The Cleveland Guardians’ bullpen is universally considered the best and most consistent in the league.
However, in the conversation of who the best reliever in baseball is, closer Emmanuel Clase is usually the only member of the Guardians in consideration.
Evidence suggests, however, that Cade Smith should be mentioned more often in these talks.
MLB analyst Dan Plesac is making sure to include Smith, the MLB leader in relief pitching fWAR last year as a rookie, in his own top three.
Plesac and fellow MLB Network analyst Brian Kenny were discussing the five best relievers in the game.
The latter went with Mason Miller, Clase, Devin Williams, Tyler Holton, and Tanner Scott in his top five.
.@Plesac19 thinks the @CleGuardians have two of the best three relievers in baseball right now.pic.twitter.com/pXS8cJfZnX
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 24, 2025
Plesac, a three-time All-Star in the late eighties during his playing days, had a different set of names in mind.
His top five had Clase at the top, Miller in second place, and Smith checking in at third.
Ryan Helsley and Williams rounded out the group.
It’s time for Smith to get some more respect, and Plesac picking him as the third-best reliever in baseball speaks volumes of his talent and achievements with just one season of MLB experience.
It was, as you can imagine, a very good season.
With a 1.91 ERA and 103 strikeouts, Smith was absolutely dominant, and his consistency gave manager Stephen Vogt plenty of solutions to navigate the toughest outs of every game.
No reliever in the league matched his 2.7 fWAR, and he did it as a first-year pitcher.
He is now one of the most valuable players in baseball considering age, skill, achievements, and cheap team control.
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