For the last few years, Cleveland’s trade deadline strategy has followed a predictable script: trade away core players who are about to hit free agency, and acquire younger talent controllable for several years. With rare exceptions (like acquiring Josh Donaldson in 2018), Cleveland’s front office has been notoriously cautious about buying short-term help.
While Tarik Skubal’s blockbuster move to the Dodgers stole the national headlines, Cleveland made a surprisingly aggressive series of moves this year!
Previous Deadline Patterns
- 2023: We acquired Kyle Manzardo from Tampa Bay in exchange for starting pitcher Aaron Civale. Manzo came with multiple years of team control attached.
- 2024: We snagged Lane Thomas from Washington to address our perennial outfield vacancy, specifically targeting him because he was under team control through 2025 rather than an expiring rental.
- 2025: We dealt Shane “Cy Young” Bieber to the Blue Jays for prospect Khal Stephen, and shipped Paul Sewald to the Tigers for everyone’s favorite asset: Cash Considerations.
In short, major buyer moves in Cleveland are usually a rare sight.
This Year We’re Addressing Real Needs
This time around, Cleveland’s front office not only recognized the roster gaps, but actively addressed them. We needed another arm for the rotation, bullpen reinforcement, and above all else, some much-needed offensive power.
Here is how the deadline shook out:
OF Jo Adell
- To Cleveland: Outfielder Jo Adell
- To Los Angeles Angels: Catching prospect Jacob Cozart
Adell brings serious right-handed power to our outfield mix. To clear a 40-man roster spot, infielder Juan Brito was designated for assignment.
All-Star LHP Foster Griffin
- To Cleveland: Left-handed starting pitcher Foster Griffin
- To Washington Nationals: Prospect package (Will Dion, Josh Hartle, Kendeglys Virguez, Nick Mitchell)
The 30-year-old left-hander earned his first All-Star nod this season following a successful three-year stint in Japan, providing a massive boost to our starting rotation. While Cleveland has managed to keep its starting rotation largely intact, Slade Cecconi looks like the logical candidate to shift roles or step aside.
1B/DH Nathaniel Lowe
- To Cleveland: 1B/DH Nathaniel Lowe
- To Cincinnati Reds: RHP Alejandro Rivera
Rivera is a 19-year-old Low-A pitcher with potential, but he was ranked ~30th in our system.
RHP Craig Yoho & OF Blake Perkins
- To Cleveland: RHP Craig Yoho & OF Blake Perkins
- To Milwaukee Brewers: C Bo Naylor & RHP Codi Heuer
Yoho (3.15 ERA in MLB this year) brings high-leverage bullpen help—his changeup is pure, filthy art.
Perkins gives us versatile, switch-hitting outfield depth. Milwaukee has a track record of maximizing hitters and catchers, so here’s hoping the change of scenery works out for Bo Naylor as well.
Minor Pool-Space Trade
- To Cleveland: RHP Ryan Degges
- To Philadelphia Phillies: $250,000 in international amateur bonus pool space
A minor depth move swapping international slot money for pitching depth. Given that Cleveland rarely spends big on top-tier international free-agent hitters, trading a small chunk of pool space is low risk.
What’s the Verdict?
After years of low-key deadline retooling, this front office went out and actually acted like a team intending to win down the stretch. They plugged gaps in the rotation, built out bullpen leverage, and injected real pop into the lineup, all while preserving the core prospect farm.
But to keep these guys, we needed to send some men down to Columbus.
As I started writing this, I thought that from a pure performance standpoint, David Fry should be the candidate in exchange for Adell. Fry has struggled at the plate and offers limited defensive value in the outfield.
My gut said that if Cleveland was going to prioritize defensive value and putting the 26 best players on the field, Fry was the logical cut, but I was prepared to say goodbye to Speedy Petey Halpin.
With Lowe, it was either Manzardo (a lefty at the plate) or Hoskins. Hoskins signed a cheap minor-league deal, making eating his contract for a DFA a very realistic option.
Alternatively, Manzardo still has minor league options and could be sent down to Triple-A Columbus for everyday reps at first base. While regular playing time at 1B would do Manzo good, sending him down given the current state of minor league pitching depth is a tougher sell than it used to be.
Imagine my surprise when we sent Fry and Manzo down!
Have Your Say!
And what do you think about Fry and Manzo going down to the Clippers?
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