CLEVELAND — Shane Bieber is set to rejoin the Cleveland Guardians after a challenging season that saw him make just two starts due to needing Tommy John surgery. A source with knowledge of the situation revealed the details on Friday, indicating that the right-handed pitcher has struck a one-year contract worth $14 million, which includes a player option for $16 million for the 2026 season. The source requested anonymity as the agreement has yet to be officially announced.
Bieber, who won the Cy Young Award in 2020, faced difficulties in the previous year, largely due to elbow issues that ultimately led to his surgery. The 29-year-old experienced pain during his Opening Day start against the Athletics and again in his subsequent game against the Mariners, which limited his appearances for the season.
Throughout his entire seven-year career in Major League Baseball, Bieber has been a vital part of the Guardians. Prior to his elbow surgery, there were considerations to trade him, especially after a season in which he only made 21 starts.
In the 2020 season, which was shortened due to the pandemic, Bieber had an impressive record of 8-1 with a remarkable 1.63 ERA across 12 starts and 77 1/3 innings, accumulating 122 strikeouts. He topped the league in several key categories including wins, ERA, and strikeouts, and he finished fourth in the AL MVP voting.
The Guardians drafted Bieber in the fourth round of the 2016 amateur draft from UC Santa Barbara, and he made his professional debut two years later on his 23rd birthday. Over the course of his career, he has established a record of 62 wins against 32 losses, maintaining a 3.22 ERA over 136 games, which includes 134 starts and a total of 843 innings pitched. Notably, he has surpassed 200 innings pitched in two separate seasons, achieving a career-high of 214 1/3 innings in 2019.
