Shane Bieber’s first experience in free agency turned into a return to his old team.
The 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner agreed on Friday to come back to the Cleveland Guardians after making just two starts last season before needing Tommy John surgery, according to a person familiar with the talks who spoke to The Associated Press.
Bieber had been expected to leave the AL Central champions, but he is returning after agreeing to a one-year, $14 million contract that includes a $16 million player option for 2026. The person spoke anonymously because the deal had not been officially announced yet.
Bieber’s contract will pay him a salary of $10 million and includes a $4 million buyout option.
The 29-year-old pitcher only made two starts in 2024 before deciding to have surgery on his elbow, which had caused him pain during the previous season. Bieber felt discomfort during his first start on opening day against the Oakland Athletics and again in his second start against the Seattle Mariners.
Despite not allowing a run in either game, the Guardians were encouraged by his velocity and performance (he had 20 strikeouts). However, the pain in his elbow became too much, and Bieber chose to have the ligament-replacement surgery.
If his recovery goes as expected, Bieber should be back in Cleveland’s rotation within the first three months of the upcoming season.
The Guardians feared his loss would affect them last season, but the team started strong under new manager Stephen Vogt and went on to win the division title. Cleveland eliminated Detroit in the AL Division Series but lost to the New York Yankees in five games in the AL Championship Series.
Bieber spent parts of last season with the team and received a warm welcome at Progressive Field before the postseason series.
The two-time All-Star has spent all seven of his major league seasons with Cleveland, which had considered trading him before his elbow problems in 2023 limited him to just 21 starts.
In the shortened 2020 COVID-19 season, Bieber went 8-1 with a 1.63 ERA over 12 starts, pitching 77 1/3 innings and striking out 122 batters. He led the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts, finishing fourth in AL MVP voting.
Bieber was selected by Cleveland in the fourth round of the 2016 amateur draft from UC Santa Barbara and made his MLB debut two years later on his 23rd birthday.
Bieber has a career record of 62-32 with a 3.22 ERA in 136 appearances, including 134 starts, and 843 innings pitched. He has thrown over 200 innings twice, including a career-high 214 1/3 innings in 2019.
