Cubs may finally reel in bullpen ace after years of trade rumors

The Cubs are known to be seeking bullpen help at the trade deadline.

It's also been well-documented that they are seeking blockbuster additions ahead of the stretch run, perhaps in package deals in order to get more bang for their buck once they pull the trigger on dealing a top prospect (or two or three).

Well, it appears that an opportunity to check off all those boxes is presenting itself. Even with Daniel Palencia establishing himself as the team's closer of the present and future, it wouldn't hurt to add another reliever with plenty of high-leverage experience, and it sounds like the Cubs are trying to do just that.

According to baseball insider Francys Romero, the Cubs are in active pursuit of Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase.

Cubs could swing blockbuster deal for Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase

The Cubs' infatuation with Clase is nothing new. This has been an ongoing pursuit for years, as recently as this past offseason when the team poked around acquiring him and one of Cleveland's starters in one of the package blockbusters they're trying to make happen right now.

Now, Clase hasn't had his best season. Entering play on May 5, Clase had a 5.87 ERA and 1.761 WHIP in 15 1/3 innings . The 27-year-old had given up 11 runs on 24 hits and three walks, a far cry from his performance in 2024 when he finished third in AL Cy Young voting.

However, he's righted the ship since, having allowed just four earned runs since the start of May, a stretch of 31 2/3 innings. Thanks to the slow start, his Baseball Savant page isn't quite as jaw-dropping as it's been in years past, but he's still one of the very best relievers in all of baseball.

In case you need reminding about his credentials, in 74 1/3 innings last year, he led the league in games finished (66) and saves (47), compiling an absurd 0.61 ERA with 66 strikeouts, and a laughable 0.659 WHIP. And here's the kicker: according to ERA+, Emmanuel Clase was 574% better than the average pitcher. Five hundred and seventy four percent.

For reference, longtime Yankees closer Mariano Rivera has the best career ERA+ in history (205, or 105% better than league average).

With one year and $6.4 million ($4 million for luxury tax purposes) remaining on his deal after 2025 — plus two very friendly club options at $10 million per season in 2027 and 2028 — Clase is going to cost a pretty penny at the trade deadline if the Guardians move him. He might very well be the best player on the market, depending on what the Nationals decide to do with MacKenzie Gore.

Could the Cubs justify the price with Palencia already in place? Maybe not, especially if they fail to land an impact starting pitcher in a separate deal, but it's hard to imagine just how dominant this bullpen could be with both Palencia and Clase handling the late innings.

The idea in the postseason is to "shorten" games. If the Cubs can pry Clase from the Guardians, they may be able to shorten games better than any other team in baseball.