Phillies 4-Player Trade Prediction Lands Guardians' Emmanuel Clase
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The Philadelphia Phillies hold the edge in the National League East division with the All-Star break rapidly approaching, but there is at least one area they are openly targeting for an improvement.
"By default, I would say the back end of our bullpen is the one area that we would probably (upgrade)," Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told Julian McWilliams of CBS Sports. "And when I say back end, people that can pitch late in the game and close tight games."
The Phillies' need for a new closer was made apparent when their most trusted reliever, Jose Alvarado, was suspended with no eligibility for the playoffs after violating Major League Baseball's performance-enhancing drug policy. So far this season, the Phillies' bullpen has a 4.37 ERA mark that is the eighth-worst in MLB.
As the team hunts for a solution, Garrett Kerman of ClutchPoints predicted it would land Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase for a package of prospects including Justin Crawford, Griff McGarry and Aiden Miller.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JULY 15: Emmanuel Clase #48 of the Cleveland Guardians speaks to media during Gatorade All-Star Workout Day at Globe Life Field on July 15, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Gene Wang/Getty...
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JULY 15: Emmanuel Clase #48 of the Cleveland Guardians speaks to media during Gatorade All-Star Workout Day at Globe Life Field on July 15, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by) More
Wang/Getty
"For Philadelphia, Clase immediately stabilizes the back end of the bullpen and boosts their World Series aspirations," Kerman wrote. "For Cleveland, moving Clase is about maximizing value and aligning with a new competitive window."
So far this year, Clase has not quite been the shutdown option he was last year, when he earned American League Reliever of the Year Award honors with a 0.61 ERA and 47 saves across 74 1/3 total innings. But if the Phillies believe he can recapture some of that form in the second half, he would be a relatively affordable medium-term option as he is owed just $6.4 million next season with two $10 million club options beyond that.
And the Guardians could very well find themselves selling at the trade deadline, as they sit more than 15 games behind the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central division. However, it's unclear if the Phillies would really be willing to give up two of their best prospects in Crawford and Miller for a reliever who has seen better days.
More MLB: Cubs Predicted To Part Ways With Young Pitcher Amid Injury Woes
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