Could the Phillies make a blockbuster deal with the Guardians?

Could the Phillies complete a blockbuster trade with the Guardians?

There has been much conjecture regarding what moves the Philadelphia Phillies will make this offseason in order to become World Series winners. One thing is certain: they will be in the market for starting pitchers. Dave Dombrowski stated that re-signing Aaron Nola is their first goal, but if they do lose him, they will need to replace his production. To do this, the Phillies may seek a blockbuster deal with the Cleveland Guardians to get Shane Bieber. The Guardians’ ace, according to USA TODAY’s MLB Insider Bob Nightengale, is expected to be available this offseason.

Bieber won the AL Cy Young in the COVID shortened 2020 season after winning the Triple Crown for starting pitchers, posting the lowest ERA (1.63), the most wins (8) and strikeouts (122). Injuries cut his 2021 and 2023 seasons short, something that could concern teams who are looking to deal for the right-hander.

This will need to be an assessment that Philadelphia has to get right if they decide to trade for Bieber. Replacing Nola isn’t just about the talent, it’s also about the amount of innings and starts that he’s given this team every single year.

When the Phillies signed Zack Wheeler, he was in a similar scenario as Bieber is now. Injury-plagued seasons raised concerns about durability. Wheeler has been a workhorse in Philadelphia since his arrival. If they opt to strike a trade for the ace, they will require the same thing from Bieber. Overall, the 28-year-old doesn’t have much miles on his arm, which could be beneficial during this stage of his career. Since his MLB debut, he has thrown 831 innings and over 12,000 pitches. In comparison, Nola has thrown 1,422 innings and almost 22,000 pitches.