Guardians urged to promote 1.243 OPS catcher despite just trading for Patrick Bailey

The Cleveland Guardians are 21-21, but they're sitting atop the AL Central with the rest of the division struggling this season.

There's a real chance they can win the division, but they need more offense. That was why the trade they made for Patrick Bailey, a defensive-first catcher from the San Francisco Giants, was such an interesting move.

Christopher Kline of Fansided.com is urging the Guardians, despite their trade for Bailey to join the catcher room over Bo Naylor, to promote a top prospect in 1.243 OPS catcher Cooper Ingle.

"The Guardians clearly value his defense and his game manager IQ behind the plate, but Cleveland always needs more boppers," Kline writes. "... Cooper Ingle could be the next man up."

Promoting Ingle, who is tearing it up in the minor leagues this season, would be a sensible decision. But, in the wake of trading for Bailey, this promotion would take on a whole new meaning.

Why calling up Cooper Ingle to pair with Patrick Bailey would make sense

This season in the minor leagues, Ingle has a 1.243 OPS in 20 games at the Triple-A level. He is hitting .370 with 20 hits, 17 runs scored, two doubles, five homers, 19 RBIs, 22 walks, and just 15 strikeouts.

Calling up a catcher to simply sit him the majority of the time wouldn't make much sense. The Guardians would need to find a way to get him into the lineup more consistently.

That might come in the form of some games as the Guardians' designated hitter. His offensive upside is good enough that he should be starting over Bailey anyway.

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But trading for Bailey likely means he will get a chance to start often for Cleveland. While a catcher duo might not be the best idea, this scenario actually would work great for Cleveland.

Bailey is the defensive-focused catcher, while Ingle is the slugger. They can start on any given day, and if Bailey is starting, Ingle could slide into the DH spot.

The Guardians might have to get creative if they call up Ingle, which is becoming more and more of a reality with how great he's performing at Triple-A this year.

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