Last year, the Cleveland Guardians swung some key trades ahead of the MLB trade deadline, and one of them was acquiring outfielder Lane Thomas from the Washington Nationals.

Thomas has definitely had a roller coaster run since joining the Guardians. He slashed a miserable .143/.239/.195 in 27 games in August before catching fire in September, smashing seven home runs with 20 RBI to help guide Cleveland to an AL Central division title.

The 30-year-old then hit a pivotal grand slam in Game 5 of the Guardians' ALDS playoff win over the Detroit Tigers, cementing himself as a Cleveland folk hero.

Unfortunately, Thomas' momentum has not carried over into 2025. He has been on and off the injured list all season and is slashing a paltry .160/.246/.272 with four homers and 11 RBI across 142 plate appearances. It's not like Thomas is a defensive wizard, either.

The Knoxville, Tn. native is slated to hit free agency this offseason, and not surprisingly, Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly does not expect the Guardians to retain him.

"While he did hit an ALDS grand slam off of Tarik Skubal last year, he's largely been ineffective since being acquired from the Washington Nationals," Kelly wrote. "With a .189 batting average and multiple IL stints to show for parts of two seasons in Cleveland, it's safe to say Thomas will be looking for a new employer next year."

Batting average isn't everything, but when you are hitting below the Mendoza line, it's a problem, especially when you don't have the power numbers or the glove to compensate for it.

Thomas will probably have a tough time finding a home this winter and may have to settle for a one-year deal somewhere. While Cleveland can actually probably afford to keep him, there really is no reason for it, especially not with an impressive crop of outfielders in the minor leagues.

The former Toronto Blue Jays draft pick has been a decent hitter for stretches in his MLB career, like in 2023 when he posted 28 long balls and 86 RBI in Washington. However, he has never tallied an .800 OPS over the course of a full season, and his lifetime .242/.309/.418 slash line is pedestrian, at best.