The Cleveland Guardians can go a few different ways at the trade deadline.
Ultimately, it's up to the front office to decide what they want to do, as there are reasons to believe it makes sense to sell or stay where they are. The Guardians could also look to buy and sell some players, keeping their top performers while moving others who are gaining interest around the league.
Arguably the top name on the potential trade market is Emanuel Clase, who many believe is the best reliever in baseball. Clase has a team option in 2027 and 2028, but he could hit free agency depending on how things go in 2027.
Despite the rumors about the Guardians moving on from the two-time Mariano Rivera Reliever of the Year Award winner and three-time All-Star, it’s now been reported by Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com that the Guardians are telling interested teams that they won't trade him or Cade Smith.
MORE: Guardians' chances of trading Steven Kwan, Emmanuel Clase revealed
"The Guardians are telling these teams that are inquiring about Emanuel Clase and Cade Smith, that those guys are not for sale, that they're not going to trade them, that they want to keep those pieces. The sources I talked to said they're pretty firm about that,” he wrote.
Smith is also widely regarded as one of the better relievers in baseball, as he has nasty stuff with an electric fastball. However, similar to Clase, he hasn't exactly been as dominant as he typically is.
In 2024, Smith posted a 1.91 ERA and struck out 103 hitters in 75.1 innings. In 2025, he has a 3.07 ERA.
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