The Atlanta Braves appear to be experiencing a lot of injury misfortune.
Following the injury-shortened 2024 seasons of Austin Riley, Spencer Strider, and Ronald Acuña Jr., the team has now lost reliever Joe Jiménez for at least eight months due to knee surgery.
The Braves are probably searching for ways to bolster their squad this winter, especially since Jiménez is gone and Acuña and Strider are anticipated to miss the start of next season. Despite the fact that veteran pitcher Shane Bieber is expected to miss at least half of the 2025 season due to Tommy John surgery in April, SI.com’s Will Laws and Nick Selbe have made the surprising prediction that the Braves will sign him given their reduced roster.
Bieber was one of baseball’s most reliable and successful pitchers prior to the 2023 campaign. In addition to winning the 2020 pitching triple crown by leading Major League Baseball in wins, ERA, and strikeouts, he received two All-Star selections between 2019 and 2022, as well as a Cy Young Award and a Gold Glove Award.
However, he was only able to make 21 starts in 2023 due to elbow injury. Additionally, he only made two starts in 2024 before needing surgery to finish his season.
Investing in Bieber would be a gamble on the Braves’ 2025 second half, and if he gets back to his previous level of play, he might offer some important reinforcement for a deep postseason run.
“Bieber’s strikeout rate steadily declined from its absurd peak in the years following his 2020 AL Cy Young campaign before he underwent Tommy John surgery in April, two factors that may prevent him securing a lucrative long-term deal,” according to Laws and Selbe. “When he returns to the mound, though, it’d be surprising if he isn’t still capable of being a difference maker for a contender.”
Given his recent ailments, Bieber might be a low-risk deal with significant upside. Jon Heyman of the New York Post predicted a two-year, $20 million contract for the veteran.
If the Braves are sure they can weather the injuries to their current roster, Bieber may be a terrific fit. They could be losing experienced pitchers Max Fried and Charlie Morton, so acquiring a seasoned arm could help cover that need.
