The Detroit Tigers are ready for the second half of the 2025 MLB season, but there is still more work on the horizon. Detroit needs to solidify its bullpen before the MLB trade deadline on July 31, with the most notable need being an elite closer. The Tigers’ bullpen has struggled lately, specifically against the Seattle Mariners, and reinforcements are needed.
Several players, such as David Bednar and Aroldis Chapman, have been mentioned as possible trade targets. However, could Detroit pull off a stunning in-division trade that features a Cy Young caliber closer from the Cleveland Guardians?
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According to the Detroit Free Press’ Evan Petzold on his podcast Days of Roar, Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase would be an elite option for the Tigers to solidify the back end of their bullpen for a run to the World Series. Clase, 27, has been mentioned in trade rumors and could bring a massive haul to Cleveland.
Emmanuel Clase mentioned as possible target for Detroit Tigers
Credit: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The 27-year-old closer is under team control through the 2028 season, and despite the dip in numbers, he’s still performing well. However, what did Petzold specifically say about the Tigers’ need for an elite reliever?
“You still have another couple of weeks until the July 31st trade deadline to assess the situation, check out what you have internally, and then make trades,” Petzold said. “Like if the [Detroit Tigers] were in a division race, maybe we’d be talking about how they need to make a trade right now. But they’re going to win the AL Central. But when the July 31st trade deadline rolls around, I think Tigers fans should expect an all-star caliber reliever.”
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“I’m talking Emmanuel Clase of the Cleveland Guardians, Jhoan Duran of the Minnesota Twins, Mason Miller of the Athletics, David Bednar of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Felix Bautista of the Baltimore Orioles, Ryan Helsley of the St. Louis Cardinals, Aroldis Chapman of the Boston Red Sox. You can’t expect to win the World Series without one of those guys. So if the expectation is to win the World Series, then it’s fair to expect the Tigers to trade for one of those names I just mentioned.”
Clase would be a hard get as Cleveland would have to play against him in Detroit for the next several years, but a hefty trade package could do the job. The Tigers need to find a way to acquire an elite closer to elevate their chances of winning a World Series, and Clase would be the perfect pitcher to push all the chips to the middle of the table.
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