Guardians Reject Trades for Key Relievers Clase, Kwan Amid Struggles

The Cleveland Guardians are facing a challenging 2025 season with offensive struggles and a record below .500, yet team analysts and sources emphasize retaining key players Emmanuel Clase and Steven Kwan as essential to future contention. Despite trade interest from contenders seeking bullpen help, the Guardians have firmly communicated they will not trade Clase or Cade Smith, valuing their contributions and long-term control. Clase, while not matching his previous stellar performance, remains reliable, and Kwan is seen as a cornerstone bat under team control through 2027. Similarly, the Philadelphia Phillies are positioned as buyers ahead of the trade deadline, with internal debates about trading star prospects to strengthen their roster for a World Series run, reflecting the tension between present success and future depth. Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays, despite strong performance, face pressure to address roster holes at the deadline but must consider their shallow prospect pool and risk mortgaging the future for short-term gains. These scenarios highlight the balance MLB teams must strike between maintaining promising young talent and pursuing immediate competitiveness as the trade deadline approaches.