Lots of Major League Baseball teams want to win now, but perhaps no team is more committed to the philosophy than the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Phillies have narrowly missed out on championships for the last three years, and they know their window is closing. Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto will be free agents this winter, while most of their core is approaching their mid-thirties.
If there’s one part of the roster that needs an obvious upgrade, it’s the bullpen. Jordan Romano hasn’t panned out as the closer, while José Alvarado will be suspended come playoff time. Philadelphia badly needs new blood at the back end of games.
ESPN’s David Schoenfield thinks the Phillies can and should pull off a shocker.
On Wednesday, Schoenfield urged the Phillies to trade for Cleveland Guardians three-time All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase, the reigning and two-time American League Reliever of the Year.
“When I flipped on the Phillies-Braves game Saturday, the score was 1-1 in the seventh inning with the bases loaded as Philly’s Jordan Romano pitched to Atlanta’s Sean Murphy,” Schoenfield wrote.
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“The broadcast flashed a graphic showing the Braves were the only team without a grand slam this season. First pitch: Boom. The Phillies need bullpen help and they need to win now. This has all the markings of a Dave Dombrowski deal.”
Clase, 27, hasn’t been his usual dominant self at all times this year. He’s got a 3.28 ERA, which means he’s allowed 13 earned runs in less than half the innings he threw last season, when he only allowed five.
Still, this is a power arm the likes of which we’ve rarely seen around the game. He’s been effective of late and being traded to a team that’s all-in on the 2025 season could unleash the best version of the superstar closer.
More MLB: Phillies could acquire pair of Orioles All-Stars in package deal, per insider
