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Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase is a 2021 fantasy baseball draft value. His ADP is undervalued, making him a potential draft bargain and late-round sleeper to target.
BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 410
CURRENT ADP: ~444 overall
ANALYSIS: Emmanuel Clase came over to Cleveland in the trade which sent Corey Kluber to the Texas Rangers in 2019. Clase then got popped with an 80-game suspension in May of 2020 for using PEDs. Due to the shortened 2020 schedule, Clase’s suspension will bleed over into the first month of the 2021 season. In a 21-game stint with Texas in 2019, Clase showed us why he should be on your radar for the 2021 fantasy season. His primary weapon is a fastball which averaged 99 mph in 2019. His heater comes in two variations. The four-seamer has carry and ride and can work to generate whiffs at the top of the zone. The 'cut’ fastball works away from right-handed batters in the 98-99 mph range, and Clase showed an ability to locate it on the outside black. This is a closer’s fastball, featuring spin rates in the 97th percentile of all fastballs thrown in 2019.
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Clase's breaker is a hard, tight spinning variety with good drop. He generally pumps it in around 90 to 91 mph. The command of his breaking pitch needs some refinement. However, if he gains confidence in its usage, then it gives Clase a second devastating out-pitch that will work against both right and left-handed batters. Prior to his suspension, Clase was in consideration for an important late-inning role in the Cleveland bullpen. Roster Resource is projecting Clase to feature as the 7th inning setup man for Cleveland this year, behind Nick Wittgren and James Karinchak on Cleveland’s closer ladder. However, Clase's stuff is better than Wittgren’s. In the event Karinchak is ineffective in the closer’s role, Clase could be the next man up in closing situations.
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