Blockbuster Trade Proposal Sends 2-Time All-Star Closer to Dodgers
t’s safe to say the Los Angeles Dodgers have won the offseason. Spending over $1 billion on players like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and others will do that.
Even after LA has flexed its financial muscle, The Athletic’s Keith Law still ranks L.A.’s minor-league system as baseball’s third best. Could they use it to pry closer Emmanuel Clase from the Cleveland Guardians?
FanSided’s Zachary Rotman cooked up potential trade packages on February 13 that Cleveland “couldn’t turn down” if they were presented to them. One of those proposals included Clase heading to the Dodgers in exchange for three players. Here are the details:
Dodgers receive: closer Emmanuel Clase
Guardians receive: catcher/first baseman Daulton Rushing, right-handed pitcher Gavin Stone and right-handed pitcher River Ryan
Of these three, Stone is the only one who has made his big-league debut so far. However, Ryan is right behind him, reaching Triple-A in 2023. While Rushing hasn’t made it above High-A yet, all three of these players are viewed highly within the Dodgers’ farm system.
After 2023, they all landed within Los Angeles’ top-10 prospects, per MLB.com. Rushing was first, followed by Stone at fourth and Ryan at eighth.
How the Dodgers’ Bullpen Could Improve by Swinging This Deal
Los Angeles didn’t make a ton of moves for its bullpen this winter. The biggest one included re-signing Ryan Brasier to a two-year, $9 million deal. FanGraphs’ Roster Resource has Evan Phillips penciled in as the 2024 Dodgers closer. He saved 24 games in 2023 while twirling a 2.05 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in 61.1 innings.
As it currently stands, the Dodgers’ bullpen is projected to be a top-10 unit in baseball this season. FanGraphs pegs this group for 3.5 WAR in 2024, which is the eighth-highest projection. Adding Clase to this group would take things to another level, though.
