Guardians Linked To Trade For Former World Series MVP
Rymer proposed the Guardians call the Los Angeles Angels about former World Series MVP Jorge Soler to address their most glaring offensive weakness.
"It must be a year ending in a number, because the Guardians are short on power. They rank 29th in slugging percentage," Rymer wrote. "For a contender in that position, trading for Soler is one of the oldest tricks in the book at this point."
Why Cleveland Needs the Power
Jose Ramirez, the Guardians' superstar third baseman, is still weeks away from returning after surgery to remove a fractured hook of the hamate bone in his left hand.
Even with Ramirez, the lineup lacks pop, with outfielder Angel Martinez leading the AL Central club with just 11 home runs.
MIKE TROUT, JO ADELL AND JORGE SOLER GO BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK OFF OF RYAN WEATHERS IN THE FIRST INNING pic.twitter.com/P2Jur7yfJe
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) April 14, 2026
That is a problem for a team that is 44-42 and trying to contend in a weak American League where its first title since 1948 is a realistic goal.
Soler would provide an immediate jolt to a lineup desperate for slugging.
This season, Soler is slashing .220/.309/.411, with 11 home runs, 37 RBIs, and 31 runs scored across 65 games played.
Why Soler Fits
The Angels are firmly in the basement of the AL West at 36-51 and are one of the most obvious sellers at the deadline.
Soler is in the final year of a three-year, $42 million contract that pays him $13 million annually, making him a rental whose value has been diminished by a 94 OPS-plus since the start of last season.
That diminished value is exactly what makes him attainable for a Guardians team that prefers not to surrender highly touted prospects for rentals.
The 2023 All-Star and 2021 World Series MVP brings legitimate postseason pedigree and right-handed power, the precise profile Cleveland's lineup is missing.
Here’s an angle of the brawl where you can see Reynaldo Lopez land a blow on Jorge Soler with the baseball in his hand pic.twitter.com/dSucXM4T9c
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) April 8, 2026
His defensive limitations make him primarily a designated hitter, but for a team simply looking to add thump for a playoff push, that is not a dealbreaker.
