Cubs Blueprint to Boost Rotation Includes Guardians' Cy Young Winner Shane Bieber

Cubs Blueprint to Boost Rotation Includes Guardians' Cy Young Winner Shane Bieber originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Chicago Cubs should buy at the trade deadline. Then they should buy again and buy even more. With the clock ticking on Jed Hoyer’s tenure as the team’s president of baseball operations and the uncertain future of Kyle Tucker’s impending free agency, Chicago cannot afford to play it safe at the deadline.

One thing is guaranteed: the Cubs are going to acquire a starting pitcher. They have already expressed interest in San Diego Padres’ Dylan Cease and Kansas City Royals’ Seth Lugo and will continue to be linked to other pitchers on the market.

Kerry Miller of Bleach Report recently laid out his blueprint for the Cubs' trade deadline, including a trade for Cleveland Guardians’ starting pitcher Shane Bieber.

Bieber has yet to pitch this season as he continues to work his way back from Tommy John surgery, but that has not stopped the Guardians from shopping him, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

While there are doubts as to whether Bieber can return to his Cy Young-winning form, the allure of acquiring a player of his caliber may be too strong to resist. The right-hander only pitched two games in 2024, but impressed during a rehab outing with Cleveland’s High-A affiliate. In three innings, he allowed two hits and one earned run. Bieber also displayed his swing-and-miss stuff by striking out four batters, with his fastball reaching 95 mph.

The cost to acquire Bieber should also be cheaper than that of Cease or Lugo, given the uncertainty of his injury. Even his $16 million player option for 2026 could be a point of contention that further lowers his value.

If Cleveland is willing to take a lighter offer for Bieber, and they may have to, the Cubs should pounce and add a two-time All-Star with high upside to their pitching rotation.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared.