At the MLB trade deadline, the Cleveland Guardians are trending towards being sellers. But that doesn’t mean the team can’t look to add players who can be impactful in the future.

According to former Major League Baseball general manager Jim Bowden in The Athletic, the Guardians are “… looking for middle-of-the-order power.”

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That need is very evident based on the offensive output over the last month. Over the last 30 days, no team in baseball has had a lower OPS than the Guardians’ offense. Cleveland has a .602 OPS, with the next worst offense, the Pittsburgh Pirates, at a .624 OPS.

They also scored 75 runs in that same span, with the Chicago White Sox the next lowest at 83 runs. It’s been a rough stretch for the Guardians’ offense, and even if this season ends up being a wash, the team can use this deadline to plan for the future.

MORE: MLB writer reveals Guardians’ biggest trade deadline need

Of the potential trade targets at this year’s deadline, there are some players the Guardians could target. Jarren Duran from the Boston Red Sox is one potential name to keep in mind, as he’s under contract for more than just the 2025 season.

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While he’d be a nice addition, he isn’t as much of a power hitter as the Guardians would likely want to land. Nathanial Lowe of the Washington Nationals could be the addition at first base to replace Carlos Santana, who is expected to be traded this season.

There will be plenty of names floated out there as the trade deadline approaches. But, for the Guardians, the important thing to look for isn’t just a normal bat, but someone who will help the team’s power struggles, and who’s also around for more than just 2025.

It’s not an uncommon strategy, and the Guardians could employ it to land a slugger who will help the team in 2026 more than in 2025. If it helps this season, then it’s even more of a benefit. But the plan should be to look ahead to 2026 and add a long-term solution at a position of need that can provide a spark to the middle of the lineup.

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