The Philadelphia Phillies have one of the least admirable bullpens in all of baseball. It will certainly be a sticking point for them at the trade deadline on July 31. There will be a plethora of targets to comb through across MLB, but one target that will most likely be off the board will be Cleveland Guardians' star closer Emmanuel Clase.
Clase would be a definite solution for a leaky Phillies bullpen that has barely kept their head above water since José Alvarado went out with his suspension. The deadline will be the best time to act and upgrade the roster in exchange for prospects, but not having a chance at Clase is a real blow to the dreams of Phillies fans.
Emmanuel Clase, Phillies' best trade deadline bullpen target, likely won't be moved at trade deadline
According to Buster Olney of ESPN, The Cleveland Guardians are listening to offers on everyone except on Emmanuel Clase as well as José Ramírez, Steven Kwan and Cade Smith. Clase's name was thrown around in trade rumors, but the Guardians have stated that they don't plan to move him.
However, Jon Heyman also reported that the Guardians are listening on Clase but are unlikely to trade him. The Guardians could still sell, but to get Clase at the deadline, the Phillies would have to massively separate themselves from other contenders.
Guardians are listening on relievers, including stars Smith and Clasé. Prices are understandably high. They are seen as not too likely to trade either top pen guy, and with MLB’s easiest closing schedule, they aren’t even a certain seller
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 19, 2025
Clase has pitched to a 5-2 record, 2.86 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 44 innings pitched. He's also pitched in 44 games to go along with his 21 saves. He's one of the best closers in baseball and is just one season removed from a 0.61 ERA and an AL-leading 47 saves in 2024. He also secured his third All-Star appearance, finished third in Cy Young Award voting, and 11th in the AL MVP vote.
Clase not only would have been a shutdown option for the Phillies, but he's locked into a team-friendly deal that nets him $6.4 million in 2026 and a $10 million club option each of the following two seasons in 2027-28. At 27 years old, he will be a hot commodity whether the Guardians want to deal him or not.
If Clase really doesn't become available by the deadline, Philadelphia will be forced to look elsewhere for a team-altering bullpen piece. They did start the process early with the signing of 40-year-old David Robertson for his third stint with the Phillies (2019, 2022 and now 2025). According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, that deal will pay Robertson $5 million (subscription required) on a pro-rated one-year, $16 million deal. It will cost the Phillies approximately $12 million due to the fourth luxury tax barrier tacking on a 110 percent tax.
There are other closers to target besides just Clase, but it would have been more of a sure thing. It would have cost them sizable prospects, but it's the type of deal that turns heads. Now they must look at other teams that are selling and start to investigate what relievers they can get before the dam breaks completely on this bullpen.