New York Yankees to complete $95M Blockbuster Trade

The New York Yankees will start the season without franchise ace Gerrit Cole, who is likely to miss the first 10 to 12 weeks due to an elbow ailment. Even before the infamously durable pitcher was ruled out until at least June, the Yankees had a rather thin rotation and had been looking to improve it through trades and free agency.

Dayn Perry of CBS Sports discussed potential “Yankees trade options” to replace Cole, including obtaining Shane Bieber, the 2020 Cy Young Award winner, from the Cleveland Guardians.

“They have realistic designs on winning the AL Central this season, but Cleveland ownership is always eager to reduce their roster investments regardless of how it harms the on-field product,” “Still just 28, Bieber is going into his walk year in 2024.”

Shane Bieber Is a Possible Trade Candidate for the New York Yankees

There’s a compelling argument that Shane Bieber could find himself traded before his one-year, $13.125 million deal with the Cleveland Guardians expires. Tim Britton of The Athletic predicts a lucrative five-year, $95 million contract for Bieber beyond 2024, suggesting Cleveland may seek to extract trade value before potentially opting not to match competitive offers in the offseason.

However, Bieber’s performance hasn’t quite matched his historic 2020 season, where he secured MLB’s pitching Triple Crown. In 2023, he posted a respectable 3.80 ERA and 107 strikeouts over 21 starts, but concerns about his health have arisen, casting doubt on his future with the Yankees.

Buster Olney of ESPN reported discussions surrounding Bieber as a potential trade target for teams, noting worries about his arm issues that limited him to 21 starts last season. While acknowledging these concerns, Dayn Perry emphasized that Bieber might be showing signs of improvement during the offseason, particularly in regaining lost fastball velocity. Perry suggests that Bieber’s progress could make him an attractive option for the Yankees.

 

The New York Yankees Might Wait Until Midseason on a Trade for Shane Bieber

With the anticipation of Cole’s potential return in the early stages of the season, the Yankees may opt to take a measured approach in evaluating their rotation and exploring trade options. In the case of Shane Bieber, whose value hinges significantly on his ability to regain MVP-level performance, waiting until closer to the 2024 deadline before making a trade appears more plausible.

Joseph Zucker of Bleacher Report suggests that teams interested in Bieber should monitor his performance at the start of the 2024 season. Given concerns about elbow inflammation, observing Bieber’s performance in the initial weeks and months will offer insights into whether there are larger underlying issues. Depending on the Guardians’ position in the standings, a potential Bieber trade might become more appealing as the July 30 deadline approaches. This approach allows teams like the Yankees to make more informed decisions about their roster needs and potential trade targets.