The Cleveland Guardians’ primary need is for starting pitching, but they could also benefit from adding more offensive power.
At the MLB trade deadline, the Guardians tried to enhance their lineup by acquiring Lane Thomas from the Washington Nationals, but the move hasn’t had the desired impact.
Cleveland will now have to wait until the offseason to pursue additional offensive talent, with MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand suggesting that Baltimore Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander could be a good fit for them.
Santander is set to enter free agency this offseason, and Feinsand mentions that the Orioles might not re-sign him due to their deep outfield roster.
Speculation about the Guardians targeting Santander has already arisen. Considering Cleveland’s urgent need for another power hitter to complement Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor, this move makes sense.
Santander is known for his power but is somewhat one-dimensional; he doesn’t hit for a high average or walk much, but he does hit a lot of home runs, which is exactly what the Guardians need.
This season, the 29-year-old is hitting .237/.304/.523 with 37 home runs and 82 RBIs in 523 plate appearances, and he has earned his first All-Star selection.
Santander made his MLB debut with Baltimore in 2017 but began showing his potential in 2019 with 20 home runs in 405 at-bats. It took until 2022 for him to surpass 30 home runs in a season, and since then, he has been one of the more potent power hitters in the game, with a positive trajectory.
The key issue will be whether the budget-conscious Guardians can outbid other interested teams, such as the Philadelphia Phillies, for his services.
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