MLB insider: Philadelphia Phillies should trade for three-time All-Star closer
It’s widely known the Philadelphia Phillies will need to upgrade their troubled bullpen at the trade deadline, but who will they go after and what will they have to give up? One MLB expert is proposing the Phillies deal for a three-time All-Star more detailed.
Philadelphia’s bullpen concerns run deep. They rank 24th in period at 4.45 and tied for 24th in batting average permitted at.258. Lefty flamethrower Jose Alvarado was given an 80-game PED suspension in May and is restricted from pitching in the postseason. Jordan Romano, the Phillies’ leading free-agent reducer acquisition, has a 7.28 ERA in 33 looks. And 2024 All-Star Matt Strahm has actually regressed this season with a 3.78 ERA and 1.230 WHIP.
Heading into Wednesday night’s game versus the San Diego Padres, the Phillies are 50-36 and 2 games ahead of the New York Mets for first place in the National League East.
If the Phillies wish to make a deep postseason run, they’re going to need to solidify their bullpen. And to do that, according to ESPN’s David Schoenfield, they need to trade for Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase.
” The Phillies need bullpen assistance and they need to win now. This has all the markings of a Dave Dombrowski deal,” Schoenfield notes.
Clase, who led the AL in conserves the last three seasons, had a hard time to start the year. He had a 6.75 age at the end of April with two blown saves, but has actually enhanced to 3.28 and taped 18 minimizes the season, while blowing just one because.
” He’s enabling a. 289 average after batters hit just.154 versus him in 2024, and while his place was certainly off a bit in April, he also had a lot of BABIP misfortune,” Schoenfield composed. “His ground ball rate is significantly below where it once was (as high as 68% in 2021, down to 45% this season), but he has still given up simply one crowning achievement.
” Provided the possible return for Clase– and hedging versus the possibility that he could be on the decrease– this may be the best possibility for the Guardians to get a huge haul for him.”
Clase signed a five-year, $20 million extension with the Guardians in April 2022 and is a budget friendly reliever. He would still have three years of control left after 2025, with $10 million club alternatives for 2027 and 2028. Acquiring Clase would require a considerable possibility haul from the Phillies, possibly consisting of top potential customers like Justin Crawford and Eduardo Tait.
While Clase has actually had success during the regular season, it hasn’t equated to the playoffs. Clase was struck hard throughout the 2024 postseason, quiting 3 crowning achievement in 7 appearances, consisting of a 15.43 age in the ALCS against the New York Yankees.
