CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Guardians have secured a significant commitment with right-handed pitcher Tanner Bibee, finalizing a five-year contract valued at $48 million. This agreement, guaranteeing the 26-year-old a pivotal role in the team’s future, includes a team option for 2030 with the potential for the deal to expand to $68 million over six seasons.
Bibee is all set to embark on his first opening-day start this Thursday against Kansas City. In the previous season, he made an impressive showing with a 12-8 record and a 3.47 ERA, delivering 12 quality starts across 31 games, and registering 187 strikeouts over 173 2/3 innings. Originating from California, Bibee also put up a solid performance in the postseason last year, with a 0-1 record and a 3.45 ERA over four starts.
In a series of roster changes, Cleveland traded their versatile player Tyler Freeman to the Colorado team in exchange for outfielder Nolan Jones, earlier this weekend.
Under the terms of his new contract, Bibee will receive a $2 million signing bonus, followed by structured salaries of $3 million in 2025, $4 million in 2026, $7 million in 2027, $10 million in 2028, and a substantial $21 million in 2029. The 2030 team option carries a salary of $21 million, accompanied by a $1 million buyout. Performance incentives allow for these figures to increase, as up to $4 million can be added based on Cy Young Award voting between 2025 and 2028, with the buyout potentially rising by an additional $2 million.
This expansive contract replaces Bibee’s earlier one-year agreement made in March, which offered an $812,000 salary at the major league level or $372,900 in the minors. Absent this new deal, Bibee would have been poised for arbitration over the next three seasons and could have attained free agency following the 2028 World Series.
In his debut season back in 2023, Bibee chalked up 10 wins, closely contending for the AL Rookie of the Year with a second-place finish. Remarkably, he stands among Cleveland pitchers such as Hall of Famer CC Sabathia and Shane Bieber, achieving at least 10 wins in each of his initial two professional years.
Drafted by Cleveland in the fifth round of the 2021 amateur draft, Bibee is now positioned to lead a youthful starting rotation. This year, the team will be without Shane Bieber for at least the first part of the season, as he recovers from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.
