Forgotten Chicago Cubs trade target will be a free agent this winter

There was a point last offseason where there was an expectation that the Chicago Cubs were going to complete a trade with the Cleveland Guardians.

Reports indicated that the Cubs and Guardians were discussing various potential deals. Whether it was Shane Bieber, Josh Naylor, or Emmanuel Clase, the idea was that the Cubs would use their prospect capital to poach premium talent from a Guardians' team that, at the time, was at a crossroads after the retirement of Terry Francona.

Fast forward to the present time and Francona was just hired by the Cincinnati Reds and the Guardians are playing against the New York Yankees in the American League Championship series.

The success that the Guardians had this season was without Bieber. Bieber underwent Tommy John surgery after his second start of the season. Bieber is set to become a free agent this winter and while the Guardians are interested in bringing him back, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland dot com suggests that the former ace could test the market as he recovers.

Bieber's current recovery timeline would place his return closer to the second half of the 2025 season. Thus, a team signing Bieber would view the veteran as a potential in-season addition, assuming his recovery continues on track.

Shane Bieber isn't the reclamation project for the Cubs.

If this were the 2023 or even 2024 Cubs, Bieber would be an ideal addition for the Cubs. For as much as fans may not want to hear this, the front office did not have any real expectation of contending these past two seasons. Under that scenario, adding the reclamation project, which is Bieber coming off Tommy John surgery, is the type of move that Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins have strived for. For a Cubs' team entering a 2025 season where there will need to be legitimate contention, taking a chance on Bieber's recovery working out isn't a move that can be defended.

The Cubs are said to be prioritizing the addition of an established starting pitcher this offseason. Bieber, given his current situation, likely does not fall into that category.