Dodgers "likely to gamble" on Cy Young winner in free agency, per insider

The Los Angeles Dodgers have more talented starting pitchers than any team in baseball. They just haven't been able to keep enough of them healthy at any point all season.

At some point in 2024, the following Dodgers starters have spent time on the injured list: Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, Emmet Sheehan, and River Ryan.

But another thing is true about the Dodgers: They are never afraid to spend more money to get where they want to be. They traded for rental starter Jack Flaherty at the end of July to shore up their rotation in 2024. For 2025, they could take even more calculated risks.

Jim Bowden of The Athletic reported on Monday that the Dodgers are "likely" to explore the possibility of signing 2020 American League Cy Young winner Shane Bieber, currently of the Cleveland Guardians.

"He will be an intriguing pitcher to monitor in free agency, with teams like the Dodgers... likely to take that type of gamble on a former Cy Young Award winner who won’t turn 30 until next May," Bowden said.

Bieber, 29, underwent Tommy John surgery in April after making just two starts this season. He has never quite replicated the success of his 2020 season, which was limited to 12 starts due to the pandemic, but he owns a career 3.22 ERA and 62-32 record.

A Southern California native who played college ball at University of California at Santa Barbara, Bieber would be the latest in a long line of pitchers who returned to play for their hometown Dodgers. Of course, the two sides would need to agree on a contract figure.

Bieber agreed to a $13.1 million deal with the Guardians this winter, avoiding arbitration. With two All-Stars and a Cy Young on his resume, Bieber is likely to ask for nine figures.

But given his spotty injury history the past four years, it remains to be seen whether teams will meet Bieber's demands. When he's on his game, though, Bieber is one of the best pitchers in the sport.

The Dodgers could certainly use an arm like that in their future rotation. In a few months, we'll know whether or not the deal comes to pass.

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