The Los Angeles Dodgers are currently going through an unexpected rough patch. They have lost five straight home games, which hasn’t happened since 2019, and they’ve also dropped five consecutive games against the Milwaukee Brewers dating back to just before the All-Star break.
Now that the Major League Baseball trade deadline is just 10 days away, Los Angeles is expected to be a buyer and target some bullpen reinforcements. After spending north of $100 million this offseason on the bullpen, the Dodgers group has not been as effective as they’d hoped.
Tanner Scott leads the league in blown saves, and Kirby Yates has an ERA north of 4.50. The Dodgers’ bullpen ranks 25th in MLB, possibly due to the injured starters and the heavy reliance on the bullpen this season.
Regardless, the group must improve if the Dodgers want to repeat as World Champions.
Emmanuel Clase Could be on the Dodgers’ Radar
The Dodgers are active at pretty much every deadline, and there is an expectation from their front office to make moves to help improve the roster each season. After joining the team, Tommy Edman and Michael Kopech played key roles in last yearâs World Series run.
The Cleveland Guardians could head towards being sellers this season, as the year hasn’t gone how they’d hoped to this point, and if they make three-time All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase available, the Dodgers would undoubtedly be a potential suitor. Clase made three straight All-Star appearances from 2022-2024.
After a slow start this season, he has picked up the slack and is putting together another quality year. He recently lowered his ERA to 2.86 over 44 innings and has 21 saves. He would be the perfect option to close out games for Los Angeles. Clase also has another year of team control as he won’t be a free agent until 2027.
Dodgers Deadline Outlook
In an MLB.com article about each team’s trade deadline strategy, writer Sonja Chen believes the Dodgers will buy strategically:
“Although the Dodgers have a high volume of pitcher injuries, their biggest need might actually be a bat to spell the absence of Max Muncy, who’s expected to be out until at least the end of August with a bone bruise in his left knee. The could also use another right-handed leverage reliever, and even though they’re expecting Blake Snell back not long after the break and Roki Sasaki around late August, it never hurts to add rotation depth.”
“Right-handed leverage reliever” is what draws Emmanuel Clase as a potential trade target for Los Angeles. If Michael Kopech is going to be injured for a while, and Kirby Yates can’t get the job done, it makes sense to look into adding Clase. However, it would likely cost the Dodgers a hefty haul. A good return package for the Guardians would include outfielder James Outman, starter Emmett Sheehan, and top-ranked prospect Alex Freeland.
There are other strong righties the Dodgers could target, like David Bednar or Felix Bautista, but Clase is undoubtedly top of the reliever tree in MLB.
But again, expect Los Angeles to be active once again at this year’s deadline, and to potentially pull off a blockbuster deal including the Guardians’ Emmanuel Clase. Wit the Dodgers slipping at the moment, it makes perfect sense for them to make the possible biggest splash before July 31st.
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