Photo Credit: Justine Willard-Imagn Images
The Los Angeles Angels continued reshaping their roster ahead of the MLB trade deadline by trading outfielder Jo Adell to the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for catching prospect Jacob Cozart.
The move marks another significant deal under interim general manager John Mozeliak, who has aggressively sold off talent in recent days. Adell joins a growing list of players traded, including reliever Chase Silseth, catcher Logan O’Hoppe, starting pitcher José Soriano and veteran reliever Brent Suter.
Guardians Take Chance on Adell’s Untapped Potential
Once regarded as one of baseball’s top prospects, Adell was selected 10th overall by the Angels in the 2017 MLB Draft and entered the majors with enormous expectations.
The 27-year-old struggled to consistently translate his athleticism into production early in his career, battling strikeouts and defensive inconsistency. However, he broke through in 2025 with a career-best season, hitting 37 home runs with 98 RBIs and posting a .778 OPS.
His production dipped this season, as he slashed .239/.287/.395 with 16 home runs, 108 strikeouts and just 16 walks in 456 plate appearances. Even so, Cleveland is betting on his power potential and team control, with Adell remaining under club control through the 2027 season.
The Cleveland Guardians will likely give Jo Adell a regular role in right field as they look to strengthen their outfield for both the present and future.
Angels Add Defensive Catching Prospect
In return, Los Angeles acquired Jacob Cozart, Cleveland’s No. 18-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline.
A second-round pick out of NC State in the 2024 MLB Draft, the 23-year-old catcher has built a reputation for his defensive ability behind the plate. He was batting .239/.330/.384 with 10 home runs at Double-A this season while continuing to develop offensively.
The trade further signals the Angels’ commitment to adding young talent as they continue their deadline sell-off. With interest reportedly remaining in players such as Zach Neto and Reid Detmers, Los Angeles could make additional moves before the trade deadline expires.
