The Cleveland Guardians season isn’t over but their time with Shane Bieber should be.
You can tell who among the fanbase pays attention to production and who pays attention to names. There are going to be many fans of the Cleveland Guardians who will rage over the idea of trading Shane Bieber, but the fact is, he isn’t what he once was. We’ve talked before about how pitches have gotten slower, how his accuracy isn’t what it used to be, and how he isn’t anywhere close to his 2020 Cy Young form.
We’ve speculated that it’s due to his arm, his age, or maybe the lack of assistance via some now-banned sticky substances, but regardless of why Bieber has fallen off, he has.
That’s the sad truth of Bieber’s time in Cleveland. He, like Zach Plesac, just isn’t pitching all that well anymore. Granted, Bieber is still a viable starter, unlike Plesac. So someone like Bieber could still slot in as a third or fourth starter on a team that’s hungry for pitching. It’s just his time as an ace for a pitching staff is over.
Tommy Wild of Sports Illustrated referred to Bieber as a “top-10 pitcher in baseball” still, but that just isn’t true. Though, for the sake of the Guardians, let’s hope other teams believe it.
He’ll likely be moved and The Athletic’s Zack Meisel posted a story recently highlighting several teams that may be interested in Bieber.
Those teams are;
- Baltimore Orioles
- Houston Astros
- Los Angeles Angels
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- New York Mets
- San Diego Padres
- St. Louis Cardinals
- Texas Rangers
Those are some great options but they aren’t all measured the same. That’s why we’re going to talk about the three best landing spots for Bieber among those suggested teams.
3. Texas Rangers
When looking at any of these teams, it’s important to keep several things in mind. First, we need power hitters. No trade with Bieber should be dealt without at least the top-ranked power hitter that given team has. So we’re going to be looking at home run production specifically. Secondly, no trade is a player-for-player, so we’re also going to be looking at the overall farm ranking of that given team according to MLB.com.
This takes us to the third-best option, the Texas Rangers. The Rangers are currently 40-20 on the season and could give up a nice little haul to get Shane Bieber. Their minor league system was ranked 7th ahead of the season, meaning they have good young talent that can bolster the team’s future. Getting someone back like Dustin Harris or Justin Foscue, could get the deal done. As long as they have some power, the Guardians should look at them.
The Rangers’ rank has them in a nice spot where the Guardians could probably land another Top 15 or 20 players, and another Top 30 player in the deal. I would strongly consider trying to land both Harris and Foscue, while also landing starter Brock Porter in the deal as well.
While some fans of the Rangers won’t be happy with this trade, we don’t care. If your club is willing to over-pay, we’re willing to take everything we can.
2. Baltimore Orioles
There are few bigger surprises in the Majors this year other than the Baltimore Orioles. The team was among the worst in baseball just two years ago during the 2021 season, if not the worst in baseball. Last year, they shocked everyone by having an 83-win season, and this year they’re currently 37-23 heading into the June 7 selection of games.
What makes the Baltimore Orioles the number two team the Cleveland Guardians should trade with is the fact that they have the No. 1 ranked farm system heading into the 2023 season. But why aren’t they number one if that’s the case?
Well, despite the fact they’re the best in terms of potential talent, they’re also still in the American League. The Guardians aren’t rebuilding with a Bieber trade, simply cashing in. The goal is still to make the playoffs, and the last thing you want to do is face off against Bieber and the Orioles in the playoffs. At 37-23, they’re likely to get to October, and if they can land Bieber, they’ll be all the more likely to do so.
Dealing with the Orioles should net the Guardians someone like Jordan Westburg. He’s got good power and could be a huge help for the Guardians. The same goes for Colton Cowser.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
Despite having the 5th highest payroll in baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers are looking up at the 21st-highest payroll. That’s not good if you’re trying to win the NL West. The Dodgers are 22nd in the Majors with a 4.52 ERA and have given up the 10th most home runs in the league so far. They’re also the 12th-highest team in the league. Opposing hitters love the Dodgers pitchers.
Of all the teams that need pitching help, no one needs it more than the Dodgers, which is sad considering how they try and use money to solve their woes. Trying to land someone like Diego Cartaya would be the holy grail in this situation, but if they’re not willing to budge on arguably the best power-hitting, catcher prospect in the minors, I don’t blame them.
That’s why fellow catcher Dalton Rushing should be an option for the Guardians as well. Another reason for the Guardians to consider the Dodgers is Michael Busch. Busch may be the best option for Cleveland, assuming the team is dead set on giving Bo Naylor time behind the plate over the next few years.
Naylor is a solid hitter, but he more than likely isn’t the savior some fans want him to be. The team needs more than one big bat anyway, so making sure to land someone like Busch, Rushing or Cartaya would be wise.