Cleveland Guardians: Clase and Smith on Other Teams’ Radar
According to reports, Cleveland Guardians star relievers Emmanuel Clase and Cade Smith are attracting interest from several teams ahead of the Major League Baseball trade deadline. However, the chances of either of them being traded are low.
Dominican closer Emmanuel Clase, 27 years old, continues to solidify his position as one of the best in his role. In the current season, Clase has an ERA of 1.78 and already has 21 saves. In the last five years, he leads the Majors in saves, with a total of 178.
The Class contract is another attractive factor for other teams. It has a guaranteed salary of $6.4 million for 2026, with options of $10 million for 2027 and 2028.
Cade Smith, who had a standout rookie season in 2024, is also the subject of interest. In 2024, Smith had an ERA of 1.91, with 103 strikeouts and only 17 walks in 75.1 innings, earning him votes for the Cy Young award.
Although its effectiveness has risen to 3.07 in 2025, its strikeout percentages (34.7%) and missed swings (35.3%) remain at elite levels. Smith is under contractual control until at least 2026 and will not be arbitration-eligible until 2027.
Despite the interest of several teams in reinforcing their bullpens, the Guardians are not pressured to negotiate. The price to acquire any of these pitchers is high.
