The Cleveland Guardians could obviously benefit from having Shane Bieber in their rotation for the 2024 campaign.
However, he is expected to make north of $12 million in 2024, his last year of salary arbitration.
Since there hasn’t been much extension buzz, the Guardians have two options: keeping him for 2024 to strengthen a playoff push, or trading him before the start of the season.
Another alternative could be entering the season with him and flipping him before the trade deadline in the summer.
In any case, the right-hander and former Cy Young winner is generating a lot of trade interest right now, per reports.
“The Cubs and Reds are among the teams active in trade conversations for Cleveland’s Shane Bieber and Tampa Bay’s Tyler Glasnow, sources confirm,” MLB insider Jon Morosi tweeted.
Fans, of course, reacted to the report in a variety of ways.
There wasn’t a shortage of jokes:
ELLY DE LA CRUZ WELCOME TO CLEVELAND!
— Mashed Potato Man #FirePoch (@cavsfan_421) November 28, 2023
I’ve always wanted to be a belieber
— Niren (@niren23) November 28, 2023
Others, however, started to speculate on potential return packages going to Cleveland.
Does this mean Happ and India are Guardians???
— JN11 (@j_nejman11) November 28, 2023
Some Cubs and Reds fans criticized Bieber and made it clear they don’t want him for their team:
Bieber stinks and Glasnow has struggled to stay healthy but I would gamble on him at the right price
— StephenGBuckets (@StephenGBucketz) November 28, 2023
However, others showed excitement about the prospect of the experienced Bieber joining their staff.
https://twitter.com/RabidRandy/status/1729514198055412182
The most important takeaway here is that opposing organizations aren’t scared about the fact Bieber missed several weeks with an arm injury.
He returned to make a couple of starts in September and looked good in the process.
Even with the elbow injury, he had a solid 3.80 ERA and his ceiling is much, much higher.
The likelihood of a Bieber trade increases by the day.
NEXT: Insider Reveals Shane Bieber Trade Rumor
