Former MLB general manager reveals the Philadelphia Phillies had a plan to pursue a blockbuster trade for two Cleveland Guardians players to strengthen their roster.
The Cleveland Guardians appear to be sellers ahead of this week’s trade deadline. However, their plans to reshape the roster for next season took a hit Monday when Emmanuel Clase was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave through Aug. 31 as part of MLB’s investigation into sports gambling.
On Monday, former MLB general manager Jim Bowden appeared on “Foul Territory” and said the Philadelphia Phillies had been exploring ways to strengthen their World Series chances by targeting both a reliever and an outfielder from the Guardians before Clase was placed on paid leave.
“We covered and watched Dave Dombrowski win a World Championship with the Florida Marlins and the Boston Red Sox,” Bowden said. “We saw him get the Tigers there, the Phillies there.
“But he really wants to get that World Championship ring with the Phillies. I feel like this is the year that he’s going to absolutely put that accelerator at full blast, get that back-end reliever that he wants. I believe he was in on Clase and [Steven] Kwan.”
"I believe he was in on Clase and Kwan."@JimBowdenGM feels like this is the year Dave Dombrowski hits the accelerator at full blast. pic.twitter.com/TTCisxAWKo
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) July 28, 2025
While the Phillies had their opportunity for a double swoop taken away due to an off-the-field issue, Bowden notes that Philadelphia will turn to other teams in the AL Central.
MORE:How Emmanuel Clase Paid Leave Sets Back Guardians' Future, per Former MLB GM
“I thought there was a chance he gets both of them. I won’t be surprised, though, if he’s the guy that ends up with [Jhoan] Duran, and he’s the guy that ends up with Louis Robert [Jr.]. That wouldn’t surprise me at all.”
It’ll be interesting to see if the Phillies end up making any deals with the Guardians’ AL Central rivals — and whether the prospects involved eventually become quality major leaguers who might’ve been on Cleveland’s roster if the Clase situation hadn’t happened.
Category: Baseball
