1 impending free agent from each remaining playoff team the Cardinals should target

Cleveland Guardians -- RHP Shane Bieber

A quick primer on Shane Bieber's current status must precede anything else. Bieber went down with a torn UCL that required Tommy John surgery on April 12th after just two starts. He had allowed zero earned runs in 12 innings up to that point in the season.

The two-time All-Star and Cy Young Award Winner was in line for a massive free agency this winter prior to his injury. Now, teams have to worry about his availability in 2025 following a 12-to-15-month recovery period. If all goes well, Bieber could return to the mound as early as next May. If he experiences any setbacks, however, he's looking at an August or September return likely to the bullpen.

Shane Bieber would be a great addition to the top of the rotation with Sonny Gray. The two are both #2 starters, and their combination in St. Louis would be admirable. He has a career 3.22 ERA and a 10.2 K/9 ratio across parts of seven seasons. Spotrac has Bieber's market value set at a six-year deal worth almost $150 million, but his recent injury will prevent that from happening.

Since the Cleveland Guardians still have him under contract for 2024, they have had exclusive access to his medicals all year, so they know the most about Bieber's recovery. I could see a deal between Shane Bieber and the Guardians that mirrors the one the Milwaukee Brewers made with the injured Brandon Woodruff this past offseason. Woodruff signed a two-year, $17.5 million deal where the first year would be a rehab one for him after a shoulder surgery sidelined him for all of the 2024 season.

Other viable candidates from the Cleveland Guardians include starters Alex Cobb and Matt Boyd, though both pale in comparison to Bieber.