Guardians Could Trade Jo Adell This Offseason After ALCS Loss

After taking a 2-1 lead in the American League Championship Series, the Cleveland Guardians couldn't grab another win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Cleveland dropped the last three games of the series, falling in six games to Tampa Bay, ending their hope of reaching the World Series. This postseason loss hurts for the Guardians, but there is still a lot to be excited about going forward.

The Guardians will now be entering into a big offseason, with the front office needing to answer some questions. Cleveland has the lowest payroll in baseball, but they have been able to find success on the field despite this fact.

But with the expected lockout coming, nobody truly knows what the future of the salary cap will look like. The Guardians may elect to hold off making too many big moves until everything is settled, with the team having a clear view of how the roster needs to look.

One move that the Guardians could elect to make this offseason is trading away outfielder Jo Adell. Adell was acquired by the team at the trade deadline this year, and he took on the role of designated hitter for Cleveland most of the time.

The slugger will be arbitration-eligible through 2027, with him estimated to earn around $9.6 million. Cleveland has historically traded players when they have gotten to be expensive, and Adell could fit that mold.

Adell did well for the Guardians down the stretch of the season, hitting .244 with seven home runs and 42 RBIs, while posting an OPS of .741. The veteran fit in well with the Guardians, giving the lineup some extra power.

But in the playoffs, Adell struggled heavily, hitting .195 with no home runs, eight RBIs, and 15 strikeouts over 11 games. Adell couldn't deliver when the team needed him the most, and this could impact his future in Cleveland.

The Guardians have some tough decisions to make around multiple players, including Adell, and they could always bring him back. Cleveland also has to figure out its plan with outfielder Steven Kwan, who is estimated to make a little over $11 million in arbitration this year.

It's unlikely that the Guardians will bring both Adell and Kwan back next season, given how the organization has operated in recent years. But with the team looking to compete again in 2027, maybe Cleveland goes against the grain to retain the core group that saw a lot of success this past season.