Dodgers Targeting Guardians' All-Star Closer to Bolster Bullpen: Report
The Los Angeles Dodgers are bona fide World Series favorites due to their top-tier offense and league-leading comeback wins. They do not know how to lose, but when they do, it is due to two things: starting pitching and the bullpen.
With Tyler Glasnow already back on the mound and Blake Snell expected to return soon, All-Star caliber reinforcements are not returning to fortify their bullpen.
After pouring over $107 million into the pen this offseason, Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations, is again scouring the relief pitcher market in hopes of adding to an already stacked, yet pivotally flawed roster.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Dodgers have had trade talks with the Cleveland Guardians about closer Emmanuel Clase.
Clase, a three-time All-Star, struggled to begin the season butbounced back recentlys. Since late June, he has converted 15 of his 17 save opportunities and lowered his ERA to 2.90 in the same span. Inserting him into the back of Los Angeles' bullpen would make it more dangerous come the postseaso ando allow current closer Tanner Scott to move into a less stressful eight-inning role.
Clase is also under contract through 2026 with a $10 million club option in 2027 and 2028. The Dodgers would likely pick up both extra years of control, knowing the cheap price tag, and in return, have one of the league's most dominant closers under 31 throughout his time with the club.
According to Nightengale, there is one hiccup to the Dodgers' interest in Clase as the Guardians are telling teams they plan to keep the closer. Whether that is a negotiation tactic remains to be seen, but either way, Los Angeles will have to offer a massive haul to acquire Clase's services.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Brent Rooker Reveals Preferred Team Ahead of Trade Deadline
Brent Rooker Reveals Preferred Team Ahead of Trade Deadline originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Athletics are making it clear which players are part of their long-term vision. Instead of selling off their top performers, the A's have doubled down on youth and internal development, locking in two of their most promising hitters to multi-year extensions. The first move came in January, when the club signed veteran slugger Brent Rooker to a five-year, $60 million extension. Rooker, who won a Silver Slugger Award and earned his first All-Star nod in 2024, has continued to anchor the lineup this season. Through 104 games, he's batting .263 with 21 home runs and 56 RBIs, recently hitting his 100th career home run. Two months later, the A's extended outfielder Lawrence Butler with a seven-year, $65.5 million deal that includes a club option through 2032 and could reach $87.5 million in total value. The 24-year-old has become one of Oakland's most reliable bats in 2025, posting a .249 average, 17 home runs, and 56 RBIs in 387 at-bats. His second-half surge in 2024 (.300/.330/.565) was a major bright spot during a year when the team improved from 50 to 69 wins. The A's enter play on July 24 with a 42-62 record, last in the American League West. However, they've clearly prioritized stability as they continue their relocation process. Now playing home games at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, the franchise is set to move to Las Vegas in 2028. The long-term uncertainty has led to speculation that the A's might shop players like Rooker ahead of the deadline. Instead, Rooker made it clear where he stands during a recent appearance on the Foul Territory podcast. 'I'm not going anywhere, Kratzy,' Rooker told co-host Erik Kratz. "I signed the extension because I'm where I want to be. I believe in what we're doing, the people that we have (roster and players), our coaching staff, in the building. I believe in everything going on and I want to be a part of that." Between Butler's breakout and Rooker's consistency, the A's appear to have their offensive foundation in place. The A's may not be ready to contend yet, but the message is clear: they're not starting from scratch much longer. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox Sports
17 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner are set for Hall of Fame induction
Associated Press COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — Ichiro Suzuki was always known for his meticulous preparation during his 19-year Major League Baseball career. For his induction into the Hall of Fame? Not so much. 'Of course, I'm nervous and I probably should be preparing more, but this morning I actually went to the field, long tossed and kind of ran and did my workout, so I guess for me that was more important,' Suzuki said Saturday through an interpreter on the eve of his enshrinement. Suzuki is the first Japanese player chosen for the Hall and fell one vote shy of becoming the second unanimous selection. He will be joined Sunday by CC Sabathia, a six-time All-Star who won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award, and relief pitcher Billy Wagner. Dave Parker, who died a month before he was to be inducted, and Dick Allen will be honored posthumously. They were voted in by the classic era committee. MLB has been profoundly impacted by Japan since Suzuki's arrival in 2001. His induction coincided with the opening of an exhibit at the Hall on Thursday entitled Yakyu/Baseball: The Transpacific Exchange of the Game, which celebrates the ways Japanese and American baseball are interconnected. It honors not just Suzuki but also pitcher Hideo Nomoi and current two-way star Shohei Otani. As interconnected as the two countries are, Suzuki does not want Japanese baseball to become a carbon copy of MLB. 'I don't think Japan should copy what MLB does. I think Japanese baseball should be Japanese baseball and the way they do things, and MLB should be the way they are. I think they should be different and not the same,' he said. Suzuki received 393 of 394 votes (99.7%) from the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Sabathia was on 342 ballots (86.8%) and Wagner on 325 (82.5%), which was 29 votes more than the 296 needed for the required 75%. Suzuki was a two-time AL batting champion and 10-time All-Star and Gold Glove outfielder, hitting .311 with 117 homers, 780 RBIs and 509 stolen bases with Seattle, the New York Yankees and Miami. He is perhaps the best contact hitter ever, with 1,278 hits in Nippon Professional Baseball and 3,089 in MLB, including a season-record 262 in 2004. His combined total of 4,367 exceeds Pete Rose's MLB record of 4,256. Suzuki visited the Hall seven times during his career, but this time is different. 'I had a purpose. I would come to the basement and look at some of the artifacts. This time around, though, I didn't come to have one purpose to see something. I just wanted to experience Cooperstown, take it all in. That's the difference this time around. 'This is the place where I'd come (during the season) and kind of cleanse myself and get a great feeling again,' he said. For Sabathia, his induction represents a full-circle moment because his plaque will have him sporting a Yankees cap with the interlocking NY. A native of Vallejo, California, Sabathia 'thought I wanted to be close to home,' but after 'pretending' the Yankees didn't offer him a contract on the first day of free agency, his wife persuaded him to sign with the Bronx Bombers following an in-home meeting with general manager Brian Cashman. 'My wife was the one that said: 'You're trying to do all these different things, figure out all these contracts. You need to go where they want you. All you talk about is you want to win, be a winner and all these things. How can you not go to New York? That's the one place they try to win every single year.' When she put it that way, it was like I was born to be a Yankee,' Sabathia said. 'And I think for the longest time I tried to run away from that because my father would always tell me I was going to play for the Yankees. He passed away when I was 23, so he wasn't there to tell me it was OK if I failed. I think I was scared to go there and fail. But it ended up being the best decision I ever made. I ran from that decision for a long time. I thought I wanted to play on the other coast, but I think I was born to play with the pinstripes.' Suzuki and Sabathia were teammates for more than two seasons, which makes their induction extra special. 'It feels like we're teammates. Obviously, Ichi and I were rookies together. I always say he stole my Rookie of the Year award (in 2001) so it's great to be able to go in the HOF with him and Billy,' Sabathia said. Sabathia went 251-161 with a 3.74 ERA and 3,093 strikeouts, third among left-handers behind Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton, during 19 seasons with Cleveland, Milwaukee and the Yankees. While Sabathia and Suzuki were elected in their first appearance on the ballot, Wagner made it on his 10th and final try. 'Well, after seeing how a lot of guys like Lee Smith and Ted Simmons and (other) guys had to wait their turn to get to this point and go through the veterans committee, and how hard it is to get in here, you know, it's well worth the wait,' Wagner said. Wagner, a seven-time All-Star, became the ninth pitcher in the Hall who was primarily a reliever, after Hoyt Wilhelm, Rollie Fingers, Dennis Eckersley, Bruce Sutter, Goose Gossage, Trevor Hoffman, Lee Smith and Mariano Rivera. Wagner is the only left-hander. Two others honored Saturday were longtime Cleveland Guardians broadcaster Tom Hamilton, winner of the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting, and retired Washington Post sports writer and columnist Tom Boswell, who received the BBWAA Career Excellence Award. ___ AP MLB: recommended Item 1 of 2
Newsweek
18 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code NEWSWK2DYW: Double Wins For MLB, WNBA Games
The Caesars Sportsbook promo code NEWSWK2DYW will double winnings with 10 profit boost tokens for MLB games including Dodgers vs. Red Sox this weekend. The Caesars Sportsbook promo code NEWSWK2DYW will double winnings with 10 profit boost tokens for MLB games including Dodgers vs. Red Sox this weekend. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. When you sign up for a new account with the latest Caesars Sportsbook promo code NEWSWK2DYW, you can instantly lock in 10 100 percent profit boost tokens with a $1 bet on any game. Click here to sign up and capitalize on this offer by betting on any market available on Saturday. The 10 100 percent profit boost tokens will be eligible to use on any market for bets up to $25. They will be valid in your account for 14 days before they expire. Saturday brings a loaded MLB slate, as all 30 teams are in action, including a doubleheader between the Guardians and Royals. Important series like Blue Jays-Tigers, Phillies-Yankees, Dodgers-Red Sox and Mets-Giants continue today. This is an important time for contenders as the trade deadline approaches in under a week. Some teams have already made deals, but teams on the fringe of the playoff picture will look to avoid becoming sellers. The WNBA delivers two matchups. The Los Angeles Sparks will visit the defending champion New York Liberty, while the Seattle Storm will travel to play the Washington Mystics. The 3M Open continues with round 3. Sign up and bet just $1 to unlock your 10 100 profit boost tokens. Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code NEWSWK2DYW Doubles Winnings For Saturday MLB, More Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code NEWSWK2DYW New User Offer Bet $1, Get (10) 100% Profit Boost Tokens (max. $25 bets) In-App Promo 50% Profit Boost, Fastball Fortune, Caesars Rewards, etc. Terms and Conditions New Customers – 21+ in Eligible States Bonus Last Verified On July 26, 2025 Information Confirmed By Newsweek Sports Betting Staff This offer from Caesars Sportsbook is unique, as you just have to bet $1 to get your reward. You should also keep in mind that the outcome of your initial bet does not matter. As an example, if you put $1 on the Phillies to beat the Yankees on Saturday, you will instantly get your 10 100 percent profit boost tokens. These tokens could then be used for any other market that appeals to you. If a prop bet like "Aaron Judge to record a hit" seems appealing to you, that could be a good opportunity to use one of your tokens. You can also save your tokens to use later on. Just make sure that you use all 10 of them within two weeks before they expire from your account. Sign Up With Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code NEWSWK2DYW Click here or on any of our other links to start the registration process. There, you will be asked to provide your basic personal information, like your name, date of birth, address, etc. to secure your account. During this process, enter the code NEWSWK2DYW to secure the welcome offer. The next step is to make an initial deposit with a secure payment method, like a credit card, debit card or several other options. From there, place your $1 bet on any market to get your 10 100 percent profit boost tokens. These tokens can be used to double your winnings on bets up to $25. They will be valid for 14 days before they expire. Boost Specials With Caesars Sportsbook When you start up your Caesars Sportsbook account, you will be able to take advantage of boost specials within the app. On the home page, you can click on the boosts icon at the top to survey the available bets with boosted odds across sports. You can also click on a specific sport and navigate to the boosts tab. Sign up before Saturday's action to capitalize on these markets. Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up through the links in this article. See the sportsbook operator's terms and conditions for important details. Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.
