Shane Bieber is now under contract for the 2024 season. But it still doesn't necessarily mean he'll be taking the mound on Opening Day for the Guardians .
Bieber and the Guardians agreed Thursday on a one-year, $13.125 million deal to avoid arbitration for the 2024 season, according to an ESPN report. Bieber is eligible to be a free agent at the end of the year.
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The one-year deal won't quell any possible trade scenarios involving Bieber, who is one of the top targets on the market for teams looking to bolster their rotations.
With Bieber, the Guardians might be caught between a rock and a hard place. They could allow him to walk in free agency at the end of the year without as much compensation as they'd receive in a trade, which is something they've generally avoided, but teams might not offer much for Bieber, forcing the Guardians to either sell low or do nothing at all.
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Bieber won the American League Cy Young in 2020, but since has watched his value on the market slide downhill. His velocity has been in a three-year decline, and he's had two seasons shortened due to arm and elbow issues. Last year, he posted a 3.80 ERA in 128 innings.
And with the Guardians dealing away Cal Quantrill, a Bieber trade would put some extra pressure on the club's pitching depth in the rotation.
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Guardians at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/cleveland-guardians. Follow him on Twitter at @ByRyanLewis .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians agree to 1-year deal with Shane Bieber for 2024
