The Cleveland Guardians are already in the process of improving their roster for the 2025 campaign.
They were surprisingly successful in 2024, but fans want more and the front office is working hard to deliver the desired results.
One of the most pressing items in the agenda is improving the starting rotation.
At this moment, the Guardians have Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, Ben Lively, Joey Cantillo and options such as Triston McKenzie and Logan Allen.
Ideally, that group needs two or three additional top starters.
Shane Bieber, currently a free agent, could be one of the additions.
He is a free agent now, though.
Cleveland sportscaster Bruce Drennan said that a Bieber return would make sense for the Guardians and even expressed a desire regarding the situation: the famous hometown discount.
“What should the Guardians do this offseason? “I would like to see the Guards re-sign Shane Bieber. I think he’d give them a franchise friendly contract,” Drennan posted on X.
What should the Guardians do this offseason?
"I would like to see the Guards re-sign Shane Bieber. I think he'd give them a franchise friendly contract."
presented by Mentor Nissan! https://t.co/Ql8FdMty3k pic.twitter.com/7BkLneXUg4
— Bruce Drennan Show (@Bruce_Drennan) November 8, 2024
Baseball players often reach free agency with a chance to earn life-changing money once or twice, so it’s not a given that Bieber gives Cleveland a franchise friendly contract.
If he does, however, he will have a chance to regain some value while pitching for a competitive team in familiar surroundings.
The 2020 AL Cy Young has been magnificent for the Guardians in his career, and after a somewhat down 2023, he started this year by tossing 12 scoreless frames with 20 strikeouts.
Unfortunately, he blew out his elbow and needed surgery.
He probably won’t be ready for the start of the 2025 campaign, but a two-year deal with the Guardians would make plenty of sense.
He can recover at his own pace and return at some point in 2025, help the Guardians, and then enjoy a normal off-season in 2025-26 for his walk year.
If he is open to giving Cleveland a shot at a team-friendly deal, they should be all over that chance.
NEXT: Guardians Catcher Says He Feels 'Like Home' After Completing His Return To Cleveland
