The Cleveland Guardians made their first big move ahead of the trade deadline by acquiring outfielder Lane Thomas from the Washington Nationals on Monday. In return, the Nationals received three prospects from the Guardians: Infielders Jose Tena and Rafael Ramirez and left-handed pitcher Alex Clemmey.
Lane Thomas made his MLB debut for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2019 before he was traded to the Washington Nationals at the trade deadline two years later. He made an instant impact in Washington, establishing himself as an everyday outfielder. Last year, Thomas hit .268/.315/.468 with 116 OPS+ and 67 extra-base hits, which included 28 home runs.

Although the Guardians still hold the best record in the American League (64-42), there are some holes to fill in the roster. Starting pitching was a major concern after ace Shane Bieber was ruled out for the season while young pitchers like Logan Allen and Tristan McKenzie have performed poorly so far. However, the lineup has also struggled to score runs lately, so it was essential to bring in a hitter at the deadline.
Aside from Stephen Kwan, the other regular Cleveland outfielders Tyler Freeman, Angel Ramirez and Will Brennan, are all batting under .250 and have OPS+ below 100, which is the league average. On the other hand, Thomas possesses a .253/.331/.407 slashline in 2024 with 112 OPS+. He also has 40 RBIs, 28 stolen bases, 16 doubles and eight home runs.
Lane Thomas should add more flexibility to Guardians line-up

The Nationals may seem to be the winners of this trade for bagging three prospects, but the Guardians have also brought in a piece that should fit well with the requirements of the team. Similar to most of the club's hitters, Thomas offers good plate discipline with a low chase rate. However, he also crushes right-handed, which is something they desperately need.
The Guardians will likely use Stephen Kwan and Lane Thomas as their two everyday outfielders while switching between Freeman, Ramirez and Brennan for the other third spot, depending upon the situation. The Guardians could also free the rookie Jhonkesy Noel from his utility role and convert him into a full-time designated hitter.
Meanwhile, Thomas only has a $2.2 million annual salary, so the Guardians won't have to shell out a big paycheck while he is at the club. He will also not be eligible for free agency until the end of the 2025 campaign, although he is set for salary arbitration at the end of this season.