Jason Burgos
Both the New York Mets and New York Yankees would love to acquire a high-upside starting pitcher for the second half. But without giving up elite prospects. Well, Cleveland Guardians ace Shane Bieber could be an option.
The Mets and Yankees are both in the thick of the Wild Card chase. And each has a strong chance of winning their respective divisions. However, they have various weaknesses they will look to address before this month’s MLB trade deadline. One could be bolstering the starting rotation for the stretch run.
There are quite a few impact pitchers who may be up for grabs over the next couple of weeks. Including Sandy Alcantara, Tyler Anderson, Mitch Keller, Zac Gallen, and Freddy Peralta. Both clubs have been linked to some of those players. But the asking price could be hefty with so many teams still in contention ahead of the July 31st deadline.
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However, there might be an interesting lower-cost option available that could make a huge impact in October.
“Maybe Shane Bieber won’t throw a pitch for the Guardians this season at all. He is one of the most intriguing players who could be moved at the deadline this season,” Akron Beacon Journal Guardians beat writer Ryan Lewis suggested this week. “He’s still working his way back from Tommy John surgery. And a recent setback that pushed his return date back a bit.
Shane Bieber contract: One year, $10 million ($16 million player option in 2026)
“He might not be ready for a major league mound until early August. Which means opposing teams would have to pay close attention to any rehab assignments he can log in the second half of July. It’ll be a bit of a gamble for any team acquiring him, which brings into question what the return value for Bieber would be.”
Bieber re-signed with Cleveland in the offseason, but was linked to various teams. Including the Mets and Yankees. Because he hasn’t pitched yet and is coming back from a major injury, the cost for him should be lower than other star pitchers available. Especially since he can hit free agency again if he doesn’t exercise his player option after the season.
While there is certainly a lot of risk in a trade, the two-time All-Star and 2020 AL Cy Young winner could be a huge addition in the second half. Both teams are good enough that they should be able to secure a playoff spot while letting him work off the rust. But by October, he could end up playing a huge role in a World Series run for either team.
