After seeing the Guardians trade Sabathia with three months left on his contract for a minor league outfielder named Michael Brantley, I'm sold. After seeing them trade the last year of Kluber's contract (in which he pitched one inning) for Clase, I'm sold. After seeing them trade the last 1.5 years of Clevinger's contract (he was hurt the following year) for Josh Naylor, Arias, Hedges, Quantrill, and Cantillo, I'm sold. There are more examples.
We HAVE to trade Bieber. The way he's pitching there is NO chance we can afford to extend him. There never was. There's not enough "creativity" to make it happen.
In retrospect would you rather have the 17 starts Sabathia made for the Brewers after the trade (he signed with the Yankees after the season) or the ten years of Michael Brantley?
I would trade Bieber's last 17 starts of this season for ten years of the next Michael Brantley. But I would prefer pitching, similar to the Jake Westbrook for Corey Kluber trade.