Shane Bieber returns to Cleveland Guardians on one-year deal

Shane Bieber returns to Cleveland Guardians on one-year deal

After undergoing Tommy John surgery in April, causing him to miss most of the 2024 season, free agent starter Shane Bieber has returned to the Cleveland Guardians on a one-year, $14 million deal, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan first reported on Friday.

According to Passan, the deal includes a $16 million player option in 2026.

Right-hander Shane Bieber and the Cleveland Guardians are in agreement on a one-year, $14 million contract that includes a $16 million player option for 2026, sources tell ESPN. Bieber underwent Tommy John surgery in April and is expected to return in the middle of 2025.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 6, 2024

Bieber, 29, made just two starts against the Athletics and Seattle Mariners. He combined to pitch 12.0 innings, striking out 20 batters to just one walk without allowing a single earned run. That comes after pitching 128.0 innings during an injury-riddled 2023 season, where he sported a 3.80 ERA and 3.87 FIP with 107 strikeouts and 34 walks.

When he’s right, however, Bieber’s one of the most consistent starters in the American League. He’s either dealt with injuries or dominated in a COVID-shortened 2020 season, so his sample size is fairly limited. In his career, he’s flashed a 3.22 ERA, 3.09 FIP, 133 ERA+, 28.1 strikeout rate and a 22.6 K-BB%. For a one-year flier to potentially build up your value, that’s a more-than-reasonable contract–even if he doesn’t pitch the entire season.

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He’s also familiar with the medical staff and the coaches within the organization, so this is mutually beneficial from that angle too. The Guardians will still need to attack the starting pitching market–even though they’ve notoriously rested on the cheap side of things. Bieber can’t be their only solution, even if he’s expected to be the head of the snake when he’s healthy.

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