The Cleveland Guardians were just a couple of wins away from reaching the 2024 World Series.
They were one of the hottest teams in the majors at this point last season.
Now, they’re around .500 and just broke a three-game losing streak.
They trail the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers, and while they’re still in the AL Wild Card race, they’re falling behind at a dangerous rate.
That’s why, with the trade deadline looming, the Guardians might have to make some tough decisions.
According to Zack Meisel of The Athletic, that means not even All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase is a lock to stay with Cleveland.
“What about closer Emmanuel Clase? He’s due $6.4 million next season, with $10 million club options in 2027 and ’28. The Guardians are always angling to move a pitcher before it’s too late, and Clase seems like a prime candidate to be mentioned on the hot stove this winter. They could listen on him this summer, too, but they might prefer to use the second half to confirm he’s still the same guy who finished third in the AL Cy Young Award voting last season,” Meisel wrote.
Clase didn’t look like his usual self at the beginning of the season.
Some claimed he hadn’t mentally recovered from his struggles in the ALCS, but it seemed like it had more to do with exhaustion and injury.
He’s not the dominant reliever of old, but he’s gotten closer to his usual level over the past couple of months.
This season, he’s logged a 3.82 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 30.2 innings.
His numbers look much better when you realize that he had an 0.84 ERA in 11 appearances in May, but he’s given up two runs in 6.2 innings in June, so it seems like the Guardians never know what version of him they’re going to get.
Despite his struggles, he is one of the best closers of the past five years, so it’ll be interesting to see what the Guardians decide to do going forward.
NEXT: Guardians Warned About Making Surprising Move With Kyle Manzardo
