Guardians News: Latest On Shane Bieber Trade Rumors
There's one question every Cleveland Guardians fan wants the answer to, will the front office trade Shane Bieber this offseason?
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic was featured on Foul Territory and broke down the latest on Bieber's value, potential buyers' interest, and how Cleveland feels about a trade.
"Yes, the Guardians are considering moving Shane Bieber, the 2020 American League Cy Young Winner," said Rosenthal.
However, the other half of a trade is finding a team willing to give up assets for him. This is something Rosenthal thinks will be difficult for the Guardians.
Oct 7, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber (57) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning during game one of the Wild Card series for the 2022 MLB Playoffs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
"I don't know that it's going to happen, the reason is that Bieber has lost velocity since 2020 really almost every year. He's not quite the same guy, he's coming off an injury, came back at the end of the season, but that was it. So, as one exec put it to me 'I'm not sure that anyone is going to be that interested in Shane Bieber at the price the Guardians likely would request.' Understandable."
Just because Bieber's value isn't where it used to be doesn't completely rule out a trade though. Cleveland's front office could package him with another player which would theoretically maximize any return.
This is something Rosenthal sees as a possibility if Cleveland does opt to move him before Opening Day.
"If you package [Bieber] with let's say Emmanuel Clase, who's been another player they've discussed, then you get into a more interesting conversation and perhaps that is the way this will go. But Bieber alone, he's not Corbin Burns, he's not Dylan Cease in terms of the quality of pitcher right now. Only one year of control left as well."
Overall, Rosenthal doesn't seem convinced a trade will take this offseason considering Bieber's current value. He does offer an alternative direction though.
"So, I'm not sure they will trade him this offseason when they could keep him and hope he kind of gets back to who he was and then they could move him at the deadline."
