3 trade packages that can help Dodgers acquire Jose Ramirez

2. Bobby Miller, Michael Busch, Maddux Bruns, Carlos Duran

Like we said, the Guardians love pitching. The best Cleveland team in recent memory featured stacked rotations and bullpens. So here’s another attempt to sway them to let go of their franchise star:

• No. 3 prospect Michael Busch
• No. 4 prospect Bobby Miller
• No. 12 prospect Maddux Bruns
• No. 17 prospect Carlos Duran

Busch can help Cleveland solve their middle infield woes, because we’re just not sure Andres Gimenez and Amed Rosario are the answer. Busch offers potential stability at second base with a pesky bat (.267 AVG., .870 OPS with 20 homers and 67 RBI in 107 games last season at Double-A). And 2021 was his first full professional season.

Miller, a right-hander, is expected to be Walker Buehler-esque, and we’re not sure who would turn down that comp in trade talks. He’s got a 2.40 ERA and 0.94 WHIP with 70 strikeouts in 17 games (56.1 innings) for his professional career (High-A and Double-A) and his fastball and slider grade out as “plus” pitches, accompanied by a curve and changeup.

Bruns, like Miller, is a former first-round pick (2021) and hit the rookie league for just four starts last season. The left-hander hits 98 MPH on his fastball and also sports a slider, curve and changeup, the latter two of which are said to need improvement. We’ll have a clearer picture of his trajectory after a full 2022 campaign.

And finally, Duran, who hit High-A last season. His career 4.19 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 47 career games (163.1 innings) isn’t exactly impressive … but what do you think about 184 strikeouts, 115 of which came in just 81 innings last year? Think that’s a talent the Guardians might want to work with? The Dominican right-hander throws a two-seamer, curve and change, and was obviously effective enough to mix them up to the tune of triple-digit strikeouts.

Tons of upside here that should be appealing enough.