With the Cleveland Guardians looking to add offense this offseason, they need to consider leveraging their biggest strengths — positional depth and pitching volume —to acquire that help.

They have a golden opportunity to do so next week at the Winter Meetings, which provide the perfect opportunity to get the ball rolling on trade talks. We saw that play out last year when the Guardians traded Andrés Giménez to the Blue Jays, and it could play out again this year ahead of an important 2026 season.

With that in mind, here’s a look at three Guardians whose value is peaking and who should be actively shopped to yield a significant return.

Trading one of these three players, all of whom have established Major League value, will allow the Guardians to address their offensive needs without sacrificing their highest-rated prospects.

These three Guardians could be used as trade targets at the Winter Meetings

Gabriel Arias: Versatile infield currency

2025 stats: .220/.274/.363, 12 HR, 54 RBI

Why Trade Him? Arias just completed arguably his most productive Major League season, as he hit a career-high 12 home runs and improved his overall offensive profile despite posted one of the highest strikeout rates in baseball.

That said, his value is inflated thanks to his elite defensive versatility: He can capably play shortstop, second base, third base, and even outfield corners. With a glut of talented middle infielders like Angel Martínez and Travis Bazzana demanding space, Arias is the most logical player to trade while his stock is still near it’s peak.

Possible trade destinations

Oakland Athletics: The A’s need versatile defenders, and Arias could anchor their infield for the forseeable future. In return, the Guardians could target a controllable, high-upside outfielder with a solid track record or a lower-cost pitcher if they package Arias with another piece.

Milwaukee Brewers: The Brewers often look for cost-controlled versatility, so Arias could be at the top of their list. The Guardians could target a promising outfielder or first baseman blocked in Milwaukee, like Sal Frelick, who is high-OBP, high-contact player who fits the Guardians’ profile.

Slade Cecconi: The stabilizing rotation arm

2025 stats: 7-7, 4.30 ERA, 109 strikeouts in 132 innings

Why Trade Him? A solid, consistent mid-rotation arm like Cecconi is a highly valuable commodity, which could lead to him having some extra value in trade talks. Cecconi is coming off his best season, demonstrating the durability and consistency to be a reliable Major League starter.

While the Guardians value depth, they have younger, higher-upside arms like Parker Messick and Joey Cantillo fighting for spots, and a wave of top prospects like Daniel Espino and Khal Stephen who are expected to break through in 2026.

Possible Trade Targets

San Francisco Giants: The Giants are always in the market for starting pitching. The Guardians could target a controllable outfielder like Heliot Ramos, who was an All-Star in 2024 but took a big step back last season.

New York Yankees: The Yankees constantly need rotation depth. The Guardians could try to use Cecconi as a part of a package that would allow for them to swing for the fences for someone like Giancarlo Stanton, or a different high-risk, high-reward outfielder.

Brayan Rocchio: The elite glove with offensive questions

2025 Stats: .233/.290/.340, 5 HR, 44 RBI

Why Trade Him? Rocchio’s calling card is his tremendous glove and ability to anchor the shortstop position with Gold Glove-caliber defense. However, his bat remains highly inconsistent, making it difficult to justify giving him another season as an everyday starter when the offense is the team’s primary weakness.

Like Arias, he is blocked by the sheer volume of middle-infield talent in the Guardians’ system. Given the premium placed on quality defense, his value remains high despite the offensive questions.

Possible Trade Targets

Los Angeles Angels: The Angels need a stable shortstop immediately, so Rocchio is an obvious fit. The biggest problem here is that the Angels don’t have a ton of a players who would fit for the Guardians.

Jorge Soler could be a fit for his power, but he’s coming off the worst season of his career. Maybe Cecconi would be able to net Cleveland a promising prospect like Kyren Paris or Kyren Paris.

Miami Marlins : The Marlins often look for high-floor defenders, and the Guardians could target a young, promising player like Dane Myers or Connor Norby.

BRAYAN ROCCHIO GO-AHEAD HOME RUN WITH THE SEASON ON THE LINE pic.twitter.com/tLldIMGyG9

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 1, 2025