Now 4 years faraway from his Cy Young Award within the shortened 2020 season, Shane Bieber will return to the Guardians after agreeing to a one-year, $10 million cope with a $16 million participant choice for 2026 that features a $4 million buyout, based on a league supply.
The contract comes with the clear potential for upside as Bieber seems to be to return from Tommy John surgical procedure and reestablish himself as one of many sport’s finest pitchers. Bieber will not be prepared for major-league motion till early summer time at finest, however he stays an intriguing addition regardless of his damage. Before surgical procedure, Bieber had a 3.13 ERA over 70 begins after his Cy Young Award-winning season. Although his fastball velocity declined to a median of 92 mph in 2024, he has a popularity for top-notch command and a swing-and-miss slider. Bieber additionally throws a tumbling knuckle curveball and commenced honing a stylish “splinker” to enhance his arsenal earlier than the damage.
Now 29 years outdated, this will likely be a prove-it deal for a pitcher who did present proof of decline in 2023, when his common exit velocity allowed (91.6 mph) ranked within the backside 2 % of all MLB pitchers and he struck out solely 7.5 batters per 9 innings.
Bieber made solely two begins and threw 12 scoreless innings with 20 strikeouts final season earlier than his damage. Bieber informed The Athletic in October that he’s concentrating on a June/July return subsequent season. As he returns to the mound, there will likely be uncertainty, however an unpredictable arsenal and a monitor report of success may assist Bieber remind everybody why he might be among the many finest beginning pitchers within the sport.
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