Phillies Eye Three-Time All-Star Closer to Fix Struggling Bullpen at Trade Deadline
It’s no secret the Philadelphia Phillies are in desperate need of bullpen reinforcements as the MLB trade deadline approaches. With their relief corps underperforming across the board, one MLB insider suggests a bold move: trading for three-time All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase.
The Phillies’ bullpen woes are well-documented. They rank 24th in ERA (4.45) and tied for 24th in opponent batting average (.258). Key arms have failed to deliver—Jose Alvarado is serving an 80-game PED suspension and is ineligible for the postseason, Jordan Romano owns a 7.28 ERA in 33 outings, and 2024 All-Star Matt Strahm has seen a dip in performance with a 3.78 ERA and 1.230 WHIP.
Despite those issues, Philadelphia is still in contention—50-36 and holding a two-game lead over the New York Mets in the NL East entering Wednesday’s game against the Padres. But if the Phillies want to be legitimate World Series contenders, they’ll need to shore up the back end of their pitching staff.
According to ESPN’s David Schoenfield, the ideal trade target is Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase, who has led the American League in saves for three straight seasons. Schoenfield notes, “The Phillies need bullpen help and they need to win now. This has all the markings of a Dave Dombrowski deal.”
Clase had a rough start to 2025, finishing April with a 6.75 ERA and two blown saves, but has since settled in with a 3.28 ERA and 18 saves, blowing just one since April. Despite concerns about his declining ground ball rate (down from 68% in 2021 to 45% this season), he’s allowed only one home run all year and is likely a victim of BABIP bad luck, according to Schoenfield.
Still, the Guardians might be open to moving him now—while his value remains high but with signs of possible decline. Clase inked a five-year, $20 million deal in 2022 and remains one of the more affordable elite relievers. He’s under control through 2025 with team options for 2027 and 2028 at just $10 million per season.
Acquiring Clase won’t come cheap. The Phillies would likely need to part with top-tier prospects, potentially including Justin Crawford and Eduardo Tait.
One caveat? Clase’s postseason performance has been shaky. In the 2024 playoffs, he gave up three home runs in seven appearances, including a brutal 15.43 ERA in the ALCS against the Yankees. Still, his regular-season dominance and contract value make him an intriguing target as the Phillies look to patch their biggest hole.
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