Cubs & Guardians
Submitted by: Benjo
Cubs
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shane Bieber | 29 | Majors | SP | Medium | 1 | 20.8 | 13.1 | 7.7 | 6.2 | 7.7 | 9.2 | |
| Xzavion Curry | 25 | Majors | RP | 6 | 4.7 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1 | ||
| Cash | 4 |
Total Value:
12.5
Guardians
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Canario | 23 | Majors | OF | 6 | 8.6 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 5.6 | ||
| Ben Brown | 23 | Minors | SP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.7 | 6.2 | 7.7 | 9.2 |
Total Value:
12.4
Comments
5Canario ok, not a fan of Brown. I think Cleveland holds Bieber until deadline then reevaluates based on standings.
This at least makes sense, on paper, for both sides...
TA. To your point, the Cubs were in the same position last year with Stroman and Bellinger, as the Guardians are with Bieber this year. II went on record last summer, on this website, saying the Cubs should trade Stroman before the deadline and hang onto Bellinger. I think the Cubs could have landed Gilbert and one other (Bielak?) from the Astros, if they had pulled the trigger. Instead, they waited too long. Stroman got injured and they got nothing for him. Stroman did not help the second half, and the Cubs finished 1 game back in their division. Bielak, if they could have got him, might have been the difference maker. If Cleveland is going for it this year, they sure don't act like it. They didn't do jack in the offseason. Once you make a decision to deal a player, you should deal him, especially a pitcher. They are too vulnerable to injury. In order for the Guardians to get a better return for Bieber at the deadline, he has to be perfect. He can't have a repeat of last year. He looks good now, but I'm not sure he's still an ace. At the moment, I think Bieber is worth more to the Cubs than he is to the Guardians. Cubs are in a unique position to deal from a deep farm system. Brown is a top 100 guy and Canario should be. I think those two are as good, if not better, than the return the White Sox got for Cease. If I'm Jed I pull the offer once the season begins.
NEWSLETTER? SURE, SIGN ME UP!
In the past, when Cleveland would trade a pitcher, they had a ready replacement available to step in to replace him. Their ready replacements were forced in last season when all the injuries arrived and are now part of their rotation (Bibee, Williams, and Allen). The AL Central is very winnable. I know that they view Bieber as having more value than what BTV gives him. He is healthy and throwing with more velocity than he has the past two seasons. He has looked really good this spring. When healthy, Bieber has been a better pitcher than Stroman and Cease. Sportscoach mentioned Cleveland's type of pitcher and how Brown is not a match. That fact should not be ignored. As far as Cleveland not doing much, they will hope to improve from within. Kyle Manzardo, acquired in the Civale trade at the last deadline and Chase DeLauter will both arrive sometime this season and have an impact. Brian Rocchio will get a shot at SS. DeLauter, Manzardo, and Rocchio are all top 100 prospects. It looks like both teams have the roster that they are going with. We will soon see. Thank you for the good discussion.
I gave it a thumbs up Benjo and I agree with what you said. I'll even take it a step further. If it does not appear that a player like Bieber or Lindor will sign an extension then Cleveland should deal them with 2+ yrs of control and get max value. Holding onto both too long has bit them in the sack and they shouldn't do the same with McKenzie and Josh Naylor. They are not in playoff contention this year and it seems pretty obvious to me that this will be another season of figuring out who is going to stick at the ML level and who is going to earn their way out of the minors. They're close, but this is not the season. The only way this season becomes a contending one is if they get aggressive with their best prospects like Manzardo, DeLauter, Valera, Rodriguez, Martinez, Brito and Cantillo. They also need to give Florial and Arias the time to succeed or fail because they have the highest ceilings of the current group of OFers and SS's. Adding Canario and Brown helps this process.