Former MLB general manager explains why the Cleveland Guardians should consider selling at the trade deadline.
The MLB trade deadline is fast approaching and teams who are on the bubble of a Wild Card spot must determine whether they want to be buyers or sellers.
One team in this predicament is the Cleveland Guardians, who are 4.5 games out of the last Wild Card spot in the American League. These next few days could determine what the Guardians will do, but former MLB general manager Jim Bowden is urging Cleveland to sell at the deadline.
Cleveland have two players in Steven Kwan and Emmanuel Clase that will be in high demand. Trading both these players will fetch a haul of prospects for the Guardians, which is why Bowden is saying that now is the time to trade rather than adding for a potential playoff push that might be unsuccessful.
"If you're Cleveland right now, and you look at their farm system, do you need to consider Kwan, Clase, [and] [Carlos] Santana, moving them to try to get six or seven young players to rebuild this lineup, knowing that you control Kwan for two more years, and then what? Then you either have to extend him and pay him, what, 18 million a year, 16 million a year?" Bowden said Thursday on Foul Territory.
MORE:MLB writer gives 'bold' prediction that sees Guardians ship out Emmanuel Clase
"It's going to be somewhere in that range. And if you're the agent, you're asking for more than that. I think it's a difficult question, without knowing where the agent is. But I guess my answer to you is, I would be exploring everything right now.
"I would be exploring trade — can I make a trade that's going to help me win? Because this is a really good player. I'd also be exploring trying to sign him long-term. And if I can't do either, I'm going to let him go through the system right now, and I'll re-address it in the offseason, or I'll re-address it next July."
Should the Guardians trade Steven Kwan and Emmanuel Clase to rebuild their farm system? 🤔@JimBowdenGM explores the idea... pic.twitter.com/Zfo6P8f4OW
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) July 17, 2025
What could cause the Guardians to pause on trading any players is their favorable schedule coming out of the All-Star break. Cleveland will have a series against the Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, and Colorado Rockies heading into the trade deadline.
If Cleveland put together a run that sees them get over .500, any selling plans could be put on hold until the offseason.
More Cleveland Guardians News:
Category: Baseball
