Former MLB general manager explains how Emmanuel Clase’s paid leave could significantly setback the Cleveland Guardians’ future plans and long-term outlook.
Monday brought a shift to the reliever market ahead of the trade deadline after Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave through Aug. 31. The move is part of MLB’s ongoing investigation into sports gambling.
Cleveland entered Monday’s action one game below .500 and three games out of the final Wild Card spot, leaving the Guardians with a key decision to make: sell at the deadline or keep their core intact for a postseason push.
Nonetheless, with Clase on non-disciplinary paid leave, former MLB general manager Jim Bowden states that the Guardians were ready to enter the trade deadline as sellers.
“He was going to get traded,” Bowden said Monday on “Foul Territory.” “There’s no doubt. And Chris Antonetti, the president, Mike Chernoff, the GM, had been working six weeks at moving Emmanuel Clase, and they were in a really strong position as sellers. And they decided to sell, and that’s the direction they were going. And Clase was going to be the headliner at this trade deadline for them.”
Emmanuel Clase was going to get traded, says @JimBowdenGM.
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) July 28, 2025
"This is a huge blow for them because this was going to be an opportunity to reset their organization by using him as trade bait." pic.twitter.com/ghDq9WZ6wa
Bowden also points out that Cleveland had multiple teams interested in Clase, making this situation a major setback for the front office’s plans to rebuild the team for the coming seasons.
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“They were in a great position because we have so many of the contending teams and division-leading teams that were focusing on high-leverage back-end relievers — the [Philadelphia] Phillies, the [New York] Mets, the [Los Angeles] Dodgers, the Seattle Mariners, the Detroit Tigers,” Bowden added.
“It’s just overwhelming the market. And they had one of the top two guys, and they had been working very diligently to get it. So this is franchising — franchise-changing. This is a huge blow for them because this was going to be an opportunity to really reset this organization by using him as trade bait here. And so it is just a huge setback.”
Until the situation with Clase is resolved, the Guardians must hold onto the player. Even if the 27-year-old avoids a suspension or ban, his trade value may have already taken a hit compared to what it was before this year’s deadline.
Category: Baseball
