Should the Guardians turn to Shane Bieber as their next closer?

When MLB announced earlier this week that Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase’s had been suspended due to an ongoing gambling investigation, it left an already thin bullpen without an All-Star presence to secure victories in the ninth inning.

While the idea of a Clase-less bullpen was starting to become more of a reality for Cleveland, most thought his absence would come as the result of a trade that bolstered their lineup and added depth to their farm system. So, now with the team left without an experienced closer and no new bats to aid an inconsistent offense, where should they turn?

The answer could be Shane Bieber, who recently just completed his second rehab start and appears to be closer to returning to the Guardians' pitching staff.

Should the Guardians turn to Shane Bieber as their next closer?

At first glance, finding a spot for a starter that hasn’t thrown in the big leagues since April 2024 could be a bit challenging. Gavin Williams, Slade Cecconi, and Tanner Bibee continue to anchor the top of the rotation, while Logan Allen and Joey Cantillo have quietly given Cleveland quality starts from the left side of the rubber.

Bieber’s track record and talent are undeniable, but what if the former Cy Young winner and the Guardians were willing to get creative with his return?

First, it's in both party's best interest to limit the stress put on Bieber’s arm. This became even more important when Bieber was temporarily shut down following arm soreness after an initial rehab start.

The best way to reduce arm stress? Reduce the innings and pitches thrown. By inserting Bieber into the closer role, you are likely capping his weekly workload to 3-4 innings and limiting his pitches to 10-20 per outing.

Cleveland would also have more control over his workload as they can specifically cater his games pitched based on the response of his arm after each outing. No strict five-day schedule and no pressure to throw five innings or 80 pitches, but rather the freedom to go out, hunt for three outs, and have a direct impact on winning.

Next, the Guardians desperately need an experienced, high-leverage arm to anchor the back end of their bullpen. What most thought would be an undeniable strength this year has since turned into a group that sees Matt Festa and Jakob Junis being called on for mid-to-high leverage situations more often.

By inserting Bieber directly into the ninth inning, Cleveland is able to maintain some stability in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings by continuing to rely on Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis, and Eric Sobrowski.

Bieber also fits the mold of what a quality closer should look like.

He is a consistent strike-thrower that limits walks (career 2.0 BB/9IP) with the ability to strike out hitters with ease (career 10.2 K/9IP). If he can bring that to the 9th inning, Cleveland should have little issue stacking wins in tight games.

Lastly, the elephant in the room for Bieber is his impending $ 16 million player option for next season. If he comes back and pitches well down the stretch, it is a no-brainer for him to decline the option and return to the open market where he would very likely receive a lucrative multi-year deal.

If he comes back this season and struggles (or doesn’t return at all), it would be a no-brainer for him to accept the option and become one of the highest paid players on the Guardians roster. Cleveland can navigate this tricky situation by inserting Bieber as their closer, which would keep his overall value lower than if he was an effective starter.

This gives Bieber a chance to get on a major league mound and continue to build his arm back into form, but also gives the Guardians a better chance at retaining his services for 2026, when they can reintroduce him back into the rotation after a full offseason of conditioning and arm care.

While a move like this would be unconventional and uncommon, it could prove to be the best use of an All-Star caliber arm on a team fighting for a playoff berth.