The Guardians have been searching for answers in the outfield . They've now added another name to the mix of possible solutions.
The Guardians dealt right-handed pitcher Cody Morris to the New York Yankees in exchange for 26-year-old outfielder Estevan Florial .
Cleveland Guardians offseason wish list: What they're asking for this Christmas
At the major league level, Florial has played just 48 games spread across four seasons with the Yankees, hitting a combined .209 with a .609 OPS. At Triple-A last season, Florial hit .284 with a .380 on-base percentage and a .945 OPS to go with 28 home runs, 23 doubles, 79 RBIs and 25 stolen bases.
Florial, once one of the top-60 prospects across baseball, gives the Guardians another young outfielder who can compete for at-bats, joining Will Brennan , Myles Straw and Ramon Laureano (along with Steven Kwan , who is the lone outfielder with a clearly defined place in the everyday lineup).
Laureano figures to see regular time as a platoon hitter against left-handed pitchers.
Florial, as a lefty, also joins the left-handed ranks of younger outfielders in the Guardians' organization, a group that primarily includes Kwan and top prospects George Valera and Chase DeLauter.
Morris was another pitcher in the Guardians' pipeline that warranted some excitement, though injuries derailed multiple seasons. He ended up tossing only 31 2/3 innings at the major league level the last two seasons, posting a combined 3.41 ERA with 32 strikeouts and 18 walks.
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Guardians at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/cleveland-guardians. Follow him on Twitter at @ByRyanLewis .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians trade Cody Morris to Yankees for Estevan Florial
