The Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to make a big move at the July 31 trade deadline, but speculation has swirled as to where the front office will look to improve the roster.
Travis Rodgers of ESPN LA revealed there are whispers regarding a potential trade with the Cleveland Guardians for right-handed reliever Emmanuel Clase and left fielder Steven Kwan.
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Clase is sporting a 2.91 ERA with 42 strikeouts and a 1.233 WHIP across 43.1 innings of work in 2025. He also has racked up 20 saves on the season.
Kwan is hitting .285 with six home runs, 32 runs batted in and an OPS of .741 this season. Both have been All-Stars in the past.
“Kwan immediately slides into left field. Your Michael Conforto problem is solved,” Rodgers said. “Steven Kwan is way better than Michael Conforto. And you slide Emmanuel Clase into that ninth inning, who’s having a good year. Not quite a prime Clase year, but a very, very good year. Here’s what it may cost you going the other way: Justin Wrobleski, Ben Casparius, Josue De Paula, and one more prospect. Four guys.”
If president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman was able to orchestrate a blockbuster trade for Clase and Kwan, the Dodgers would improve two weak areas of the roster. Tanner Scott’s struggles this season have given the defending champions reason to look at the trade market for answers.
Meanwhile, it remains uncertain whether Conforto will turn a corner, though he had shown improvement the final two weeks before the All-Star break.
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Whether the Guardians would be willing to give up both Clase and Kwan is still a mystery; however, the return package is certainly a hefty price for the Dodgers, who would be losing some of their best young arms and prospects in the trade.
There is certainly doubt a package featuring Wrobleski, Casparius, De Paula and another prospect would be enough for Cleveland to pull the trigger. There is an argument to be made that the Dodgers would have to add another notable name such as Dalton Rushing or Hyeseong Kim to sweeten the deal — but that may be too much for LA at that point.
Regardless, Rodgers explained why he thinks the Guardians would be willing to give up Clase and Kwan.
“Two starting pitchers, which are very hard to come by,” Rodgers said of the Dodgers sending Wrobleski and Casparius to Cleveland.
Photo Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
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10 Responses
I would much rather get Kyle Finnegan and Bichette. It would move Mookie back to right field where he belongs and Teoscar back to left field.
Do that deal but throw in James Outman as the fourth prospect. Who knows, he may get better at the plate in the Fastball happy American League…
I feel better about the would-be deal if Outman takes that role, but there’s got to be a way to keep De Paula. Plus Wrobleski has been solid recently
I don’t like this at all. At least Casparius isn’t a candidate for the IL. And way to soon to give up on Wrob and De Paula as well as “Casper”
Agreed it would be WAY too early to deal De Paula. I have also always been high on Wrobleski and he’s got a 2.88 ERA in his last 5 outings!
Rebel1. Giving up 2 prospective starting pitchers like Casper and Wrob AND Rushing is WAY TOO MUCH talent to lose. Kwan may be better than Conforto but trading for closers that can go from hot to cold overnight!
Wow fixing a problem that isn’t that bad with trading two young pitchers. I would be ok with DePaula as they have Hope and Sirota coming up. But you think this relief pitcher is better than.Casparius has been? Look at Wrobleski since his last few appearances. Too much for too little in my opinion. Wrobleski is a young lefty with excellent velocity and has started to figure out how to pitch. Casparius has been great out of the bullpen. Casparius Numbers are inflated because of his starts. Kim in my opinion is more valuable than both those guys plus Dodgers have a massive Korean fan base. No way… give them a couple of the young pitchers in the minors Dodgers have a lot of them that are potentially blocked. Until the pitcher s are off the IL and performing I would not sign away young experie
To me, this is just a reporter passing ideas around. Josue De Paula? I don’t think so. Wrobleski and Casparius? Maybe one of them. Kwan has an OPS+ of 113 for his career. And then we have the fact that both Cleveland players are full time players. There will have to be a current starter, or a boatload of top echelon prospects. I would think that Friedman would not panic. Blake Treinan will be back soon. Alex Vesia is a solid ninth inning option. And Tanner Scott may need to be placed in a lower leverage position for now. Panic is not the answer.
You do know that Trevor Bauer would be a much better option?
I would be happy if Ryan Ward was put on the 40 man roster and he is brought up. He is leading the PCL in hitting and he still sits in AAA. Either bring up Ryan Ward or trade him. Just Google hitting leaders in the PCL and you will see Ward is leading. He has 25 home runs with a .311 batting average and leads in RBi’s and Runs. I dont understand the Dodgers. The Dodgers need to release Conforto and take a hit on his contract. Outman needs to be traded. Yes Ward even led Outman and Ruiz in stats with the AAA Comets yet they bring up Ruiz and Outman.