SAN FRANCISCO — In today’s edition of Hey, Hoynsie! we answer Guardians questions about potential trade deadline moves, Shane Bieber’s future and prospects that could benefit from a deadline deal.
The dialogue below is taken from a recent episode of the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast. Some of the questions came from our Guardians Subtext subscribers. To become one, click the blue banner at the top of the cleveland.com/guardians page.
Hey Hoynsie
The treatment of right field as a designated platoon spot in the lineup has been ineffective for years. I’d prefer to see the team give a player a legit shot to start for more than a game or two in a row. When is the last time the Tribe had a right fielder start at least 120 games in a season? — Jake, Cleveland.
Paul Hoynes: It’s been a disaster this year. They’ve got no production out of that. Nolan Jones is starting to come around a little bit in right field, but we saw Big Christmas, AKA Jhonkensy Noel fail. He got demoted. Will Brennan is on the injured list after Tommy John surgery. It’s been a mess. I’d like to see them find a right fielder, give him a chance to play every day against lefties and righties. But this is the way they operate right now. It keeps costs down and they’re able to expand the roster by having versatile players. But it really hasn’t worked at all this year and something needs to be done.
Joe Noga: To answer Jake’s question, I think you’ve got to go all the way back to Shin-Soo Choo as the last time they had a regular reliable starting right fielder that played 120 games out there. It’s been a revolving cast of characters out there for the better part of 15 years.
Paul Hoynes: They’ve got two guys at Triple-A, Chase DeLauter and C.J. Kayfus that can play right field. Is this what they’re going to do with them when they come up to the big leagues? Are they going to turn them into platoon guys? That’s their game plan, their blueprint. But it certainly would be a blessing to see one guy play 130 games in right field. It can’t be that hard to find an everyday right fielder, but they have turned it into a jigsaw puzzle.
Shane Bieber, Cleveland Guardians.AP
Hey Hoynsie
If Shane Bieber makes it back on the mound, will the Guardians be able to trade him? I think they can get top prospects from a contender — a top young pitcher, a top young catching prospect. What do you think of the chances of Shane Bieber getting traded? — Virgil Houser, Gustavus, Ohio.
Paul Hoynes: I think that’s really iffy, Virgil. I get where you’re coming from. But Bieber’s got to get back on the mound, then he’s got to make 6-8 starts based on how much time is left on the schedule. Who’s going to fork over valuable prospects for Bieber when you know he’s basically a free agent at the end of the year? He’s got a mutual option, so he could very well be a free agent at the end of this season. I can’t see them really trading Bieber unless he comes back next year and is healthy and strong and has a good first half. Then maybe you can trade him. But right now I think the main goal is for him to get back on the mound and pitch and prove he’s healthy.
Joe Noga: The setback he suffered within the last two weeks (sore right elbow) really eliminated the possibility that he could get back on the mound in a timetable that would allow him to make enough starts to show another team they’d be getting a playoff level Shane Bieber. He’s not going to be able to make it back to the majors before the trade deadline (July 31) now. So, it’s almost like he’s stuck with Cleveland and in his mind, the end of this season has to be the goal for him. If he pitches well down the stretch for the Guardians, that sort of activates a whole other avenue for him. He can go elsewhere if he wants to and we’ve seen that might be the case.
Paul Hoynes: Matthew Boyd was in a different situation contract-wise, but certainly in the same situation as Bieber concerning coming back from Tommy John surgery. It worked out for him when he came back, he signed with Cleveland at the end of June. He finished his rehab, made eight starts for the big league club. Then he made three more in the postseason, became a free agent, signed a two-year, $30 million deal with the Cubs, and he’s pitching very well for him right now. Bieber’s in a little different circumstance.
Guardians’ Steven Kwan.MLB Photos via Getty Images
Hey Hoynsie
With the trade deadline coming up, what players do you consider are un-tradeable for the Guardians? Is it Jose Ramirez, Steven Kwan and Cade Smith? Who else is on your list? — Tom Byler, Lewisburg, Kansas.
Paul Hoynes: I’m not trading Tanner Bibee. I’m not trading Slade Cecconi or Luis Ortiz. I think those guys are the future. I really like what Gavin Williams has done. I like the young starting pitching. I don’t think I’m going near that. I guess you’d have to dip down into the prospects. I’m not trading Chase DeLauter. I haven’t seen enough of him. I’m not trading C.J. Kayfus. Those are the kind of players teams are going to be asking for, besides your major league talent.
Joe Noga: What about Juan Brito? You’ve essentially traded Nolan Jones, gotten Brito and then traded for Jones again by sending Tyler Freeman to Colorado. You could trade Juan Brito to somebody and you’ve still got Nolan Jones. To me, it would be the most hilarious sort of turnaround. Brito is coming back off of midseason thumb surgery. Would a team want to take a risk on a guy like him?
Paul Hoynes: I think they would, but I think right now Brito is probably more valuable to Cleveland than he is to anybody else. They really haven’t seen him, but they want this guy to get to the big leagues. He didn’t have the greatest spring, but obviously they listen to anybody when they talk trade. That’s a wide net. They’re willing to listen to everybody on anybody. But I think these guys really guard their prospects.
Joe Noga: The only other guy I would add to the untradeable list at this moment would be Kyle Manzardo. You can’t trade Kyle Manzardo after what you did to bring him along and give him opportunities this year. Even though you’ve got C.J. Kayfus, who plays first base, seemingly tearing it up in the minors behind him. Beyond this season you’re probably not going to have Carlos Santana. You’re going to need somebody who can play first base competently in the major leagues and Kyle Manzardo is showing that he can do that.
Paul Hoynes: Would you trade Brayan Rocchio?
Joe Noga: In a heartbeat. If somebody came calling for him. You can put any number of guys at shortstop. If Gabriel Arias falters, you can put Angel Martinez there. You can put Daniel Schneemann in there. Those might not be your most glamorous options, but you’ve got guys that you can plug into that shortstop spot if you trade Rocchio and if something happens to Arias.