The Cleveland Guardians were probably one or two reliable, stellar starters away from taking the Yankees to seven games in the American League Championship Series.
Most games were close and were decided late, even in extra innings.
The Guards bullpen would have been fresher with better starting pitching play.
The thing with the postseason is that depth starters are usually not very effective against the best offensive squads: you need quality and, preferably, bat-missing ability.
That’s why the Guardians need to bring back Shane Bieber.
Bieber is currently a free agent rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.
He went under the knife in April and isn’t expected to be ready for the start of the 2025 campaign.
That’s completely fine because Cleveland doesn’t need him for the start of the season: they need him for the stretch run and the postseason.
Bieber has a career 3.22 ERA with 958 strikeouts in 843 innings in a Guardians uniform.
He has won the AL Cy Young award, he has played All-Star games, and he has represented the Guardians farm system, player development staff and top-notch coaching through the years.
A two-year deal for the talented 29-year-old works to perfection: he can focus on his rehab for at least half of his first season under contract, come back strong, help the team reach the postseason and navigate through it, and pitch a full second campaign with full health.
The Guardians know they will have to pay a higher average annual value (AAV) for Bieber even during his rehab because he is a hot commodity in free agency.
If they want top-notch stuff, they have to pay for it, and who better than a guy from the house already familiarized with the organization and its modus operandi?
NEXT: Guardians Top Prospect Enjoyed Breakout Season In 2024
