The Cleveland Guardians lost their All-Star closer this season. They already seemed to be leaning toward a split with Emmanuel Clase, and his involvement in a sports gambling scandal has likely ended his time in Major League Baseball.
Cade Smith did an outstanding job filling in last season, and he should be given the opportunity to be Cleveland’s closer going forward. Nevertheless, the team could explore other options.
With that in mind, analyst Tim Kelly named the Guardians among the potential suitors for another All-Star closer.
“Devin Williams’ contract year didn’t go well, and 2025 will turn out to be his lone season with the Yankees. Relievers, though, are such a year-to-year proposition. Plenty of teams will be happy to bet on a bounce-back season from Williams, who seemed on a Hall of Fame trajectory when he posted a 1.89 ERA between 2019 and 2023. If not the Braves, go down the list of contenders that aren’t the Yankees —the Dodgers, Blue Jays, Phillies, Mets, Guardians — and they all make sense if Williams signs a prove-it deal,” Kelly wrote.
Williams had a year to forget with New York. He was far from the supertar reliever he was with the Milwaukee Brewers, up to the point where he even lost the closer’s job. Yet, the talent is there, and perhaps it just wasn’t the right setting for him.
The Guardians have one of the best pitching coaching and development staffs in the game, and they could get him back on track. Then again, going after another closer, even one like Williams, might not be in the team’s best interests.
Even after a subpar year, Williams will most likely cause a bidding war as a free agent. The Guardians don’t usually engage in those, and with Smith already here, they might not need to go after someone else.
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