The Philadelphia Phillies have to make some moves at the trade deadline. It’s not that they’re a desperate ball club; in fact, they are a very good one at 55-41 and 1/2-game up on the New York Mets for the National League East, a neck-and-neck race that will likely come down to the final week of the regular season. Recent close-but-no-cigar performances have frustrated the fanbase, and this could be Philadelphia’s best shot at a championship.
Phillies Linked to Guardians' Emmanuel Clase originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Philadelphia Phillies have to make some moves at the trade deadline.
It’s not that they’re a desperate ball club; in fact, they are a very good one at 55-41 and 1/2-game up on the New York Mets for the National League East, a neck-and-neck race that will likely come down to the final week of the regular season.
However, despite the Phillies’ success so far, they have not captured a World Series since 2008, and this mostly aging core is in win-now mode. Recent close-but-no-cigar performances have frustrated the fanbase, and this could be Philadelphia’s best shot at a championship.
The Phillies will need a stronger bullpen to get over that hump and through the gauntlet NL.
Here is what Jim Bowden of The Athletic had to say, via “Foul Territory:”
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
Emmanuel Clase, 27, has been one of the preeminent relievers in baseball since his 2019 debut, back when he was with the Texas Rangers. Over six seasons and 332 and 2/3 innings, primarily with the Cleveland Guardians, he has a 1.82 ERA, a 2.39 FIP, 178 saves, and 344 strikeouts to 68 walks.
This year has been a little bit of a different story as Clase has a 2.91 ERA and a 2.41 FIP, but with 20 saves, he is in play to hit the 40-milestone again.
Philadelphia has the 8th-worst combined bullpen ERA in the Majors at 4.35, and while it may set its sights on someone less pricey than Clase — who is under team control through 2028 — he would propel this team into the upper echelon of contenders.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Baseball
