MLB Rumors: Cleveland Guardians Starter Becoming Trade Candidate

Cleveland Guardians' starting pitcher Zach Plesac has been the subject of trade rumors for the past two seasons.

Despite his reliable performances on the mound in the past, the Guardians' need for more offense has led to speculation that he could be traded.

Plesac's team control and relatively young age make him an attractive option for contenders in need of starting pitching. However, his past behavior, including an incident in 2020 that rubbed teammates the wrong way and injuries resulting from temper tantrums in 2021 and 2022, may have impacted his standing within the team.

I love this.

Zach Plesac earns the strikeout with a breaker that breaks Barnhart's legs. Doesn't get the call.

So he strikes him out on the next pitch instead. JUSTICE. pic.twitter.com/O15fgc4yqT

— Nick Pollack (@PitcherList) August 4, 2020

As the Guardians continue to develop their pitching prospects, it seems increasingly likely that Plesac will be traded before his price tag escalates through arbitration. While the team may consider trading both Plesac and Aaron Civale, Plesac seems more likely to go given his past behavior and injury issues.

Plesac could be an attractive trade piece for teams looking to fill a mid-to-backend rotation spot without breaking the bank.

Big bases loaded strikeout from Zach Plesac!#OurCLE pic.twitter.com/tKFs32qZOD

— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) September 30, 2021

However, the Guardians may have missed the perfect time to trade him, as the 28-year-old now owns a not-too-shiny 4.60 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 208 strikeouts across 287.1 innings and 52 starts since 2021.

As a result, he won't command the same return as he once could have.

Overall, Plesac's future with the Guardians is uncertain, and it remains to be seen whether the team will decide to trade him. However, his potential trade value and the team's abundance of high-end pitching talent suggest that a trade is likely. Photo Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports