DONE DEAL: Cardinals sign 3 players in free agency this offseason

Shane Bieber, starting pitcher

With the Cardinals recently bringing in their new director of player development from the Cleveland Guardians, they might want to take it a step further and pursue their former ace Shane Bieber.

Despite missing this past season due to injury, Bieber has been one of the most reliable starters since 2019, compiling a 49-27 record, a 3.07 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, and 820 strikeouts over 716.1 innings. This stretch includes his standout 2020 season, where he won both the Cy Young and the pitching Triple Crown.

Spotrac currently values him at around six years and $147 million, but coming off Tommy John surgery in April, he may not command that level of contract. A back-loaded deal, similar to Sonny Gray’s, could allow Bieber to prove his recovery with the Cardinals, positioning him for another payday in a few years. With Paul Goldschmidt’s contract set to expire, St. Louis should seriously consider making a competitive offer to bring Bieber aboard.