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Cleveland Guardindians (2024 AL Central Champs)


Elbow inflammation sidelined Bieber for two months last season and limited him to 21 starts and 128 innings. He recovered in time to make two starts in late September and he looked good throughout spring training, and in his first two regular season starts this year. Clearly though, his elbow is not right, and he needs his ligament repaired.

It is possible, maybe even likely, Bieber has already thrown his final pitch for Cleveland. He will be a free agent after the season and the low payroll Guardians are always unlikely to win a bidding war of that magnitude. High-end starters typically still get paid well on short-term contracts even when they're coming off injury.

Brandon Woodruff, for example, returned to the Milwaukee Brewers on a two-year, $17.5 million contract in February. He will miss 2024 with shoulder surgery. The contract will pay him $2.5 million in 2024 and $15 million in 2025. Woodruff is two years older than Bieber and elbows are generally more fixable than shoulders, so Bieber could command a larger contract.

For the Guardians, the injury is a major blow to a team that is 6-2 in the early going and could contend in a weak AL Central. They are also without righty Gavin Williams, who is sidelined with elbow inflammation, plus top prospect Daniel Espino will miss 2024 following shoulder surgery. Cleveland's pitching depth has thinned considerably.
 
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Elbow inflammation sidelined Bieber for two months last season and limited him to 21 starts and 128 innings. He recovered in time to make two starts in late September and he looked good throughout spring training, and in his first two regular season starts this year. Clearly though, his elbow is not right, and he needs his ligament repaired.

It is possible, maybe even likely, Bieber has already thrown his final pitch for Cleveland. He will be a free agent after the season and the low payroll Guardians are always unlikely to win a bidding war of that magnitude. High-end starters typically still get paid well on short-term contracts even when they're coming off injury.

Brandon Woodruff, for example, returned to the Milwaukee Brewers on a two-year, $17.5 million contract in February. He will miss 2024 with shoulder surgery. The contract will pay him $2.5 million in 2024 and $15 million in 2025. Woodruff is two years older than Bieber and elbows are generally more fixable than shoulders, so Bieber could command a larger contract.

For the Guardians, the injury is a major blow to a team that is 6-2 in the early going and could contend in a weak AL Central. They are also without righty Gavin Williams, who is sidelined with elbow inflammation, plus top prospect Daniel Espino will miss 2024 following shoulder surgery. Cleveland's pitching depth has thinned considerably.

I don't think it's likely, but given the timetable for Bieber to return, I think it's now possible that he returns. I don't see a bidding war for a pitcher who has made 23 starts in two seasons and missed half a season in 2021 as well, but we'll see. I could see him coming back on a 1 year deal with a mutual option for '26.
 
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4.09 Runs/Game last year. 5.71 Runs/Game this year. I know it's still early, but after ~3 weeks, it's quite encouraging. They've yet to be shutout and have only lost 1 game by a non-save situation score. They clearly have a lot more fight in them than in 2023!
 
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4.09 Runs/Game last year. 5.71 Runs/Game this year. I know it's still early, but after ~3 weeks, it's quite encouraging. They've yet to be shutout and have only lost 1 game by a non-save situation score. They clearly have a lot more fight in them than in 2023!
Letting the kids play and not treating April like extended spring training seems to be working.
 
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4.09 Runs/Game last year. 5.71 Runs/Game this year. I know it's still early, but after ~3 weeks, it's quite encouraging. They've yet to be shutout and have only lost 1 game by a non-save situation score. They clearly have a lot more fight in them than in 2023!

My worry is the bullpen running out of gas. They’ve been lights out so far but They are getting a lot of usage with the shaky rotation and I doubt we see that usage slow down. The offense is definitely encouraging though
 
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