Tanner Bibee has been one of the steadiest arms in Cleveland’s rotation since he broke into the majors in 2023, but this October did not go the way he hoped. He made 33 starts during the regular season, including on Opening Day, and then was barely used during the Guardians’ postseason run. He pitched once in two rounds, and that appearance came out of the bullpen. That is a hard role for any starter to accept, especially one who led the staff in innings. Bibee has had time to process it, though, and he is already looking ahead to 2027, saying, “I’m going to bounce back next year.”
“There’s a reason I signed an extension to be here. There’s a reason why I want to win a championship for Cleveland,” Bibee said. “I don’t think it’s a lack of confidence in me because I’m going to bounce back next year. It’s not a lack of confidence in me because I know I can do it.”
In that lone appearance, Bibee was charged with two runs and recorded only one out. For the rest of October, Stephen Vogt leaned on Gavin Williams, Parker Messick and Foster Griffin, plus a few bullpen games, as Cleveland came back to beat the White Sox and then fell to the Rays in the ALCS.
Bibee made clear he does not see the decision as a sign that the organization has lost faith in him. He knows what he is capable of, and he pointed to his contract as proof of how committed he is to Cleveland. In March 2025, he signed a five-year, $48 million extension that runs through 2029 and includes a club option after that. Bibee explained that he chose to stay because he wants to be part of the team that finally brings a championship to Cleveland.
His 2026 season was frustrating in a lot of ways. Bibee went 7-15 with a 4.36 ERA, and his 15 losses led the league. He also threw a team-high 188 innings with 148 strikeouts and a 1.22 WHIP. Run support was a problem all year. He received some of the lowest run support in baseball, and he became the first pitcher in franchise history to go winless in his first 13 starts of a season.
There were also long stretches when he was excellent. From the start of June through early August, Bibee posted a 2.98 ERA over 10 starts, and by late August he was tied for the American League lead in quality starts. His command slipped in September, though, including a five walk outing against Toronto in a key early September series. That rough finish likely played a part in Vogt’s October plans.
The good news for Cleveland is that Bibee is only twenty-seven and under contract for years to come. He finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2023, and he has been a durable presence at the front of the rotation ever since. Vogt has already said he expects Bibee to remain one of the anchors of the staff next season.
Cleveland will need him. With Griffin heading into free agency, the rotation has a hole to fill, and a bounce back season from Bibee would go a long way toward solving that problem. Getting left out of October clearly stung, and Bibee now has a full offseason to turn that disappointment into motivation. If he delivers on his promise, Cleveland’s rotation could be even better in 2027.
NEXT: 2 Minor League Hitters On The Guardians Who Can Contribute In 2027
