Why the Guardians Need an Aggressive Plan for Shane Bieber
With Matthew Boyd signing a two-year contract with the Chicago Cubs, the Cleveland Guardians must now act quickly and aggressively to keep Shane Bieber in Cleveland. There had already been some expectation that the Guardians might lose both Boyd and Bieber, but Boyd’s departure makes it crucial for Cleveland to focus on retaining Bieber.
Without Bieber, the Guardians’ starting rotation looks uncertain. While Tanner Bibee stands out as a reliable option, the rest of the rotation consists of a mix of unproven players, including Gavin Williams, Ben Lively, Triston McKenzie, and Logan Allen, with some of them unlikely to feature in the major league starting lineup. Strengthening this rotation is a priority for the Guardians.
However, re-signing Bieber comes with risks. The former Cy Young winner is recovering from Tommy John surgery and is expected to miss part of the 2025 season. This could influence Cleveland’s decision, as the front office may hesitate to commit a large sum to a player who will not be available at the start of the season.
Additionally, Bieber’s decline in velocity and strikeout numbers in recent years raises concerns. His fastball averaged 91.3 MPH in 2022 and 2023, and his strikeouts per nine innings dropped from 8.9 in 2022 to 7.5 in 2023. While his performance showed improvement in his limited 2024 season, these trends are worrisome and could be more telling than his recent uptick in strikeouts and velocity.
Despite these concerns, re-signing Bieber would not necessarily contradict the Guardians’ typically cautious approach. With a window of opportunity for contention, Cleveland needs to capitalize on it now. Even if Bieber doesn’t return to his 2024 form, bringing back a version of him from 2022 or 2023 would still provide a substantial upgrade over any pitcher in the rotation besides Bibee. The Guardians must be bold and make an offer that Bieber can’t refuse.
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