3 trades Cleveland Guardians should push for before 2022 deadline

1. Cleveland Guardians should push for Sean Murphy, C, A’s

The Guardians aren’t concerned about offense at the catching position, which is why Austin Hedges is always in the lineup. The organization places a high value on his ability to work with the pitching staff.

Well, wonder if the organization could upgrade defensively and add some pop to the lineup? Enter Sean Murphy, who could be on the block around the trade deadline.

Murphy’s not going to make anyone forget Mike Piazza, but he would be more of a power threat than what the Guardians currently offer at the position. The Wright State and Centerville, Ohio product hit 17 home runs last season while driving in 59 runs. He’s only batting .211 this season, but has four homers.

Perhaps the biggest argument lies in the wRC+ number. This stat basically measures run creation and the league average is 100. Hedges’s wRC+ is currently 50, according to Fangraphs, while Murphy is at 114.