Too bad it’s not true, but this mock deal between the Guardians and Mets might be too good to refuse.
The Cleveland Guardians are lying in the long grass fielding offers, and they haven’t made one of their usual big moves during the offseason to let go of a quality player before he hits free agency. Shane Bieber, their most apparent contender, is still in the running. Emmanuel Clase is also a star closer. These were some of the teams that Bleacher Report had named as potential destinations for American League Edwin Diaz, making them an unlikely trade target for the New York Mets.
Not content to just list the Mets as a destination, a trade package was put together. This is a rare opportunity for many unbiased mock exchanges, and if it really happened, it would be simply too good to refuse.
Why the Mets can benefit from this transaction
Ryan Clifford and Ronny Mauricio both have inquiries. Where Mauricio fits into the jigsaw is more immediate. His ACL injury this season may rule him out of the third base mix, which is something we’ve been wondering about for years. The Mets would likely like a more definite response by the next season. He’s down to one minor league option and isn’t even worth holding out for. It’s simple to include him in this transaction when you consider that he will miss the most of the upcoming year.
Clifford is much more disputed. We’d like to believe that he is disposable since Drew Gilbert is the future right fielder and Pete Alonso is set to stay in the lineup. He is a powerful first baseman and right fielder. Clifford, in any event, plays positions where there are always options. The danger here is that, after being selected by the Houston Astros in the 11th round of the 2022 draft, he ends up being considerably better than anticipated.
The Mets acquire one of the finest closers in baseball in exchange for Clifford and Mauricio. Not that they require it right now. Of course, Clase would turn into a setup guy.
Why there would never be this trade
We would have to assume that the Guardians could receive considerably more for Clase given that he has already agreed to a very team-friendly deal. The Bleacher Report article points out that the Mets aren’t anticipated to give up any of their better prospects right now for pretty much anybody. Perhaps it becomes a bit more plausible if they include one of their breakout pitchers in the trade. It gets somewhat less alluring at the same moment. Just a tiny bit.
Clase’s contract guarantees a salary of no more than $6.4 million until 2026. He will receive $10 million in 2027 and 2028 if a $2 million buyout or a team option is exercised. To become a financial burden for the team, Clase would need to start pitching with the wrong arm and blindfolded, given the large number of pitchers of lower caliber who are now signing for salaries close to $10 million.
There is considerable debate about how much a team should trade for a top-tier bullpen pitcher. Due to the veterans and their pay, the move was a little more difficult when the Mets acquired Diaz before the 2019 agreement. When seen only through the lenses of Jarred Kelenic, Gerson Bautista, and Justin Dunn, this fake deal for Clase appears even more fruitful. It’s unfortunate that Cleveland hasn’t made a genuine offer or ever will.