MLB’s Winter Meetings, which take place next week in Nashville, TN, are expected to see an increase in free agent activity. A former MLB general manager believes the Atlanta Braves should bring in rotation reinforcements while they’re in town.
Former Reds and Nationals general manager Jim Bowden wrote for The Athletic ($) about six trades he’d “like to see happen” in Nashville, one of which involves the Braves.
His idea is for Atlanta to make a trade with the Cleveland Guardians for right-hander Shane Bieber, the 2020 AL Cy Young winner.
Bieber, 28, missed time last season due to an elbow injury, leading to his worst statistical season since his 2018 debut, with a 6-6 record and 3.80 ERA in 21 starts. With only 128 innings pitched, he struck out 7.5 batters per nine innings (107 total), with 34 walks (2.4 B/9) and 14 home runs (1.0 HR/9).
A two-time All-Star who has received Cy Young votes in three different seasons, the hope is that health and a change of scenery will allow Bieber to regain his 2020 form, when he went 8-1 with an MLB-best 1.63 ERA en route to the AL Cy Young. Bieber led all of baseball in ERA, FIP (2.07), strikeouts (122), and strikeout rate (14.2 K/9) during the shortened season. His 5.4 hits per nine innings led the American League, and his 273 ERA+ led all qualified AL starters during the shortened season.
Bieber’s contract expires in 2024, after he earned just over $10 million in arbitration in 2023 and is expected to earn $12.2 million in 2024, according to MLB Trade Rumors projections.
Cleveland’s proposed return is unusual, however, as it includes infielder Vaughn Grissom as well as prospect pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach (who Cleveland drafted in the 34th round in 2018, but he did not sign and instead attended the University of Nebraska).
Cleveland’s farm system and major league roster are loaded with middle infielders and pitching prospects, and their commonly perceived organizational needs are power hitting and corner outfield, which Atlanta would be hard pressed to fill in a trade.
Bowden acknowledges this, suggesting that Atlanta could instead make a one-for-one trade with a top prospect (offering AJ Smith-Shawver straight up) or bring in a third team to provide Cleveland with an outfielder (as Atlanta did in the Sean Murphy trade).
Bieber, who grew up in Laguna Hills, California, attended UC-Santa Barbara and is represented by Rosenhaus Sports.
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