Emmanuel Clase

Clase led the league in saves for the second straight year, tallying a career-high 44 of the Guardians' 47 total saves, while earning his second consecutive All-Star nomination. His 93.6% team save share led the league once again, as former Guardians manager Terry Francona was very straightforward with his bullpen hierarchy. However, Clase regressed in many categories, all of which new manager Stephen Vogt may consider when determining bullpen roles for 2024. Clase posted career-worst marks with 9 losses and 12 blown saves, the latter leading all relievers. He also posted the worst ratios of his young career, and while his 3.22 ERA and 1.16 WHIP were fine for typical reliever standards, they were not Clase-like. Hitters simply made more contact against him, which inflated his BABIP and saw his strikeout rate plummet to a career-worst 21.2%. Despite these blips, Clase should remain the Guardians closer for 2024 and is likely to be among the top 5 closers taken in drafts. Read Past Outlooks