Prospects in play for roster help, trades

The unofficial second half of the major league season is underway, and though the minor leagues hit their halfway point a while ago, they are also back from a short break for the All-Star break.

This year’s trading deadline of Aug. 2 is starting to creep up, and the Guardians 40-man roster is filled with prospects who have made their debut in 2022, some who haven’t, and more prospects who will need to be added this coming offseason.

Several of these prospects will be important to the franchise as they transition them to the majors and fill out the core of the roster around Jose Ramirez over the next several seasons. Others could be a part of trades to supplement the major-league roster with more experienced talent, and clear space on the 40-man roster to add more prospects without losing them to the Rule 5 draft.

Here’s a look at some of the most important prospects in terms of the future Guardians roster and potential options to trade. This is not necessarily a ranking of these players in the team’s system, but their potential importance in these scenarios.

1. RHP DANIEL ESPINO »

The organization’s prized pitching prospect remains on the shelf as he rehabs from knee tendinitis and shoulder soreness since April. The injuries are a worry as Espino was on a path to the big leagues with the way he dominated Double-A to start the season. For an organization that uses pitching as the backbone of its success, Espino is a potential ace as they will need to create another postseason-leading rotation in the next few years. Espino and his triple-digit fastball don’t need to be added to the 40 man roster until the 2023 offseason.

2. RHP GAVIN WILLIAMS »

Williams is in line right behind Espino in terms of being part of the next dominant rotation, though he is currently healthy and pitching well in Double-A Akron. He has 99 strikeouts in 70 2/3 innings and a 1.53 ERA in 15 career minor-league starts. He doesn’t have to be added to the 40-man roster until the offseason of 2024, but he could see Triple-A in 2023, making him awfully close.

3. C BO NAYLOR » Roberto

Perez’s 24 homers in 2019 seems like a long time ago, doesn’t it? Yan Gomes’ Silver Slugger season of 2014 seems like another lifetime. Cleveland hasn’t gotten any offensive production from their catchers in light years. Naylor’s .941 OPS between DoubleA and Triple-A in 2022 after a down 2021, combined with his strong arm behind the plate may finally present a long term, young, homegrown solution to the position as soon as 2023, when he has to be added to the 40-man roster. The organization loves his work ethic and attention to detail working with pitchers.

4. OF GEORGE VALERA » The 2022 Futures Game participant has 14 homers and a .856 OPS at Double-A Akron. With a sweet swing and good power from the left side, Valera has a chance to provide an everyday option in left or right field somewhere in the middle of the batting order. He’s already on the 40-man roster and should see Triple-A fairly soon.

5. 1B/OF JHONKENSY NOEL

» Cleveland has leaned heavily into the contact/ patience profile for a lot of hitters at the major-league level. It’s clear they have been missing the usual thump that Franmil Reyes has not provided this season so far. Nobody in the organization has more power than Noel. The 21-year-old has 27 homers in 2022 between HighA Lake County and Double-A Akron. His experiment at third base appears to be over at the moment, and has now seen his versatility increase to the outfield, instead of just leaving him at first base. It’s an allpower/corner profile, which is very risky. Noel could be a huge bust soon, but Cleveland could really use his 30 homer potential at first or a corner outfield spot by 2024. He’s on the 40-man roster despite his inexperience.

6. SS GABRIEL ARIAS » Arias made his major-league debut this year and has struggled to repeat his 2021 breakout at the plate (.284/.348/.451 with 15 homers as a 21 year old at Triple-A, skipping DoubleA). He can play Gold Glove caliber defense at short, but needs to hit, or needs a shot. He’s got some big upside, whether it’s in Cleveland or somewhere else.

7. SS BRAYAN ROCCHIO » You could make a case for Rocchio to be sixth on this list. The switch hitting shortstop had a slow start to 2022 but has rebounded offensively at a feverish pace, now hitting .267/.351/.445 (1.141 OPS in 15 July games). He’s a strong defender at short, but can also handle second and third. He’s lowered his strikeouts in 2022 and raised his walk totals as well. He or Arias could pair nicely next to Andres Gimenez in the Guardians’ middle infield.

8. LHP LOGAN ALLEN » No, not the Logan Allen who was on the Guardians’ roster 2019-2022. This Logan Allen was drafted by Cleveland in the second of the 2020 draft. He’s already at Triple-A and doesn’t need to be added to the 40-man roster until the offseason of 2023. But he’s flown through the system so far. He’s hit a rough patch in his first look at Triple-A so far, but would look good in the middle of a rotation anchored by Espino and Williams.

9. SS/2B TYLER FREEMAN »

Freeman is another highcontact, speed player Cleveland has stocked up on in the minors. He started the 2022 season late recovering from his second shoulder surgery on his left labrum and has had mixed results in his first taste of Triple-A. He’s a high-motor, energy type player who doesn’t strike out, would play better at second, but can handle shortstop. He would fit into this lineup well and should have plenty of trade value to teams that also value thist type of player.

10. OF/3B NOLAN JONES »

Jones has done a good job in his brief major-league debut in 2022. He has more than enough power and ability to draw walks to impact the lineup everyday as he learns the outfield, now that his original position will be manned by the team’s superstar for years to come.

11. OF CHASE DELAUTER »

Yes, Cleveland just drafted DeLauter last weekend. But this club hasn’t drafted a college hitter in the first round since 2014. Their last few first-round picks on outfielders have been Tyler Naquin (2012), Clint Frazier (2013), Bradley Zimmer (2014) and Will Benson (2016). Benson is still developing and having a nice year at Triple-A Columbus, but the rest never quite lived up to first-round billing. DeLauter is an advanced bat with power, contact ability and patience. He could move quickly, and hopefully answer questions about the quality of competition he faced at James Madison University (though he hit well in the

Cape Cod League in 2021). With this club’s outfield issues over the years, they need more options in the system to hope to develop into stars like Valera or DeLauter could become.

12. SS ANGEL MARTINEZ »

The 20-year-old is on the IL in High-A Lake County with a shoulder injury, but is hitting .276/.393/.476 with eight homer and eight steals. Another middle infielder that carries a good approach, glove, and speed. He has to be added to the 40 man roster this offseason and with quality infielders above him, he may give Cleveland good value in a trade.

13. C BRYAN LAVASTIDA » After his breakout 2021, Lavastida rose from High-A Lake County to Triple-A Columbus last year thanks to his bat. He made his majorleague debut in 2022, but has struggled to hit back in the minors and dealt with a hamstring injury. He offers enough potential with the bat and as a defender to be a good backup, or if another team values him, in a trade as well.

14. RHP XZAVION CURRY »

The 6-foot right hander has 99 strikeouts and 23 walks in 84 innings between Double-A and Triple-A in 2022. You don’t hear much about Curry, who only made his minor-league debut in 2021 despite being drafted in 2019. He throws up to 94 mph and has a big curveball, and good control. He could fill out the back end of a rotation and could serve as a trade option as well. He’s due to be added to the 40-man roster this coming offseason.

15. RHP TANNER BIBEE »

Cleveland’s fifth-round pick in 2021 has been one of the breakout prospects of 2022. He’s racked up 102 strikeouts and walked 15 in 74 2/3 innings between HighA and Double-A in his pro debut. He throws up to 99 and has a good four pitch mix. He’s got until 2024 before he needs to be on the 40 man roster, but is already in Double-A. He’s another potential rotation option in the next few seasons or should be attractive to other teams in trades as Cleveland develops pitching the way few other organization’s do, and Bibee is another success story as a prospect.

Other names to know:

16. OF Will Brennan (Triple-A), 17. RHP Cody Morris (on-40, rehabbing in Arizona), 18. SS/2B Jose Tena (Double-A), 19. LHP Joey Cantillo (Double-A),

20. RHP Justin Campbell (2022 draft)