Could tire-kicking Cubs add a former AL Cy Young?

The Chicago Cubs have searched far and wide for a solid starter to replace lefty Justin Steele, who's out for the season following elbow surgery, but nothing has come of it yet. Could they add a former AL Cy Young winner who hasn't pitched this season?

According to MLB insider Jesse Rogers of ESPN, an American League source said the Cubs have “kicked the tires in a lot of places.” When listing those “places,” Rogers noted Cleveland, which apparently is looking to move former ace Shane Bieber (h/t: ESPN's Jeff Passan) ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline (6 p.m. ET).

Bieber last threw in an MLB game in early April 2024. But after pitching just 12 scoreless innings in two starts, he underwent Tommy John surgery, ending his season. It was only the latest major injury in a rash of injuries that have sidelined Bieber. 

Since winning the AL Cy Young and pitching Triple Crown (8-1, 1.63 ERA, 122 strikeouts) during the Covid 19-shortened 2020 season, Bieber has only pitched one full year, 2022. He finished seventh in the Cy Young voting and won his first Gold Glove that season. 

Of course, placing a bet on Bieber might not be the lowest-risk gamble one could take. In 2023, when he pitched 128 innings, Bieber posted a 3.80 ERA. His strikeout total (107) only scratched the surface of what he was once capable of. This lull in his performance, plus the fact he is coming off Tommy John surgery, make the 30-year-old Cleveland star a question mark.

Still, there aren’t many star-caliber pitchers with good numbers on the market this season. Because he hasn’t thrown a pitch for the Guardians in more than a year and he's on a two-year deal that comes with a player option for next season, Bieber will likely come at a discount (though the shallow pitching market can make a bargain difficult to find). 

If Bieber can return to ace form, he could be the best acquisition of this year’s trade deadline.

Bieber made his fourth rehab start Tuesday, throwing four innings, striking out seven and giving up one run on three hits without allowing a walk. For the Cubs, who are in a win-now position, Bieber could be the arm that solves their starting pitching issue.