Guardians receive unexpected trade link with Astros' 19.6 bWAR infielder

The Cleveland Guardians are the current American League Central leaders, and they're very much expected to be deadline buyers this season.

But, with the team's lower payroll and inclination not to spend big, some of the top names on the market might not be the Guardians cup of tea.

However, CBS Sports' Mike Axisa unexpectedly linked the Guardians to a wild trade with the Houston Astros for 19.6 bWAR infielder, All-Star, and World Series MVP Jeremy Pena.

Guardians unexpectedly linked to Jeremy Pena in trade

"Possible landing spots: The Guardians, for sure, and there's the Padres, Rays, Tigers, and Yankees," Axisa writes. ".... Again, I'm not saying a Pena trade will happen or is likely to happen. I'm just saying I can see how it would happen at the deadline."

The Astros acting as sellers would not be a surprise, and it also wouldn't be too shocking if they did wind up trading more than simply expiring veterans or players like Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes.

But Pena is a bit different. He's a World Series MVP for the Astros, is 28 years old, and has 19.6 bWAR in his five seasons in the Major Leagues so far.

This season, in just 24 games, he has 1.2 bWAR with three homers, a .278 batting average, and a .737 OPS. Add in good defense and base running, and Pena is an all-around solid player.

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The Guardians would be getting better, but not because they're significantly improving at shortstop. Bryan Rocchio is the current starting shortstop, posting a .295 batting average with four homers and 28 RBIs to go with a .792 OPS in 59 games this season.

As good as Pena is, the Guardians don't necessarily need to trade for the Astros World Series MVP. Sure, he'd be a nice pickup, simply from the standpoint of Pena being a good player, and his addition would give the Guardians more flexibility.

But, they might be better off targeting Walker or Paredes, two Astros hitters who are much more likely to be traded than Pena this season.

Axisa saying that the Guardians are "for sure" a landing spot for Pena is a bit odd. He'd be a fun addition, but he's not such a clear fit that the Guardians should be listed as his top landing spot.

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