Shane Bieber Trade Destinations: Yankees, Red Sox, Rangers, Braves

Earlier this week, I wrote about some possible landing spots for Kevin Gausman. His teammate Shane Bieber is a whole different beast of a trade chip.

Both pitchers can lead a rotation when they're at their best. Gausman, however, is as low-risk as they come. Whichever team trades for him (and it does seem like he will be traded, despite his protestations), they know they're getting at least 10 solid starts down the stretch. 

Bieber is not such a safe bet. The 2020 AL Cy Young winner has not pitched a full season since 2022. He has made seven starts this season since returning from an elbow injury. In those starts, he has a 5.74 ERA and a 7.55 xERA in 31.1 innings. Two of his last three starts were absolute gems against a couple of the top teams in the American League, the White Sox and the Rays. Unfortunately, his most recent start, which was his final game before the deadline, was a disaster. Something was clearly wrong, as he gave up four runs on six walks and failed to escape the first inning. 

So, teams in the market for Bieber will be those that are looking for upside but can afford to take on some risk. In other words, we're looking for contenders that can (a) make room for Bieber in their rotation if he's pitching well and (b) have a backup plan if he isn't. Who might that be?

Why the Yankees Would Want To Trade for Shane Bieber

I know, I know. Nobody wants to see the Blue Jays trade with the Yankees. But the fit is there. The Yankees could use another starter, considering Max Fried, Gerrit Cole, and Carlos Rodón have all missed time with injuries this year. AL Cy Young front-runner Cam Schlittler has been rock solid all season, but even he has his question marks; he is approaching unprecedented territory in terms of his workload. 

Will Warren and Ryan Weathers have stepped up in a big way for the Yankees, but either of them could move to the bullpen following a Bieber trade. If Bieber struggles or gets hurt, the Yankees have a great insurance policy. 

Why the Red Sox Would Want To Trade for Shane Bieber

Yes, another AL East opponent. I'm sorry, but once again, the fit is too good to ignore. 

Garrett Crochet is hoping to return for the playoffs. If he does, Boston's top three of Crochet, Sonny Gray, and Ranger Suárez would be downright scary. Either Payton Tolle or Jake Bennett would be more than qualified to be the No. 4. 

Yet, the Red Sox have to get to the playoffs for that to matter. 

Suárez is an All-Star, but he's also a perennial injury risk. Tolle and Bennett are rookies. Boston's No. 5 starter is Patrick Sandoval, who has only made four starts since his return from Tommy John surgery. It's understandable why they traded Connelly Early for Curtis Mead, but Early's presence on the roster will be missed. 

The Red Sox don't need a starting pitcher, but some depth could help them avoid a late-season collapse. 

Why the Rangers Would Want To Trade for Shane Bieber

Like the Yankees and the Red Sox, the Rangers have plenty of starters, but most of them have their question marks. MacKenzie Gore is sturdy, but Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi are older veterans with lengthy injury histories. Kumar Rocker lacks experience. Jack Leiter should be the No. 5, but he's currently on the IL. Cal Quantrill (and possibly Cody Bradford and Jordan Montgomery) offers depth, but any contending team would prefer an option with more upside. Bieber can be that option. 

Shane Bieber Mock Trade

Jays Centre's Matthew Creally came up with a mock trade last week that would send Shane Bieber to the Braves. I'll let him explain the logic behind that landing spot (you can read the article here!), but Atlanta is another team that could use (a) a pitcher with Bieber's upside and (b) survive if he suffers another injury. 

Matthew's formula determined that Bieber could net the Jays one mid-range prospect, but the return could be more exciting if Toronto packaged Bieber with another player. Here is the mock he ultimately came up with:

• Braves get Shane Bieber and Jesús Sánchez
• Blue Jays get Jorge Mateo and Owen Murphy (BA Braves No. 7)

Any thoughts on these landing spots? Any other teams you think I should have considered? Leave a comment and let me know!

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