Cleveland Guardians Reportedly Have No Plans To Trade Star Closer

The Cleveland Guardians are one of the many American League teams vying for a playoff spot. They have some work to do in the second half of the season. The Detroit Tigers currently hold a double-digit lead in the AL Central, and Cleveland currently sits 4.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot. Many wondered whether the team would become sellers at the trade deadline, with star closer Emmanuel Clase being at the center of many rumors. According to a recent report, the team has no plans to trade him.

Cleveland Guardians Reportedly Keeping Emmanuel Clase

There are plenty of teams that could use some help in the bullpen. The Los Angeles Dodgers have reportedly been calling not only the Cleveland Guardians but many other teams, trying to get another arm for the bullpen. USA Today reporter Bob Nightengale reports that the Guardians are not keen on moving off their star closer just yet.

“The Cleveland Guardians are telling teams they plan to keep closer Emmanuel Clase, who still is under team control through 2028. He’s eligible for salary arbitration one final time in 2026, and has club options for $10 million in 2027 and 2028.”

The key here is the team control. Cleveland doesn’t want to move one of their best players when it still has multiple years of control. Often, players who get traded are in the last year of their deal, and teams want to get some value back. Furthermore, Clase has been one of the best closers in the league, posting 40+ saves in three straight seasons. He already has 21 this year. Is it a smart move by the Guardians to keep him?

Good Idea To Hang Onto Him?

I’m never going to fault an organization for hanging onto a great player. However, the Cleveland Guardians are in a tough situation in the American League. Winning the division seems unlikely. Barring a colossal collapse from the Tigers, the Guardians will be fighting for a Wild Card spot. Despite winning eight of their last ten games, they are still 4.5 games out of the final spot. Getting to the postseason isn’t guaranteed.

If there were a team that really wanted Emmanuel Clase, they might be able to get a slew of players who could help them in the future. Ultimately, his fate might be decided by how the next week and a half go. If the Guardians continue to string together wins, it will solidify their stance. If they start losing at a rapid pace, the front office could look to get a massive haul back for their closer. The MLB trade deadline is fast approaching, and every team will have some tough decisions to make.