Pair of Guardians pitchers considered among best impending free agents

12. Shane Bieber

Of the two players listed, Shane Bieber is the one that was alluded to previously. Bieber is yet to turn 30, has pitched well enough to win the Cy Young Award in the past, and is someone who has proven capable of being a team's number starter.

The only area of concern when it comes to Bieber is that he pitched all of 12 innings this season before having to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery. Even though the proposition of having Tommy John is a lot less daunting now than it was back in the day, it is still no guarantee that he will be back to his former self any time soon or ever, for that matter.

Signing Bieber is a risky proposition for any team that is considering that option. Bowden does name the Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers as teams that may be willing to take a gamble on Bieber, but it may not be wise to count the Guardians out so quickly. Cleveland has the upper hand regarding the specifics of his injury and how he is progressing. Additionally, the Guardians may feel a little more comfortable with the prospect of giving Bieber a little more money than other clubs due to the familiarity with who he is as a pitcher, even though they are one of the more risk-averse organizations in the sport.