upside of both prospects (2 and 1 OAA compared to Rosario's -14), it might be impactful immediately. This addition by subtraction would allow the team to properly evaluate both in the final two months, especially with Bryan Rocchio sitting in triple-A and Juan Brito in double-A; the clock is ticking on figuring out what prospect can pair with Gimenez for the long haul. So while Amed Rosario's time in Cleveland might be coming to a close, it might be for the best for everyone.Prospects It might be the least likely option, but it's not out of the question with Cleveland's front office. With the division still in striking distance, trading from the prospect pool might make sense for the right player for now and into the future. Though the prospect pool might be more shallow than it was in 2022, they still have an abundance of middle infield prospects that they can package and dangle for any team that might be in need. Even if it is to clear up the logjam, it might be an avenue to get what they need. The outfield situation might compel them to do so; anything that can move Myles Straw and his WRC+ of 74 to the bench would make any argument about moving prospects easier. The problem the Guardians are running into is that some of their top prospects are either having a down year or injured; the current value of the George Valera's, Daniel Espino, and co. that would be headliners a year ago, aren't going to be this year at the very least. So if there is any trading of prospects, the word to look for is quantity over quality if it happens to be the case.