Cleveland Guardians right-hander Shane Bieber (elbow), who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, threw his fifth bullpen session of camp on Tuesday and has progressed to throwing five days a week in addition to extending his throwing distance out to 135 feet. Bieber is making good progress and is on schedule in his recovery from TJ surgery, but he's still not expected to return to Cleveland's starting rotation until around midseason, barring any setbacks. Because the 29-year-old could miss half of the season, he'll be a complete wild card in fantasy and could struggle to regain his pinpoint control and command upon his return. Bieber looked good in two starts last year before being shut down, but before that, his velocity and strikeouts were trending in the wrong direction for fantasy managers. He's not in RotoBaller's top-100 starting pitcher rankings in 2025.

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Shane Bieber (elbow) continues to recover from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in April of last year at the team's spring training complex in Arizona. He has been able to progress his throwing to five days per week and his throwing distance out to 120 feet. Bieber will initiate his mound progression in mid-February. Because of the timing of the 29-year-old's surgery, he's not expected to be able to rejoin Cleveland's starting rotation in 2025 until around midseason. He was also dealing with elbow concerns in 2023, so hopefully he'll be able to put his arm issues behind him and be productive for the Cleveland rotation in the second half of the year. But the fact that Bieber will miss at least half the season puts him outside the top-100 fantasy starting pitchers this spring. Even before his injury, Bieber's velocity and strikeout numbers were trending in the wrong direction.

According to Mandy Bell of MLB.com, Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber (elbow) is not expected to rejoin the starting rotation until midway through the season. Bieber underwent Tommy John surgery last April after making just two starts. During this short stint, the 29-year-old struck out 20 batters in 20 innings and did not allow a run. Earlier in December, it was reported that Bieber began throwing from 90 feet. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring his status during the first half of the season. While sidelined, Tanner Bibee will operate as the ace of the staff, as he did through almost all of the 2024 campaign. In addition, with Bieber sidelined, Luis L. Ortiz, Triston McKenzie, and Slade Cecconi will compete for the final spot in the rotation.

According to Tom Withers of the Associated Press, Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber (elbow) is throwing from 90 feet three times per week. Withers noted that Bieber expressed that he is confident but still has "a long way to go." Bieber underwent Tommy John surgery last April and was only able to make two starts last season. Across these 12 frames, the former Cy Young winner held a perfect 0.00 ERA with a stellar 0.92 WHIP. During the 2023 campaign, the right-hander posted a 3.80 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. While this is a great sign to see him progress in his throwing program, fantasy managers should not expect him to return to the major league mound at least a few months into the 2025 campaign. However, if he continues to progress without facing any setbacks, he could be worth targeting in deeper formats as a high-upside stash candidate.

Free-agent right-hander Shane Bieber (elbow) and the Cleveland Guardians agreed to a one-year, $14 million deal on Friday that includes a $16 million player option for the 2026 season, according to sources. Bieber has chosen to return on a one-year pact after undergoing Tommy John surgery back in April. He isn't expected to return until the middle of 2025, so it makes sense for him to return to the Guardians to try and boost his value once again before potentially hitting the open market again next offseason. The two-time All-Star and former American League Cy Young (2020) only made two starts in 2024 before going under the knife, but he was dominant with 20 strikeouts over 12 shutout innings. Bieber has been excellent in the past, but fantasy managers would be foolish to assume he'll suddenly regain velocity and whiffs in his return from TJ surgery in 2025. He'll be a risk/reward fantasy starter on the cheap.

Right-hander Shane Bieber (elbow) and the Cleveland Guardians were dealt a brutal blow on Saturday after announcing that Bieber will need Tommy John surgery on his injured elbow (UCL). Bieber had been off to a very strong start to the 2024 season, dominating in his first two appearances and looking like one of the best pitchers in all of baseball. Now surgery is being recommended to deal with his recurring issues. Bieber was placed on the injured list last season with forearm irritation on the same arm and was experiencing a recurrence of pain this season as well after each of his first two starts. Bieber will miss the rest of the 2024 season, and fantasy baseball managers will need to hit the waiver wire this weekend to find a replacement pitcher.

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber continued his hot start in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Mariners. The 28-year-old improved to 2-0, tossing six scoreless innings with six hits, no walks, and nine strikeouts. Bieber has rebounded nicely in 2024 after a lackluster 2023 and has yet to allow a run with an impressive 20 strikeouts through his first two starts. He should have plenty of opportunity to put up another big strikeout total in his next projected start against the White Sox.

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber was dominant in his Opening Day victory against the Oakland Athletics on Thursday. Yes, it was the Oakland A's lineup, but Bieber was straight up filthy over six innings. In his quality start, he allowed four hits, zero runs, one walk and struck out 11 on the evening. Bieber was great this spring in the Cactus League and that carried over last night. Bieber is still just 28, but has a lot of mileage on his arm. Managers shouldn't expect this type of dominance every start, but he is off to a good start and will look to keep it going versus a much tougher Seattle Mariners lineup on the road.

Right-hander Shane Bieber has officially been named the Cleveland Guardians' Opening Day starter on March 28 against the Oakland Athletics on the road. It will be Bieber's fifth straight Opening Day start for Cleveland. The 28-year-old former fourth-round pick in 2016 out of Santa Barbara is a two-time All-Star and former American League Cy Young winner in 2020, so it shouldn't be surprising that he's getting another Opening Day nod. It's a fantastic matchup, too, so he should be in all fantasy starting lineups in single-year leagues. Bieber dealt with elbow issues last year and made only 21 starts, finishing with the second-highest ERA of his career at 3.80 (3.87 FIP). There were a lot of worrying trends from Bieber last year, and although he should no longer be considered a fantasy ace, with better health he should be able to be a solid No. 3 fantasy starter in a weak division.

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Shane Bieber is scheduled to make his spring training debut on Saturday in a Cactus League matchup with the Kansas City Royals. The right-hander was the subject of some trade speculation last season and into the offseason but has ultimately remained with the Guardians. It was a down season by his standards in the 2023 campaign as the 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner posted a 3.80 ERA, well above his 3.27 career mark, in an injury-shortened 21 starts. However, a major dip in strikeout rate to just 20.1%, well below his 27.8% career mark and half of the 41.1% clip he posted in 2020, was most crushing to fantasy managers. Given his excellent control and run-prevention ability, Bieber is still a solid fantasy asset.

Although one general manager said the Cleveland Guardians are still talking about star right-hander Shane Bieber, the latest word is that a trade involving Bieber is very unlikely. The Guardians have a shot to win the weak American League Central division in 2024. The 28-year-old had a down season in 2023, mainly due to an elbow injury, going 6-6 with a 3.80 ERA (3.87 FIP) and 1.23 WHIP while walking 34 and striking out 107 in 128 innings over just 21 starts. It's the second time in three years he's missed significant time due to injury, and although Bieber was the Cy Young winner in 2020 and one of the best pitchers in the game in 2022, it's concerning that his strikeout rate (20.1%), hard-hit rate (47.6%) and average exit velocity (91.6 mph) were all career-worsts. Bieber could still bounce back in 2024 with better health, but he could also be in the beginning of his decline.

The Cleveland Guardians and right-hander Shane Bieber have avoided arbitration with a one-year, $13.125 million deal for the 2024 season. The right-hander dealt with injuries that limited him to 21 starts in the 2023 season but he still managed a solid 3.80 ERA in that time. That figure is below the 2020 Cy Young winner's lofty standard as he sports a career 3.27 ERA and his 2023 figure marks his worst number since posting a 4.55 ERA as a rookie in 2018. However, the 28-year-old's most noticeable drop came in his strikeout rate which dipped to just 20.1% versus his 27.8% career mark and a massive 41.1% clip in his COVID-shortened 2020 Cy Young season. Fantasy managers will certainly hope he can regain his strikeout stuff and return to full form (and health) in the 2024 campaign.

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Shane Bieber is less likely to be traded now than he was at the start of the offseason. Bieber will become a free agent at the end of the 2024 season and plays for a team that plans on contending for division titles in upcoming seasons. The more likely scenario is that the Guardians hang onto Bieber until the trade deadline in August if Cleveland falls out of the playoff race early. The 28-year-old two-time All-Star and former American League Cy Young winner in 2020 missed some time with an elbow injury in 2023 and wasn't particularly effective down the stretch, ultimately finishing with his highest ERA (3.80) since his rookie season in 2018. Bieber is a solid bet to bounce back as a solid fantasy starter in 2024, but career-worsts in strikeout rate (20.1%), hard-hit rate (47.6%) and average exit velocity allowed (91.6 mph) are causes for concern.

The Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds are among the teams active in trade conversations for Cleveland Guardians right-hander Shane Bieber, according to sources. There are limited options available for starting arms on the open market this winter, so the Cubs and Reds are looking for trade options. Bieber, 28, is still on the right side of 30, although he's coming off a year in which he was limited to 21 starts due to injury. Still, he was solid with a 6-6 record, 3.80 ERA (3.87 FIP) and 1.23 WHIP with 34 walks and 107 strikeouts in 128 innings pitched. Bieber would require a nice prospect haul, though, and it's unclear how willing the Cubs are to part with some of their big prospect names. The Reds, meanwhile, have a logjam of young talent at the major-league level.

MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported Tuesday that "several teams have been showing interest" in trading for Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber. Morosi thinks trade interest in the 28-year-old could pick up after the Winter Meetings. Bieber has one year of team control remaining, and while he did miss time in 2023 with right elbow inflammation, he was able to return in September and make two starts. Overall, Bieber went 6-6 in 21 starts with a 3.80 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 20.1% strikeout rate. While these were fine numbers overall, they were Bieber's worst since his rookie season in 2018 and were a departure from his career 3.27 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 27.8% strikeout rate. His injury outlook combined with whether he is traded could impact his fantasy outlook heading into 2024.

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Shane Bieber (elbow) threw a bullpen session in Kansas City on Tuesday that went well enough that the team announced he will make his return from the 60-day injured list to start on Friday against the Baltimore Orioles at home. It will be his first start since July 9 after he was put on the IL with right-elbow inflammation on July 15. Manager Terry Francona said Bieber would be able to throw around 80 pitches, so he won't be restricted, but it's about as tough of a matchup as Bieber could get in his first start back. The 28-year-old 2020 American League Cy Young winner can certainly help fantasy managers to close out the 2023 season, but we would be careful deploying him in his first start back. Bieber did strike out seven in 3 2/3 scoreless innings for Triple-A Columbus in his last minor-league rehab start on Sunday.

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Shane Bieber (elbow) has made two minor-league rehab starts now, and manager Terry Francona said that Bieber will throw a side session on Tuesday while with the team in Kansas City. Francona said he hopes to "slot him in (the rotation) hopefully a couple days later" if his throwing session goes well. In his second rehab start for Triple-A Columbus on Sunday, Bieber struck out seven over 3 2/3 scoreless innings, so he looks to be very close to a return from the 60-day injured list to take the spot of rookie Tanner Bibee (hip), who landed on the 15-day injured list on Monday. Bieber could make his first start back in a tough matchup this Thursday against the Baltimore Orioles. The 28-year-old starter will be extra risky after not pitching in a big-league game since the middle of July.

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Shane Bieber (elbow) appears to be nearing a return from the 60-day injured list after throwing 3 2/3 innings of hitless and scoreless baseball while walking three and striking out seven for Triple-A Columbus on Sunday. Bieber threw 64 pitches in his second minor-league rehab start and could be activated from the injured list to rejoin Cleveland's starting rotation later this week to replace rookie Tanner Bibee (hip), who has been shut down for the rest of the year. The 28-year-old hasn't pitched in the big leagues since July 9, though, and even if he returns to Cy Young form (which is unlikely), he's not going to have much time at all to make an impact for fantasy managers.

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber (elbow) started a rehab assignment at Double-A Akron on Tuesday, allowing two runs (one earned) on one walk and two hit batsmen with four strikeouts in 3 2/3 hitless innings. The 28-year-old is scheduled to start next for Triple-A Columbus on Sunday and is expected to throw roughly 65 pitches. If all goes according to plan in that appearance, Bieber should be on the verge of rejoining the Guardians rotation after recovering from right elbow inflammation stemming from mid-July. The former Triple Crown hurler has kept the ball on the ground and the walks low this season, but his 3.77 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 95 strikeouts across 177 innings are relatively ordinary figures. Cleveland could look manage some of their rookie arms' workloads down the stretch of a lost campaign upon Bieber's return.

Cleveland Guardians right-hander Shane Bieber (forearm) threw a bullpen session on Aug. 31 in which he used all of his pitches. His first bullpen consisted of nothing but fastballs on Aug. 28. Pitching coach Carl Willis also said Bieber has thrown breaking balls during flat-ground work. Manager Terry Francona said that Bieber's next bullpen will likely be an "up-and-down" session, and if that goes well, he'll move to facing live hitters. The 28-year-old will not need surgery on his right forearm after undergoing an MRI exam on July 14. He's been out since the middle of July, but the Guardians are holding out hope he'll be able to return this year. Even if Bieber does return, he's going to have very little time to help out in fantasy.