With four days left until the MLB trade deadline, Detroit Tigers fans are on high alert. General manager Jeff Greenberg and president of baseball operations Scott Harris are probably on the phone to find reinforcements for a team that surged out to baseball’s best record but hit a rough patch in recent weeks. Many are expecting a move to be made in an attempt to bring Detroit’s first World Series victory since 1984 home and fans are like kids at Christmas, filling out their wish list for Thursday evening.
It’s a lot to process over the next few days but it also brings some disappointment. With a few days to go, a dream trade target was taken off the market in surprising fashion and it also could bring down some of the Tigers competition as he finds himself in hot water.
Emmanuel Clase Taken off the Tigers’ Trade List in the Strangest Way Possible
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported on Monday morning that Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave as part of a sports betting investigation. Clase joins fellow reliever Luis Ortiz as members of the Guardians bullpen as part of the investigation and USA Today’s Bob Nightengale added that Clase’s trade value “completely evaporates” with this news.
BREAKING: Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave as part of MLB's sports-betting investigation, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 28, 2025
Clase is the second Guardians pitcher on leave tied to the investigation, joining right-hander Luis Ortiz.
Clase was the talk of several teams ahead of the trade deadline and was listed as fourth on The Athletic’s most recent trade deadline big board. The right-hander has been one of the most dominant closers in the game as a two-time winner of the Mariano Rivera Reliever of the Year Award and was 5-3 with a 3.23 ERA with 24 saves this season but the Guardians may have considered moving him for the right offer.
The Tigers weren’t likely to be in on Clase considering he’s in the American League Central and has a high asking price with another year of team control and a pair of $10 million club options for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. But he would have fit in nicely as a player that can fool hitters (31% chase rate) and miss bats (32.1% whiff rate).
While it stings for Clase to be taken off the board, it also has its benefits. Other contending teams such as the Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays have inquired about adding to their bullpens ahead of the deadline and getting Clase off the board means Detroit won’t have to deal with him in October. It could also benefit the Tigers in the AL Central race as their lead over the Guardians has shrunk to eight games after losing 12 of their past 14 games entering Monday’s matchup with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
There are still plenty of fish in the sea that can allow Detroit to make an impact in the next several days. But one name is now off the board as teams look to pivot ahead of Thursday’s deadline.