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Dodgers Get Bad News on Potential All-Star Bullpen Addition

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Griffin Goodwyn | Last updated Jun 28, 2025 3:00 PM ET

The Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to be buyers ahead of the trade deadline this season, just like they have in past years. And thanks to another recent trend (injuries that have placed a double-digit number of pitchers on the injured list), the Dodgers will look to add arms to both their bullpen and rotation.

As far as bullpen pieces go, Emmanuel Clase has emerged as a valuable trade candidate for contending teams – only if the Cleveland Guardians, who are 40-40 and 9.5 games behind the division-leading Detroit Tigers, decide to let him go. Clase, one of MLB's top closers, is an attractive commodity not only because of his quality, but also because of his three-plus years of control.

ESPN's Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel placed the Dodgers on a list of teams that Clase would make a good fit for, and the Dodgers have plenty of capital to make a potential deal work. But another insider, MLB Network's Jon Morosi, said the baseball world needs to pump the brakes on potential trades involving the three-time All-Star.

"There's plenty of speculation now. Will he be available?" Morosi said on a segment of MLB Central on Saturday. "I would say, right now, the odds are still against a Clase trade this year at the deadline."

Morosi noted, though, that Clase's trade value has climbed as the season has progressed. Morosi said it was down in March and April (6.75 ERA, just five saves) after negative momentum from Clase's postseason struggles carried into 2025. But Clase has since rebounded with a 0.84 ERA and seven saves in May, and a 1.69 ERA and six saves thus far in June.

Even though early indications show that Clase is unlikely to be dealt, Morosi said not to completely write that possibility off just yet.

"Because so many teams are in the race, it could create a scenario where, because there's scarcity of supply, that a team that really needs a closer – maybe its the [Philadelphia] Phillies, maybe it's even the Dodgers, when you consider their injuries this season – will overwhelm the Guardians," Morosi said. "The Guardians are one of those teams that are, even when they're in, at least, hold or buy mode, they keep an open ear because of their financial situation."

Through 36 total appearances this season, Clase has pitched to a 4-1 record, 3.38 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 36 strikeouts across 34.2 innings.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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