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Buster Olney, ESPN Senior Writer
Right-hander Shane Bieber, who gained the Cy Young Award with the Guardians in 2020, has agreed to re-sign with Cleveland after testing free company for the primary time, sources advised ESPN.
Bieber’s deal is for one yr and price $14 million, with a $10 million wage in 2025, sources advised ESPN’s Jeff Passan. It features a $16 million participant possibility for 2026, which features a $4 million buyout.
Bieber, 29, made solely two begins final season for the Guardians earlier than present process reconstructive elbow surgical procedure final April. If his rehabilitation follows the everyday Tommy John restoration timeline, Bieber might miss the beginning of subsequent season earlier than rejoining the Cleveland rotation in the midst of 2025.
In maintaining along with his sturdy profession efficiency, Bieber threw 12 scoreless innings final season, strolling one and putting out 20, earlier than his surgical procedure.
Over seven main league seasons, Bieber has a 3.22 ERA, with 958 strikeouts in 843 innings.
He has been extremely revered throughout the Cleveland group for his aptitude and his capability to evolve. The Guardians have had an distinctive historical past of growing beginning pitching over current a long time, from CC Sabathia to Cliff Lee to Corey Kluber and Bieber.
But final season, a sequence of accidents — together with Bieber’s — and poor efficiency left the Guardians closely reliant on their bullpen. Their hope is they’ll rebuild their beginning pitching as soon as extra as they appear to defend their 2024 AL Central title.
If Bieber returns wholesome, he’ll hit free company once more subsequent winter as a 30-year-old and be in line for a big long-term contract.
