Dodgers Rumors: LA Among Top Landing Spots for Shane Bieber This Trade Deadline, Says Insider

The MLB trade deadline is quickly approaching and teams need to start deciding whether they want to be buyers or sellers for this season. With the expanded playoffs, we may see more teams than ever want to make some moves to give them a chance to reach the postseason. This could cause the market to dry out quickly and leave teams with few options to improve rosters.

For the Dodgers, they have a clear need at the deadline and that’s pitching. It has been the biggest weakness for this team and is something that they need to address over the next few weeks.

In his latest article, MLB insider Mark Feinsand listed the Dodgers among the top landing spots for Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber. The right-hander wouldn’t come cheap but likely wouldn’t be the most expensive player on the market either. This season, he has posted an ERA of 3.51 with 69 strikeouts over 91 innings pitched.

Bieber’s inclusion on this list isn’t an indictment of Cleveland’s postseason chances. As of Monday, the Guardians sat just 2 1/2 games behind the Twins in the AL Central. But Cleveland entered the week 33-38, and considering Bieber will be in a position to earn a raise from his $10 million salary in his final year of arbitration next winter, there’s a chance the Guardians could move him if they don’t view themselves as true championship contenders. Bieber, the 2020 AL Cy Young winner, has allowed two or fewer earned runs in nine of his 15 starts this season, throwing a league-high 95 innings.

Per MLB.com

Feinsand is correct in the fact that the Guardians are still in contention, especially playing in the weak AL Central. But this is exactly the type of move that the franchise has been known to make. The Guardians don’t typically sign their star players to long-term deals. Bieber could net them a nice haul if they were to trade him now rather than later.

Cleveland is a smaller market and when Bieber is a free agent, what is the likelihood that he stays with the team? He may command a heavy salary and that’s something that the Guardians probably wouldn’t go for.

Cleveland is great at drafting and developing pitchers so while losing Bieber would hurt them short-term, they ultimately would be okay. The former Cy Young winner could provide a team like the Dodgers with an experienced pitcher that still has good stuff out on the mound. Bieber has only allowed more than one run once over his last six starts. He seems to be getting into a nice groove for the year and the time to get him is now.

If the team were to acquire Bieber, it would instantly bolster their starting rotation for the rest of the season. It would give them another arm that they could rely on and a strong top three staff alongside Clayton Kershaw and Julio Urias, once he returns from injury.

Bieber also has another year of arbitration left so the Dodgers could keep him for next season as well. Bieber could be the best-case situation for LA during this trade deadline that won’t force them to completely deplete the farm system.

If they are able to acquire the services of Bieber, Andrew Friedman and company should absolutely do it.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube Channel yet? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Dodgers news, rumors, interviews, live streams, and more!