CLEVELAND — Nearly every Guardians game this season has toed the line between a one-run win or a one-run loss. Nearly every decision for the last several years has toed the line between winning today and setting up tomorrow.

And that likely won't be changing anytime soon.

As the Guardians prepare for the Aug. 1 trade deadline, they're in a peculiar position. They're right at an even .500 (45-45), which seems fitting. They've pitched well, save for a few key moments. They haven't hit well, save for a few key moments.

They lead the league in one-run games (36). And no American League team is closer to an equal run differential as the Guardians (minus-7). They've been a team hovering around (mostly below, until a recent improved stretch) .500, but they're also set up to win baseball's most winnable division.

They have reason to add to the roster with an eye on October 2023. And they'll want to continue to position themselves in the best way possible for March 2024 and beyond.

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One question: What narrative does the front office believe in the most? That the Guardians are a flawed team, but one with ample opportunities thanks to the division in which it plays? Or that they are a team that has already weathered the worst of the storm — and one with ample opportunities thanks to the division in which it plays?

The 2023 Guardians have been a team of give-and-take. And that leads into the trade deadline, and the many paths the club could take.

2023 MLB Trade deadline questions: It all starts with Shane Bieber

It's a safe bet to say that the Guardians will be involved in a high number of trade possibilities and conversations with a much higher number of players being potentially involved. It's also a safe bet that there's one name that will be discussed the most: Shane Bieber.

Bieber is eligible for free agency after the 2024 season. He and the Guardians haven't come to an agreement on any extension beyond that point, making him one of the few key pieces to the lineup who isn't under control far into the future.

If the Guardians are to address their offensive inefficiencies (namely in the outfield), Bieber is one of the top candidates. But there are some complications, and it could have more to do with what teams are willing to give up than how open the Guardians are to dealing their former Cy Young award winner.

Bieber has a 3.77 ERA this season. He hasn't had a mark above 3.28 since his rookie year in 2018. His downticks in velocity, even though he only recently turned 28, have been well documented.

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Perhaps worse is that in four of his last five starts, teams have knocked him around the second or third time through the order. Since June 17, Bieber has allowed just one earned run in the first three innings. But after the fourth, he's been crushed for 14 earned runs.

Bieber has shown a propensity to adjust and find top form over the last few years, even if it the results aren't procured in the same way they used to be. Even at his worst, he's a quality pitcher with a very high ceiling, and someone with experience pitching in the postseason.

Considering the Guardians' offensive issues, a deal involving Bieber fits, assuming the return package satisfies the front office's demands.

Shane Bieber headed to 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation

Except, there's a major complication in the short term. The deadline is roughly in two weeks, and Bieber is headed to the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. That'll add a significant question mark as teams evaluate his trade value. It's entirely possible that it could derail any Bieber trade talks altogether.

Bieber missed significant time with a shoulder issue in 2021, which led to him also struggling through the first half of 2022 as he continued to adjust after rehabbing the injury. These stints on the injured list could exacerbate any outside concerns with his velocity dip over the last few years.

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The emergence of rookies Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee and Logan Allen have afforded the Guardians the flexibility to possibly deal a pitcher like Bieber. But it's also the case that Williams, Bibee and Allen will need to have their workloads closely monitored and managed as the season progresses.

A veteran arm like Bieber's would help to ease any of those concerns.

Meanwhile, the rest of Triston McKenzie's season is in jeopardy. McKenzie will be sidelined likely until September with a sprained UCL in his pitching elbow. When he returns, it could be for some shorter starts as the season winds down. There's no telling how much of a factor he can be in a postseason series even if he returns to the mound this season without any health setbacks.

Cal Quantrill has had a disastrous 2023 season. He was placed on the injured list with shoulder inflammation, came back, was shelled twice and is again on the injured list with shoulder inflammation. He has a 6.45 ERA in addition to the health concerns.

Somehow, Zach Plesac has had a worse 2023 than Quantrill. Plesac posted a 7.59 ERA before being optioned to Triple-A, where he has a 7.03 ERA.

With all of that in mind, the Guardians might lean toward holding onto Bieber until at least the winter, unless an offer comes along that can't be passed up.

Guardians could deal from their prospect surplus to achieve their trade deadline goals

Bieber or another veteran starting pitcher isn't the club's only outlet through which to acquire a needed bat.

The Guardians have stockpiled middle infield talent, seemingly waiting for the right time to cash in with a trade. In addition to Andres Gimenez and Tyler Freeman at the major league level, the Guardians have Brayan Rocchio (No. 5), Angel Martinez (No. 7), Angel Genao (No. 10), Juan Brito (No. 14) and Jose Tena (No. 19) all ranked in their top 20 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline. And that isn't including Jake Fox (No. 8), who can play the middle infield but has seen more time in the outfield in 2023.

The front office could part with one or a few of those names, address the offensive needs and keep Bieber for one more postseason run.

Guardians' top trade target at the 2023 deadline: an outfielder (or at least a bat of some kind)

In the outfield, Steven Kwan hasn't been able to replicate his stellar rookie campaign. Myles Straw is a Gold Glove-level center fielder, but he has provided very little at the plate since he got off to a hot start for the first few weeks. Will Brennan is far from a proven commodity, but he's also been one of the hottest hitters in baseball over the last few weeks.

Oscar Gonzalez's demotion to Triple-A brought the outfield group to a murkier position. George Valera (No. 2-ranked prospect) will eventually have his chance to make his mark on the major league lineup, but that time hasn't yet arrived.

Straw can be a valuable commodity in the right role, and especially when he's hitting. But the latter hasn't happened consistently enough for an offense that has badly needed a lift to bolster the ones provided by Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor.

In addition to any team looking for starting pitching in exchange for a hitter, rebuilding teams with outfielders to move would make for a natural fit.

The New York Mets (Tommy Pham, Mark Canha), Chicago Cubs (Cody Bellinger, though they might be leary about adding another left-handed hitter) and the St. Louis Cardinals (Tyler O'Neill) could all be options as teams with available outfielders who could be looking to add prospects.

Adam Duvall could also be a possible target depending on which direction the Boston Red Sox go over the next two weeks. Jo Adell as a former top prospect who hasn't yet had success with the Los Angeles Angels could be a possible trade candidate as well as a guy who could benefit from a change of scenery.

Of course, the Guardians could also potentially add a first baseman and move Naylor to right field, which, if they feel comfortable with that option, would open up another layer of possibilities.

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The Guardians are positioned to strike a deal with just about any team in the league. Their surplus of middle infield prospects makes them a fit for any rebuilding teams wanting to build for 2024 and beyond. And they have the starting pitchers to possibly deal to a fellow contender if it means an improvement to Cleveland's lineup.

The Guardians could go any direction — or every direction all at once — in a series of deals. Though, that wouldn't be anything new for how this front office has operated, carefully positioning the club in a state of stability.

Everything is on the table.

Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Guardians at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/cleveland-guardians. Follow him on Twitter at @ByRyanLewis.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 2023 MLB trade deadline: Cleveland Guardians could follow many paths