The Cleveland Guardians are one game back in the crowded American League Wild Card race. They are doing it with a dreadful right field platoon that features Nolan Jones and Jhonkensy Noel. Jones is batting .211 in 60 games this season, while Noel has a .146 mark in 46 games. These aren't small sample sizes, which explains why the Guardians could be looking for a replacement in the trade market.
Adolis Garcia wasn't the MVP of the 2023 World Series, but there's a strong argument that suggests he should have been. Texas Rangers fans thought that Garcia was their superstar of the future when he broke out during that season, but his numbers have only been dropping since the World Series victory.
As Garcia falls under the massive weight of expectations in Texas, Jim Bowden, via The Athletic, thinks that he could be a possible trade target for the Guardians.
Garcia's contract could be one thing stopping Cleveland from making the move. He makes $10.5 million this season after signing a two-year, $14 million extension after his breakout 2023. The Guardians aren't known for being big spenders, which could lead them to opt for a more affordable option.
Garcia is a boom-or-bust option for the Guardians. With a high-percentile average exit velocity and hard hit %, Garcia would excite Cleveland fans with his mammoth power. However, a high strikeout rate, a tendency to swing and miss, and chase balls out of the zone are some of his most significant issues.
The question for the Guardians is if they feel comfortable paying Garcia $10.5 million this season in the hopes he can hit a couple of big-time home runs as he did in 2023.