The Cleveland Guardians are acquiring slugger Jo Adell from the Los Angeles Angels, per multiple reports.
After many questions on whether or not the Cleveland Guardians would be a buyer at the MLB trade deadline, the front office has made a fairly significant move on deadline day.
The Guardians are acquiring outfielder Jo Adell from the Los Angeles Angels and will be sending catching prospect Jacob Cozart back to the American League West team in return, as first reported by Zack Meisel of The Athletic.
Cleveland's trade with the Angels should address a very significant need in the Guardians' lineup: more right-handed hitters.
The Guardians have a surplus of left-handed bats in their lineup, and Adell's addition will surely help with that.
President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti said over the weekend that while adding a right-handed hitter would be ideal, the team was searching for ways to improve the offense as a whole.
Jul 5, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels right fielder Jo Adell (7) hits a RBI single in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesWith this trade, the Guardians get a pure power hitter, but also someone who will make for a great platoon option at the very least.
So far in 2026, Adell owns a .239/.287/.395 slash line with 16 home runs. However, the 27-year-old is only removed from a season in which he hit 37 home runs with a .778 OPS; Adell has pop in his swing, even though there are some swing-and-miss and chase tendencies at times.
Where Adell really shines is his ability to hit left-handed pitchers. Throughout his career, the right-hander owns a career .249/.293/.500 slash line against southpaws. In 2026, Adell has a .909 OPS when left-handers are on the mound.
In terms of what Cleveland gave up, the Guardians are sending away their No. 18-ranked prospect, per MLB Pipeline. Cozart was drafted by the Guardians in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft and still has a lot of potential to be a quality big-league catcher.
However, Cleveland's logjam at backstop stretches well beyond just the Major League roster. After Patrick Bailey and Austin Hedges, the Guardians also still have Cooper Ingle, Kody Huff, and Bennett Thompson at the Minor League level.
Cleveland was in a position to move on from another Minor League catcher, even after the Bo Naylor trade, and is set up behind the plate for years to come.
The Guardians traded an area of surplus for an area of need with this deal.
It's easy to see how Adell fits with Cleveland's lineup, and now Stephen Vogt has another offensive threat he can deploy in his lineup.
