The Cleveland Guardians are on the outside looking in on the AL playoff field, a little over halfway through the season. With a month to go until the MLB trade deadline, the Guardians are one of the teams considered to be major players come the end of July.
But, it may not be for the reason fans want. According to MLB executives in a piece from Jim Bowden of The Athletic, the Guardians might be trading their closer, Emmanuel Clase, at the MLB trade deadline.
"Clase's name kept coming up in the survey," Bowden wrote. "Which surprised me as he's considered one of the top closers in the game."
MORE: Guardians urged to make tough Emmanuel Clase decision amid rough season
Not only is Clase one of the better relievers in baseball, but he's also on a fairly team-friendly deal. He's under team control through 2026, with two club options of $10 million for 2027 and 2028.
The 27-year-old closer is in the middle of a solid season, but just decent by his standards. Clase has a 3.28 ERA over 37 appearances, while also notching 18 saves so far in 2025. While solid, it doesn't compare to his absurd 2024 season when he had a 0.61 ERA in 74 appearances with 47 saves.
Since coming to Cleveland in 2021, Clase has been one of the best closers in baseball. While the Guardians reliever has been in trade rumors before, this report from Bowden on MLB executives is further indication that the 2025 season could be Clase's last in Cleveland.
Clase would be a huge addition to most teams around baseball, and at the worst, the Guardians would likely net a haul for the All-Star closer. But, it's trending more towards a Class trade than ever before, which would be the end of an era in Cleveland.
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