This trade idea has the division rival of the Houston Astros adding their own closer to match what was done earlier this offseason.
The Houston Astros shocked a lot of people when they opened up their checkbook for Josh Hader this offseason.
Throughout the winter, the storyline was the front office had a limited budget to work with because owner Jim Crane did not want to go over the luxury tax threshold.
Despite teams around them improving, the Astros stood pat with their roster.
Then, a season-ending injury made them rethink this position as they are still in their championship-winning window.
Hader makes the back-end of their bullpen one of the most feared units in the sport and should alleviate much of the concerns coming into this season.
This signing also kept the superstar closer away from their division rival Texas Rangers who are in clear need of bullpen upgrades after having the worst save percentage in the league with 48%.
After missing out on Hader, Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report lists the Rangers as the fourth-best landing spot for Cleveland Guardians superstar closer, Emmanuel Clase.
He has Texas trading infielder Ezequiel Duran and their No. 3 overall prospect, shortstop Sebastian Walcott, to get back the elite reliever.
Duran has spent the last two seasons with the Major League roster, but had his breakthrough in 2023 when he played 122 games and slashed .276/.324/.443 with 14 home runs and 46 RBI.
Walcott is a 17-year-old who made it up to High Single-A in his first year of professional baseball.
These players could be pieces for the Guardians to build around if they are interested in starting a rebuild.
The trade would make sense for the Rangers as well.
Not only do they have to match what Houston just did, but they are also in a "win now" window having just won the World Series with massive contracts on their books.
Trading away these two players to get back an elite closer who's under contract for the next three seasons with two club options is a no-brainer.
If this move does happen, the Astros will have a battle on their hands to win their fourth-consecutive AL West division title.