Former MLB general manager shares insight on Detroit Tigers’ chances of trading for Cleveland Guardians star.
The Detroit Tigers are one team looking to challenge the New York Yankees for the American League pennant this season. Nonetheless, A. J. Hinch's team has a weakness: the bullpen ERA.
In the first half of the 2025 MLB season, the Tigers posted a 4.13 bullpen ERA, per Covers. As a result, Detroit will likely be looking to add a reliever or two to help bolster the bullpen as they attempt to go on a deep postseason run.
While the Tigers have a commanding lead in the AL Central, former MLB general manager Jim Bowden doesn't see the Cleveland Guardians trading Emmanuel Clase to a division rival, even if the player makes sense for Detroit.
"I keep hearing Emmanuel Clase's name, and I think Cleveland's at the point now where they're looking at their lineup," Bowden said Thursday on Foul Territory. "They're 26th in runs scored, 20th in home runs, and they're feeling like, look, we can put Kate Smith closing. Let's move on from Clase. He's got an affordable contract. He's signed. We can do well prospect-wise.
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"So I think they can move him. And teams like the Phillies and the Mets and the Tigers, they have enough in their farm system to make a deal. I think he more likely goes to Philly or the Mets than the Tigers. I'm not sure they're going to trade him in their own division unless they get overwhelmed."
The Phillies, Mets, and Tigers have the assets to trade for Emmanuel Clase if the Guardians make him available, says @JimBowdenGM.
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) July 17, 2025
"I think he's more likely to go to Philly or the Mets than the Tigers." pic.twitter.com/Op3EF3tsZE
After recording a 0.61 ERA last season for the Guardians, Clase has found it challenging to replicate that success. In 2025, the 27-year-old has posted a 2.91 ERA, so perhaps a change of scenery could jump-start Clase to finding that form he showed in 2024.
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Category: Baseball
