Austin Hedges presents manager Stephen Vogt with celebratory belt
The Guardians have a pro wrestling-style championship belt with which they’ve been celebrating all year. Thursday, it was presented to Stephen Vogt.
Shane Bieber was likely headed toward a massive payday until he tore up his elbow only two starts into the 2024 season. It threw a wet blanket on what might have been a blazing season.
And it all led to Bieber choosing to remain in the place where he is the most comfortable, as he’ll continue to work with the Guardians medical staff and pitching department.
Bieber, who became a free agent at the conclusion of the 2024 season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, agreed to a one-year deal that includes a 2026 player option to return to Cleveland. His injury status allowed the Guardians to be a competitor on the open market to re-sign him.
Bieber received offers from other clubs. But it came down to familiarity.
“Nobody knows me as well as Cleveland and vice versa, so I’m happy to be continuing with them,” Bieber said via Zoom Wednesday night. “It was definitely a factor that I considered and weighed heavily. … I’m very confident with where I’m at right now and I’m going to continue to be confident progressing and moving forward.”
Shane Bieber injury update; pitching ace recovering from Tommy John surgery
Bieber will almost certainly start the 2025 season on the injured list. He might not be able to return to the mound in a major league game until around midseason, and that could be if all goes well.
He’s currently throwing out to 90 feet. He half-joked Wednesday that whenever he asks for a potential return date, the team’s medical staff won’t answer him. They want him to take it slow to avoid a setback, which can be difficult during such a long absence. A couple years ago, Bieber noted he had a difficult time dealing with his extended rehab in 2021.
At some point, he’ll join the Guardians rotation in 2025. But it remains a frustrating waiting game.
“It’s different. It’s hard. It’s difficult,” Bieber said. “The way I boil it down and try to keep it as simple as possible is that I will continue to push, push, push. I always want five more throws, one more set, whatever it may be. But I’m thankful when I lay my head down on the pillow at night that I’ve surrounded myself with people that can pull [back]. I think that’s a good relationship to have as an athlete.”
Bieber also just watched how the Guardians handled the end of Matthew Boyd’s rehab from Tommy John surgery. As he neared his own return to the mound, Boyd signed with the Guardians and went on to become a crucial member of their postseason run. Boyd has since signed with the Cubs.
“I was able to have plenty of productive conversations with Matt,” Bieber said. “In a sense, that’s the landscape I’m looking at for 2025. … They took extremely good care of him. No surprise there.”
Shane Bieber to eventually join Tanner Bibee, others in Guardians 2025 starting rotation
The Guardians will have to figure out their rotation until Bieber returns. Tanner Bibee is the lone sure thing, followed by Gavin Williams, Ben Lively, the recently acquired Luis Ortiz, Joey Cantillo, Logan Allen, Triston McKenzie, Doug Nikhazy and potentially a few others as leading candidates.
Bieber had his fill of watching from the sidelines, as he wasn’t able to be part of the team’s run to the ALCS. It was particularly frustrating considering that while he was only able to make two starts before going down with the injury, it looked like he was on the path to another Cy Young-contending season.
“I just wish I was out there contributing,” Bieber said. “Ultimately, that’s what it boiled down to. That’s what my emotions boiled down to, and I was able to compartmentalize them because those are some of my great friends out there and they’re having their postseason moments and regular-season moments for that matter. And what [a] great group. What a fun group.”
It’s a ride Bieber hopes to join in 2025.