The Cleveland Guardians showed major signs of life in July after a tough June.
Then, disaster struck again.
MLB placed Emmanuel Clase on non-disciplinary paid leave because of his alleged involvement in a betting scheme.
Even if he’s in the clear — which is a big if — it’s hard to imagine the situation gets solved before the end of the season.
With that in mind, insider Paul Hoynes raised a major question about the Guardians’ new closers.
“The Guardians’ closer by committee is coming off a good week. The question is how long can it last? The loss of Emmanuel Clase is going to take a toll. That’s especially true if the Guardians manage to stay within shouting distance of contention for the rest of the season. Clase was on a Hall of Fame trajectory. To have MLB take him off Cleveland’s roster on Monday because of gambling allegations is not something that is easily overcome,” Hoynes wrote.
Cade Smith looked ready to take on that role even before Clase’s absence.
In fact, with trade rumors surrounding Clase, some fans and analysts claimed that the Guardians would’ve felt comfortable moving on from him because Smith was a reliable replacement.
Hunter Gaddis has also held his ground, but the sample size is quite limited.
There’s no easy way to replace one of the best players in baseball, especially at such a crucial position.
The Guardians are still looking to crawl their way back to the playoffs.
They’re not far behind in the AL Wild Card race, and they have a realistic chance to make it.
Their gritty style can help them thrive in close games.
However, that’s also why they need an elite closer with the stakes that high, and not having Clase available could be a lethal blow this season.
NEXT: C.J. Kayfus Called On To Address Glaring Concern About His Game
