The Cleveland Guardians lost their All-Star closer, likely for good. According to reports, Emmanuel Clase isn’t going to take an MLB mound ever again after being indicted for an alleged sports gambling scheme.
The Guardians did a great job of replacing Clase after he was put on leave during the season. Cade Smith looked ready to take on a bigger role, and the reliever lived up to the task.
Nevertheless, analyst Justin Lada doesn’t seem to be fully sold on Smith and urged the Guardians to make a move for three veteran closers.
“I want to come away with a guy who’s got closing experience. I want Ryan Helsley or Pete Fairbanks from the Rays, or even Kyle Finnegan. I would bring one of those guys,” Lada said.
Smith isn’t as proven as any of those pitchers. Also, he can return to a setup role for the new closer.
That being said, there’s no point in spending money to address a position that’s already covered. The Guardians aren’t known for their free agent sprees, so they must be careful about what they do invest.
Late in the season and in the playoffs, Smith proved his worth. He looked poised, calm, and in full control more often than not.
Reports have said that the Guardians were already looking to trade Clase at the deadline before he was sidelined. That speaks volumes about the level of confidence they have in Smith.
Teams have their own plans during the offseason. But with the way Smith pitched last season, adding another closer to the Guardians’ roster feels redundant at this point.
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