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Cleveland Guardians Starting Pitcher Could be Trade Target for Minnesota Twins
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- Cleveland Guardians Starting Pitcher Could be Trade Target for Minnesota Twins
(William Purnell-Imagn Images)
The Minnesota Twins have plenty of candidates for their 2027 rotation, but their longer-term picture is less settled. Joe Ryan, Pablo López, Dean Kremer and Bailey Ober can all become free agents after that season (assuming it happens), a situation that could lead Minnesota to trade from its current pitching depth this winter.
If the Twins move one of those veterans, Cleveland Guardians starter Tanner Bibee would be an interesting replacement to pursue. He is under contract beyond 2027 and has shown he can take the ball throughout a full season. His disappointing finish in Cleveland's October run also raises a question about how the Guardians will use him going forward.
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Bibee led the Guardians with 33 starts and 188 innings in 2026, but his 4.36 ERA was the highest of his career. He then appeared in just one of Cleveland's 11 postseason games, facing three batters in relief during the American League Division Series. The right-hander did not pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL Championship Series.
The Athletic's Zack Meisel reported that Bibee expressed frustration with his October role during his exit interview. Guardians manager Stephen Vogt acknowledged Bibee was upset and said the two discussed Cleveland's reasoning before its season ended.
There was a baseball explanation for the decision, as Bibee posted a 7.36 ERA across his final five regular-season starts, and Cleveland favored other pitchers and matchups in October. President of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said Bibee could have started early in the World Series had the Guardians advanced.
Bibee's earlier form could be why a team like Minnesota could take a swing. In 2024, he posted a 3.47 ERA with 187 strikeouts over 173.2 innings. His 2026 line had fewer strikeouts despite a heavier workload, so Minnesota would be betting on a resurgence in addition to his ability to cover innings. A return toward that 2024 level would give the Twins a starter capable of helping near the front of the rotation.
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The contract makes that bet a little easier to plan out. Cleveland signed Bibee to a five-year, $48 million extension in 2025. He is guaranteed $7 million in 2027, $10 million in 2028 and $21 million in 2029, with a club option for 2030. Minnesota would be acquiring a pitcher it could keep after several current starters reach free agency.
The Twins could use that certainty if they deal an established arm for help elsewhere on the roster. Bibee has made at least 30 starts in each of the last three seasons, giving Minnesota a durable option while younger pitchers such as Connor Prielipp, Zebby Matthews and Mick Abel compete for larger roles.
Getting him from an AL Central rival is the difficult part. Vogt said Bibee will be a major part of the Guardians' future, and there has been no report that Cleveland is shopping him or that Minnesota has asked about him. The Guardians would also have to be comfortable sending a controllable starter to a team they face throughout the season.
For now, Bibee is just a trade idea. There has been no reporting that Cleveland plans to move him. That said, if Cleveland's view changes after his limited postseason role, Minnesota has a reason to call.
