FanSided

Outfield help motivating factor in two trade proposals for Shane Bieber

By James Mastrucci |
Houston Astros v Cleveland Guardians
Houston Astros v Cleveland Guardians / Nick Cammett/GettyImages
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It was just a few days ago that a trade of Shane Bieber appeared to be completely off the table for the Cleveland Guardians. The team designated Cal Quantrill for assignment due to money owed and an uncertain financial situation involving their television deal. Quantrill was eventually dealt to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for a minor league catching prospect, but it is a subsequent move made by the Guardians that makes a reassessment of their current situation absolutely necessary. 

Cleveland agreed to a deal with San Diego that saw them land relief pitcher Scott Barlow from the Padres for Enyel De Los Santos. It is the added salary projection from Barlow after a previous removal of financial commitment from their organization that may lead some to wonder if the Guardians would seriously consider moving the former Cy Young Award winner this winter.

There were a handful of trade proposals presented to former MLB executive Jim Bowden that were addressed in MLB trade scenarios: Bowden answers 25 questions on top starters, big bats and more appearing in The Athletic (subscription required), two of which happened to be particularly intriguing. Both proposals involve the Guardians moving Bieber in order to find some much-needed help in their outfield.

First Trade Proposal: Shane Bieber to Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Anthony Santander

Nothing like an easy one-for-one swap of players entering their final year of being eligible for arbitration to make everything nice and easy to account for. Of the three deals presented by one individual who wrote in, this was the best deal for both sides in the eyes of Bowden.

I think a Bieber-for-Santander trade makes a lot of sense for both the Guardians and Orioles, and I like that idea the best of the three you proposed here. Santander will be a free agent after the 2024 season.
Jim Bowden

A former member of Cleveland's organization, Santander would elevate the current major league outfield group that lacks any and all power to hit the ball over the fence. The 29-year-old switch-hitter has 79 home runs in addition to 89 doubles over the last three seasons, power numbers that would be a welcome addition to the Guardians' outfield mix.

The short-term commitment to Santander would help Cleveland take a massive step forward offensively in 2024 while not being in the way of Cleveland's minor-league outfield prospects beyond next season. This is the type of flexibility that the Guardians should look for when it comes to making additions to their outfield.

Second Trade Proposal: Shane Bieber and James Karinchak to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Dylan Carlson and Tommy Edman

Of the two deals, this one is much more intriguing. Finding a way to get a package in return for Shane Bieber and James Karinchak that allows them to acquire two players at positions of need who have multiple arbitration-eligible years remaining would be a massive win for the Guardians. Bowden would mention that have depth in their outfield, which makes parting ways with Dylan Carlson palatable while also acknowledging that losing Tommy Edman may hurt a little bit, but getting this pitching help makes it hurt less.

There is another indirect impact of a deal like this for the Guardians. It would give the team a starting shortstop to plug into their infield and allow the front office to trade away a couple of their infield options to improve their roster in other areas. Finding a way to clear some of their roster clutter that is either uninspiring or unable to prove they are a legitimate long-term answer for this organization.

The Guardians are in a position where they have a few franchise cornerstone-level players on their roster, surrounded by options who do not move the needle all that much. Finding a way to bring that group to an acceptable level sooner rather than later is an absolute must for this ball club. A multi-player deal like this allows Cleveland to address their shortcomings via this trade, while subsequent deals of players who no longer fit into the puzzle in a year-over-year aspect can be moved to improve the roster's floor.

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