Three Logical Landing Spots For Guardians' Shane Bieber
The Cleveland Guardians' offseason heading into 2024 is going to be a wild ride. There will be plenty for fans to talk about from finding a new manager, looking for more outfield help, and organizing the 40-man roster.
One big storyline that could affect teams across MLB is whether or not Cleveland decides to trade Shane Bieber. Rumors centered around the former Cy Young winner were circling before the trade deadline but died down after he went on the injured list.
If those talks heat back up this winter, there are a few landing spots for Bieber that make a lot of sense.
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles won 101 games in 2023 but lost to the Texas Rangers in three quick matchups in the ALDS. They have a tremendous offense but it still feels like another star starting pitcher is what this team is missing.
Cleveland still needs another outfielder and luckily the O's have a number of them. Swapping Shane Bieber for a package centered around Austin Hays, Anthony Santander, or even a player such as Ryan Mountcastle could be a win-win for both sides.
Cincinnati Reds
The Guardians and Cincinnati Reds aren't strangers when it comes to making trades. Cleveland sent Trevor Bauer to the southern city in Ohio in 2019 and last season traded Will Benson there too.
Cincinnati is an ascending team with a ton of potential on offense. Elly De La Cruz, TJ Freidl, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and the company will all be in that lineup for a long time, but now the focus turns to the starters.
Pitching is arguably the most important piece to a playoff run and the Reds didn't have a ton of it last season. They had the sixth-highest (third-highest in the NL) ERA with a 4.83.
Acquiring a pitcher such as Bieber would allow them to shift one of their young starters to the bullpen and pair Hunter Greene up with a solidified Big League ace.
Jun 29, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber (57) on the mound during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports
© William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox aren't a team that likes to be at the bottom of the division for long. They finished last in the AL East last season and will certainly be looking to improve on that in 2024.
One of their biggest needs is to bolster their starting pitching and Shane Bieber would do just that. Boston had a starter ERA of 4.68 and a WHIP of 1.29 signaling the need for more help. Breakout seasons from Masataka Yoshida and Jarren Duran are great, but the team as a whole won't go anywhere with more pitching.
