The Cleveland Guardians could use some more power in the middle of their order.
They are tied with the Toronto Blue Jays with 104 home runs, which ranks 26th in the Majors.
Of course, not having Jose Ramirez for an extended period of time hurt Cleveland in more ways than one. With the trade deadline approaching, power from the right side could be their focus.
Lane Thomas isn't the power hitter he used to be, but he's managed 10 dingers in 92 games with the Kansas City Royals.
The Athletic's Zack Meisel predicted Monday that the Guardians will facilitate a trade with the Royals to reunite with Thomas, who played parts of two seasons with the AL Central club.
"I suppose it’s not too bold if it’s the exact same addition they made two years ago at the trade deadline," Meisel wrote. "The Guardians haven’t shown a knack for being bold in recent years, though, despite regularly contending."
At the very least, Thomas would give the Guardians a right-handed option in the outfield or at DH. He smashed a momentous go-ahead grand slam against Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers in the 2024 ALDS.
Each AL Central team’s best moment of 2024
Lane Thomas crushes a grand slam off Tarik Skubal to send the Guardians to the ALCS pic.twitter.com/r83zmcI6bd
"This time around, they’re hanging around in the race mostly because the AL is so weak, so a marginal upgrade at a spot of need — it seems like a reliable right-handed-hitting outfielder has been a need at the trade deadline for the last quarter-century — makes sense," Miesel added.
MORE: Mets ‘desperate’ to trade Luis Robert Jr. after trade failure
"Thomas chose the Royals over the Guardians last winter, but now the Royals and Guardians will make the choice for him."
The Guardians aren't known to make flashy deals, and this wouldn't fall in that category either.
But Thomas is a veteran who can offer a strong record against left-handed pitching before the postseason.
More MLB news:
- Yankees are ‘leading candidate’ to trade for Twins’ Ryan Jeffers
- Red Sox ‘would love’ to trade for Angels’ Zach Neto or Astros’ Jeremy Pena
- Giants willing to trade Heliot Ramos in big news for many MLB clubs
- Padres likely not to trade Mason Miller amid latest update
- Tigers expected to trade Tarik Skubal but still try to contend without him

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