The Dodgers’ bullpen problems have reached a tipping point. With a 4.43 ERA and key injuries piling up, their relief corps has become one of baseball’s biggest disappointments this season.
Tanner Scott’s four-year, $72 million deal was supposed to help fix things, but he’s been struggling before landing on the injured list. Then came Wednesday’s eighth inning meltdown from Kirby Yates, who coughed up the lead and reminded everyone exactly why the Dodgers need a legitimate closer before the trade deadline.
That’s where Emmanuel Clase comes in.
FanSided’s Chris Landers proposed a blockbuster deal that would bring the three-time All-Star closer from Cleveland to Los Angeles:
- Dodgers receive: RHP Emmanuel Clase
- Guardians receive: LHP Justin Wrobleski, RHP Ben Casparius, OF Zyhir Hope (Dodgers’ No. 2 prospect), INF Logan Wagner (Dodgers’ No. 25 prospect)
“You could see both teams up in arms over this package, which is how you know you’re somewhere near the mark,” wrote Landers. “Clase isn’t quite at the all-world level he was last year, but he’s still been awfully good, with a 2.80 ERA and 22 saves so far thanks to that triple-digits cutter that remains as wicked as ever.”
The price is steep, but Clase’s track record speaks for itself. He led all of baseball in saves in both 2022 and 2023, then topped the American League again last season. Since 2021, he’s posted a 1.78 ERA with 179 saves and won two Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year Awards.
What makes this deal even more attractive is Clase’s contract situation. He comes with one more guaranteed year of team control, plus team options for 2027 and 2028. That’s exactly the kind of cost certainty the Dodgers need for their back-end bullpen.
If Cleveland’s actually willing to listen on their closer – and that’s still a big if – Clase immediately becomes one of the deadline’s hottest commodities. For the Dodgers, he’d slot in as the closer while Scott works back into setup duty once he returns from the IL.
That would push Yates into other high-leverage situations where he might be more comfortable, giving manager Dave Roberts the kind of late-inning flexibility that’s been missing all season. Sometimes you’ve got to pay a premium to fix your biggest weakness.
