Enter Scott Barlow?
Cleveland is positioned strategically with several options as they enter the off-season. Let's backtrack for just a moment. Trading Cal Quantrill to the Rockies for minor league backstop Kody Huff both provided depth to a position of scarcity and created payroll flexibility. It's already been reported the club will have a payroll in the $85-$90 million range.
Here is a series of options created by the Cal Quantrill trade and the subsequent Scott Barlow acquisition. So let's have a look…
Ride Scott Barlow throughout this season
Trade Scott Barlow at the deadline
Flip him when another team misses out on Josh Hader
Trade one of the other bullpen arms
Why acquire Scott Barlow?
Opportunity knocked
This move created options for the club to either make a move before the season or wait it out. Speculatively the club could deploy right-hander Scott Barlow in a way to alleviate high-leverage innings. In other words to bridge the gap between the starting pitcher and the back end of the bullpen regardless of inning. The Scott Barlow and Enyel de los Santos trade appears opportunistic. With the Padres on the verge of shedding payroll, Cleveland jumped in on an opportunity to get a high-leverage bullpen arm.
Creating Opportunity
Acquiring Scott Barlow created the opportunity to both solidify the bullpen but also explore other options. The front office was forward-thinking seeing value in a high-leverage arm despite the fiscal pricetag. Surrendering a cheaper arm with less control was sort of a backward move in terms of what we have seen them do in the past. That's indicative of the quality of Barlow and the unique situation his acquisition was for the club.
Familiar face
Cleveland was already familiar with the former Kansas City Royals right-hander. Barlow is a high-level addition to a bullpen and could be deployed as a weapon in high-leverage situations and further alleviate the stress upon the young starting pitching staff. His addition to the bullpen could give the organization the best pairing fans have seen since Andrew Miller and Cody Allen.
The presence of Emmanuel Clase creates another option. It's almost unspeakable to some but his youth, production, and team-friendly contract make him perhaps the most valuable trade asset the club holds.
Changing Dynamics
Enter Scott Barlow into the equation, perhaps part of the solution to a long-time
problem. Acquiring the right-hander makes anything possible. Including the possibility of turning a young All-Star closer on a team-friendly deal. Suddenly Cleveland has a legitimate alternative option to close out games. If the organization were to move Emmanuel Clase in a trade it would likely bring back an everyday outfielder (read: impact bat) and more.
https://twitter.com/WillHoo99/status/1725010281951092917?t=e_lQMOZOcJ5WgiDlUbNhoA&s=19
While it is unlikely Cleveland will move Emmanuel Clase the club could utilize that interest to move a more obtainable asset in Scott Barlow.
What was seemingly an opportunistic addition could be one of their most significant additions of the off-season. His addition to the bullpen created an opportunity. Now it's the front office's decision how to best exploit that opportunity.