The Guardians announced a trio of pitching moves, including the selection of Daniel Norris’ minor league contract. To create room on both the 26-man and 40-man rosters, Cleveland optioned left-hander Tim Herrin to Triple-A, and moved Shane Bieber to the 60-day injured list.
Bieber was already on the 15-day IL with a retroactive placement date of July 12. His new 60-day window still starts from July 12, meaning that the right-hander will now be out of action until at least September 10 while recovering from right elbow inflammation. Earlier reports indicated that Bieber is at least another week away from resuming throwing, and though surgery wasn’t going to be required, the move to the 60-day IL indicates that Bieber still requires plenty of time to recover.
The injury already scuttled any chance that Bieber might be dealt at the trade deadline, as there had been speculation that the Guardians might continue their pattern of moving higher-priced veterans 12-18 months before they reached free agency (Bieber is controlled through the 2024 campaign). At this point, it’s fair to wonder if Bieber’s 2023 season might be over entirely, either in the event of a setback or if the Guards might simply shut him down early if they’re out of the playoff race by mid-September.
Cleveland enters today’s action with a 49-50 record, but the Guardians are still only three games out of first place in the AL Central and 5.5 games back of the last AL wild card slot. Catching up to the Twins might be more a realistic path to the playoffs than leapfrogging other teams in the wild card race, but in either case, the Guardians have to play some much more consistent baseball in order to return to the postseason.
Losing Bieber for an extended amount of time won’t help in that regard, as the Guards will have to lean even heavier on a very young group of starters. With Bieber and Triston McKenzie both on the 60-day IL and Cal Quantrill also injured, Cleveland has three rookies (Logan Allen, Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams) backing up Aaron Civale in the rotation. Peyton Battenfield is close to returning from the 60-day IL, though Battenfield is another first-year pitcher.
Norris might factor into this mix after starting 12 of his 18 games with Triple-A Columbus. The southpaw signed a minors deal with Cleveland over the winter and has already had his contract selected once, appearing in a single game for the Guardians last month. Norris was then designated for assignment and outrighted off the 40-man roster, and chose to accept the outright assignment rather than test free agency again.
It may have been a wise decision, as Norris now finds himself back on a big league roster. The Guardians could use Norris as a proper starter, a piggyback starter paired with Battenfield, or perhaps simply as a long relief option out of the bullpen. This versatility could help the Guardians navigate their rotation questions, though Norris’ performance has been very up-and-down over his 10 MLB seasons, and he has a 5.60 ERA over 53 innings in Columbus.
Sigh
Rare miss for Cleveland. Usually quite good at getting rid of stars a year early before they wash out despite fan outrage.
He’s injured. He’ll be back in Sept. I wouldn’t say he’s “washed out.” If he comes back strong, he may have more trade value in the off season.
You may be right. I think his value will be diminished though. Where’s this past offseason would have been better with the benefit of hindsight. Even this past winter I think his value was lower than they expected and perhaps that’s why they held. Seems like for several years they were fantastic at getting rid of years a year early and getting productive players back.
Yes. See Lindor.
I still don’t understand why there are two rosters for baseball teams. You literally have to move two people to bring one person up?
The different lists are due to things not relating to “on the field” baseball and more dealing with “generating throughput” of players. Without such limitations, players would have fewer opportunities to reach the major leagues than they currently do today. The lists also help efficiently manage injuries and time off for players, and protects a team’s valuable players from the Rule 5 draft that happens every year.
Here is some more information—
The 40-man roster is an important distinction in the offseason, as players who are on the 40-man roster are protected from being selected by another organization in the annual Rule 5 Draft, held each year in December at the Winter Meetings. Players signed at age 18 or younger need to be added to their club’s 40-Man roster within five seasons or they become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. Players who signed at age 19 or older need to be protected within four seasons.
Source: mlb.com/glossary/transactions/40-man-roster
Ok. So my brain will just define it as “bureaucratic mumbo jumbo” since I don’t get why there needs to be two lists. I’m sorry, I just don’t see why you cant just say “Hey, we have a 40 man team, but only 26 of them can be active in the majors at any one time.”
People complain about the churn of players, and this is one of the prime reasons there’s so much turn over, and it feels totally unnecessary. Obviously this will never change. I suspect despite the churn, most players are for this obtuse system for the whole “gives more opportunities to players in the minors”
I agree with your comments.
Note that the 26 players active in MLB get service time.
The +14 on the 40-man roster do not.
TJS
The article quite literally says Bieber’s elbow inflammation isn’t bad enough to require TJS
Things change – lots of teams hope to avoid TJS and eventually relent to it.
Exactly this is usually how it starts. Garden-variety inflammation doesn’t usually send you to the 60.
Who remembers when Chris Sale’s elbow inflammation wasn’t bad enough for TJS? Pepperidge farms remembers.
Ouch, if Cleveland is selling pitching, those prices might be going up with Biber out ’til September
I doubt they are selling pitching unless the offer that comes in for Civale is too good to pass up. They don’t currently have the depth with the way injuries have piled up.
Zoinks!
It was a painful tenth inning yesterday!
Didn’t CLV lose Shane Bieber a couple seasons ago?
Aaron Civale is the feature SP.
The guy reinvented himself after losing velocity and has been among the league leaders in quality starts the last couple seasons. His control and efficiency are outstanding. He was a middle-of-the-rotation arm at worst before this season’s injury.
Maybe insurance for Allen. Logan T barely makes it through 5IP and the bullpen is gassed.
It’s the Curse of Chief Wahoo
Just get the Tommy John surgery now and you can heal because your going to need it. Just waiting 60 days ain’t going to do nothing just don’t now because your done for this year.
Norris lives in a van…
That was a kinda intriguing side to Norris back when The Tigers got him….but after a LOT of shoulda/coulda/woulda hype and mostly bad results, the van just looked sillier. and sillier….GOOD LUCK to him anyhow……………………..
There’s a few jokes about Daniel Norris living in a van. There’s a whole industry for people who do just that. You see many living in Mercedes Sprinters and other types but he lived in an old VW van that looked like he modified himself.
Still, it’s more honorable than the way others nightspot their lives away.
It was all an act. He wanted to be a flake but forgot about needing trace amounts of talent to make it play.
If this doesn’t work out, the van might realistically be his last refuge.
Cleveland got caught on this one, but they have a good overall track record of trading good pitchers, right before they break down.
Glad the Rangers didn’t deal for another Cleveland pitcher!
Whoooooshhhhhh
Maybe Tito shouldn’t have let him go over 100 pitches in almost every start. Just sayin’.
The Guardians lead the majors in the most trades for “cash”. I’ve yet to see any of theses guys named Cash dress for an MLB game. Cheapest organization going.
If Bieber comes back, good chance he can, I really do think Cleveland should trade him in the offseason. This should be the reaction from their front office.
Good for Dan. Good luck, except against Detroit !
Norris and/or Battenfield can’t be any worse than we’ve gotten out of Quantrill this year