BREAKING: Guardians Land Top Free Agent Pitcher To Fortify Bullpen

The Cleveland Guardians managed to re-sign Shane Bieber and acquire Luis L. Ortiz and Slade Cecconi through trades this offseason, strengthening their starting pitching depth. Alongside Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, Ben Lively, Triston McKenzie, and Logan Allen, these pitchers will add depth to Cleveland’s rotation.

However, Bieber won’t be ready for the season’s start, as he continues to rehab from Tommy John surgery. He’s expected to miss at least a couple of months, leaving a significant gap in the rotation that Cleveland will need to address. MLB insider Jeff Passan speculates that the Guardians could be a potential landing spot for free-agent right-hander Nick Pivetta, who could help fill the void and ease the pressure on Bibee.

Passan highlights Pivetta’s strong potential, noting that his stuff is highly regarded by teams’ pitching models. The Guardians, along with teams like the San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox, could be interested in his services. As spring training approaches and Pivetta’s market value declines, Cleveland could become an attractive destination. Pivetta, who rejected a qualifying offer, is attached to draft pick compensation, but the Guardians could use the extra pick they received in the Josh Naylor trade to offset that cost.

While Pivetta has posted an ERA over 4.00 in each of his eight MLB seasons, he finished last year with a solid 4.14 ERA and a 172/36 strikeout-to-walk ratio, which would complement Cleveland’s rotation well. If the Guardians are willing to part with a high pick or wait until after the draft, Pivetta could be a valuable addition to their pitching staff.