I can already hear both fan bases complaining that they’re not receiving enough out of this transaction. Yankees fans would say that trading two of their top ten prospects, along with Stanton and Cabrera, for Bieber, who will become a free agency after the 2024 season, is not worth it. Meanwhile, regardless of the trade, Guardians fans will not be pleased with the prospect of losing their ace and superstar closer.
Sure, this agreement is implausible, but it does make logic. Of course, the final element of the Guardians’ reappearance is worth noting. To help offset Stanton’s large contract, New York would need to transfer cash to Cleveland (as in the Colorado Rockies-St. Louis Cardinals Nolan Arenado trade).
Stanton is expected to earn $32 million in 2024 and 2025, $29 million in 2026, $25 million in 2027, and a $25 million club option in 2028, as per Spotrac data. The Guardians signed Jose Ramirez to the most lucrative contract in franchise history ahead of the 2022 season, worth $124 million over five years.
So Cleveland definitely would not want to take on Stanton’s contract unless New York assisted in paying his salary. So, why would the Yankees be prepared to give Stanton a large portion of his salary to play elsewhere?
Stanton did not have a successful 2024 season. Although New York’s offense underperformed in 2023, the lineup is promising, with Aaron Judge and Juan Soto leading the way.
General manager Brian Cashman may be ready for a change. He admitted early in the offseason that the Yankees are planning for another Stanton injury in 2024, which drew criticism.
The Yankees also require pitchers, as previously said. Yes, Bieber has one year left on his deal. However, he’s a capable arm with superstar potential, and New York may sign him to a contract extension after a trade.
Clase makes the difference in the trade. He is the reason New York is sending two of its top ten prospects to Cleveland. Clase has been one of baseball’s top closers in recent years and is under contract through 2026 (club options in 2027 and 2028).
The Yankees want to win now, and making this transaction will help them accomplish so. Again, their offensive underperformed in 2024, so they will rely on the majority of their hitters to rebound. However, even with Judge and Soto in the lineup, New York will find ways to score runs.
Guardians’ return
The Guardians urgently need more offense. They have established as one of the greatest pitching development teams in the league, so Cleveland should have little issue finding a new ace. If Triston McKenzie remains healthy through 2024, he will be an All-Star. Meanwhile, Tanner Bibee has been considered for AL Rookie of the Year in 2023.
Trading Bieber, despite his stellar performance for Cleveland, makes sense. The Guardians are unlikely to commit him to a contract extension, so trading him now would allow them to lose him in exchange for something. That is a better alternative than letting him go in free agency.
However, trading Clase is a far more difficult option because he still has several years of team control. However, Cleveland is a team that is always looking to the future.
Acquiring Stanton may prove vital for a Yankees squad that is open to change. The Guardians would be intrigued by Cabrera’s versatility and potential.
Cleveland has been looking for a star outfielder for a while, and Everson Pereira, the Yankees’ No. 3 prospect, could be one. He appears to be a power threat from the right side of the plate.
Acquiring Wells is an intriguing move. Wells is the Yankees’ number seven prospect, however he is a catcher. Cleveland already has Bo Naylor, who many believe will be the Guardians’ catcher of the future.
However, adding catching depth is always a good idea. And if both Wells and Naylor prove to be reliable major league performers, one of them may end up swapping positions.
Could this Yankees-Guardians trade actually come to fruition?
