4 realistic trade proposals to give the Cubs their ace

Trade Scenario #4: Cubs hook up with Cleveland on Shane Bieber

Last but certainly not least we come to Shane Bieber. You may be thinking, why would Cleveland, a team that just won the AL Central, trade their best pitcher? The answer is pretty simple. The Guardians don't keep guys they can't pay.

Let's remember - a deep postseason run, this very franchise traded their face of the franchise shortstop Francisco Lindor due to the contract he was about to command, and the same would have been said for Jose Ramirez if he didn't take less money to stay in Cleveland. Simply put, regardless of the team's record and success, the Guardians don't keep guys they know they can't afford.

Bieber has been one of the better pitchers in baseball for some time now. He recorded a 1.63 ERA in a shortened 2020 season in which he earned his first Cy Young award. This year, he posted a 2.88 and 200 innings recorded on the season. He has earned All-star honors twice and that number would probably have stretched to three years in a row if there was an All-Star Game in 2020. Adding to the hardware, he also earned his first Gold Glove award this season, as well.

Bieber still has another two years of team control. Acquiring him will be the most expensive from a prospect standpoint of anybody on this list. A package of Brennen Davis, Owen Caissie, Caleb Kilian and Nick Madrigal can be a strong starting point if the Cubs can push Cleveland over the edge in terms of trading Bieber. He has been the discussion of trades in the past. Either way, the Cubs have the prospects to pull off these caliber of blockbusters. In doing so, they will compete in 2023.