Cubs & Guardians
Submitted by: Benjo
Cubs
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emmanuel Clase | 27 | Majors | RP | Low | 3.8 | 50.8 | 29.4 | 21.4 | 17.1 | 21.4 | 25.6 |
Total Value:
21.4
Guardians
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Alcantara | 22 | Majors | OF | 5.8 | 12.8 | 0 | 12.8 | 10.3 | 12.8 | 15.4 | ||
| Brandon Birdsell | 24 | Minors | SP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.3 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 3.9 | ||
| Jordan Wicks | 24 | Majors | SP | 4.8 | 10.3 | 4.9 | 5.4 | 4.3 | 5.4 | 6.5 |
Total Value:
21.50
Comments
9Not sure what is going on with Clase, but Cubs need to make moves before season is lost.
This deal at least has merit, but with Cleveland in the mix of the playoffs, I really really doubt Cleveland moves Clase and if they do, expect a price so high, a team would be stupid to trade for him. IF Cleveland were to trade him at his current value, this would at least have Cleveland interested.
Per Ms. Dajuba, Clase would obviously have to pass a physical. To SC's point about the return, not sure why Guardians would want to set the price so high as to preclude a trade. I get that Cleveland is in the thick of the race, but they seem set at closer with Smith. Why not trade from abundance to fill holes? Haven't followed them closely, but as usual they look thin in the outfield. Their style seems to be to go with longer, controllable players, hence the Cubs offer. If nothing else, Alcantara gives them top tier defense and high ceiling on offense, plus Wicks and Birdsell would prop up the rotation and/or middle inning relief. From the Cubs perspective, it's giving up a lot of young talent, but their bullpen is worse than the numbers, which are terrible. Their best relievers are Keller, a walk on, and Thielbar, a one-trick lefty curve throwing pony. Hodge and Merryweather suck. Pressly makes Neris look like Fireman of the Year.
You don't seem to understand Smith hasn't been the closer, he was only closing a couple times to give Clase a rest.... Smith is actually their 7th inning guy with Herrin. Gaddis is the setup and Clase is the Closer... The problem is Alcantara is not a proven guy... Martinez right now is out hitting Alcantara in general and plays a solid CF, but he's still learning the positions since he got switch from the MIF... Jones has upside, but hasn't been able to get it together from the injury last year. Thomas is hurt and they have either too heavy of a contact in Brennan or windmills in JRod and Noel. Cleveland also essentially stated through the rumor mill, they wanted Horton plus some for Clase... It's not Cleveland doesn't want Alcantara, but they aren't going to trade Clase unless they get exactly what they want, which is way more than this. Remember Cleveland is notorious for being hard to trade with...
SC, countless pitchers have gone from set up guy to closer, including Andrew Miller. Remember him. I can name a bunch of others. You saying Smith can’t do it? You just named 5-6 guys who aren’t getting the job in the OF for Guardians, but you’re waiting on another team to overwhelm you with an offer for Clase, who is having an off year. Sounds unrealistic to me.
Cleveland brass isn't moving Clase, not when they have long term control plus the fact they are just starting their playoff swing... Next four seasons, having the strongest bullpen in MLB, makes a ton of sense... Alcantara, on paper, was hitting worse at AAA than Brennan was... He's still a very young player and his upside is there, but he hasn't proven anything. How does that help Cleveland now? How does getting an unproven player help Cleveland at all? It honestly doesn't... Cleveland doesn't have to trade Clase either... You think they will just trade him just because? Their starting pitching in general is starting to shape up... They will be getting Bieber back... They will be getting more RP help etc... Secondly half of the season They should have dominant pitching if everyone is healthy. They need an MLB bat, not a prospect... They have DeLauter, who when healthy, is a better hitter than anyone in the Cubs farm system. Kayfus, is playing OF to see if he can... He's been one of the best in the minors the last two years... Cleveland really needs a proven 2 or 5 hitter in the lineup... Alcantara isn't that and don't say he is otherwise he would be with the Cubs... Then again, 3B is your area of production need, but you have an unproven in Shaw there...
Ps. Clase is back in his closer role and looks just fine... He just needed a few days of extra rest it seems...
NEWSLETTER? SURE, SIGN ME UP!
🤔 I think he’s hurt, and I think the Guardians know he’s hurt and are just waiting for someone to call and would love to send him Chicago’s way……🤕 I can see it now, Cubs trade for him, he continues to pitch poorly and finally goes down for good after the deadline passes, is out for the rest of the year and all of ‘26, then a lockout in ‘27, he finally pitches for the Cubs in ‘28 (his walk year). Meanwhile in Cleveland, Kevin Alcantara, Brandon Birdsell and Jordan Wicks are helping the Guardians reach the playoffs in ‘25 & ‘26……🤦🏻♀️
Want to know what's up with Clase... three factors... One - he was adding a second type of fastball to his mix, though that wasn't going well. Second he has had extremely bad luck, 2.77 FIP to 5.19 ERA and third, he had some shoulder discomfort, but after taking a few days off and not throwing in the closer role was a couple days, he has been sharp. I think it was more overuse than any actual injury.