The Philadelphia Phillies are loaded with talent, but they’re still expected to hit the trade market pretty hard in the coming weeks.
Above all else, the Phillies need to upgrade their bullpen. The team’s closer, Jose Alvarado, was suspended for 80 games and the postseason a few months ago, and the Phillies need to replace him.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter recently listed the Phillies as the best landing spot in a trade for superstar closer Emmanuel Clase of the Cleveland Guardians.
“After a shaky start to the season, Clase is again pitching like a bullpen ace, converting 15 of 17 save opportunities with a 1.20 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 29 appearances since the beginning of June,” Reuter wrote. “His salary climbs from $4.9 million to $6.4 million next year, followed by a pair of $10 million club options, so the cost-conscious Guardians could sell now and turn over closer duties to Cade Smith.”
“The bullpen has been a consistent issue for the Phillies the past several seasons, and swinging a deal for a controllable, proven ninth-inning option who can anchor the relief corps for the next several years should be their top deadline priority.”
The Phillies need a closer as badly as anybody, especially considering Alvarado is set to miss the postseason. Philadelphia is likely going to hit the market hard, and if it does, there’s nothing stopping its front office from going after the best closer on the market.
Acquiring Clase would require quite the haul, but the Phillies could cut ties with top prospects like Justin Crawford and Mick Abel in order to make a deal happen. Clase would stick as the closer in Philadelphia for years to come if he were acquired.
While this idea might not make complete sense for the Guardians, the Phillies could send a loaded prospect package to Cleveland to pry the star from the Guardians’ grasp. It’ll all come down to how much the Phillies are willing to give up.
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