Guardians Opinion: Pros, Cons Of Emmanuel Clase Trade

Originally posted on Cleveland Guardians on SI
By Tommy Wild | Last updated Dec 3, 2023 5:36 PM ET

MLB's winter meetings kick off on Sunday, and there was a surprising name that arose in trade rumors ahead of the annual gathering. ESPN's Jeff Passan reported on Friday that the Cleveland Guardians were "open to dealing" dealing All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase.

Moving on from a pitcher with the talent Clase has isn't an easy decision to make. Let's take a look at some pros and cons of trading Cleveland's ninth-inning go-to arm.

Pros of Clase Trade

It's not every day that an All-Star closer appears on the trade block. Clase could bring in quite the haul, considering his track record along with his current contract status (under team control through the 2028 season). He could be the chip that gets Cleveland a reliable outfield bat.
The Guardians just traded for relief pitcher Scott Barlow. The righty has experience as a closer during his time with the Kansas City Royals. In the event of a Clase trade, Cleveland already has someone who could fill his role.
Clase showed signs of regression in 2023, as his strikeout rate fell from 28.4% to 21.2% in just one season. The Guardians typically know when it's time to move on from a pitcher, and now may be the best time if that's the decision they've reached with Clase.

Cons Of Clase Trade

Clase had his inconsistencies last season, but he still recorded 44 saves in 2023 and 42 in 2022, which were the most in the American League in both seasons.
The team-friendly deal is a pro in a potential trade and can also be considered a con too. New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz signed a five-year, $102 million contract last offseason, and free-agent closer Josh Hader is reportedly looking to get a similar deal this winter. That's the going rate for All-Star closers, which makes Clase's five-year, $20 million contract look like a bargain.

One of the luxuries of having Clase on your roster is that you can count on him to be on the mound just about every other day. He pitched in a league-leading 77 games in 2022 and 75 games in 2023. Don't take for granted the iron-man mentality he has in the game.

This article first appeared on Cleveland Guardians on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: