Tanner Bibee didn’t get the October role he wanted, but he’s not carrying that disappointment into next year quietly.
After a regular season in which he made 33 starts, including Opening Day, Bibee was barely used in Cleveland’s postseason push. He pitched only once across two rounds, and that outing came in relief. It was a tough pill for a starter who led the staff in innings, but Bibee says he’s already focused on what comes next.
“I’m going to bounce back next year.”
He doubled down on that message when talking about why he remains so invested in Cleveland.
“There’s a reason I signed an extension to be here. There’s a reason why I want to win a championship for Cleveland,” Bibee said.
“I don’t think it’s a lack of confidence in me because I’m going to bounce back next year. It’s not a lack of confidence in me because I know I can do it.”
That lone postseason appearance was rough. Bibee was charged with two runs and got just one out, while Stephen Vogt turned to Gavin Williams, Parker Messick and Foster Griffin - along with a few bullpen games - as Cleveland beat the White Sox before falling to the Rays in the ALCS.
Bibee doesn’t view the October usage as a sign the organization has lost faith in him. He pointed to the contract he signed in March 2025 as evidence of the team’s belief and his own commitment.
That deal runs five years, is worth $48 million, and includes a club option after that. Bibee said he stayed because he wants to be part of the group that finally brings a championship to Cleveland.
His 2026 season had plenty of frustration attached to it. Bibee finished 7-15 with a 4.36 ERA, and his 15 losses led the league.
He also logged a team-high 188 innings, struck out 148 batters and posted a 1.22 WHIP. The run support behind him was thin all year, and he became the first pitcher in franchise history to go winless in his first 13 starts of a season.
Still, the season wasn’t all struggle. From the start of June through early August, Bibee put together a 2.98 ERA over 10 starts, and by late August he was tied for the American League lead in quality starts.
September, though, brought a downturn, including a five-walk outing against Toronto in an important early September series. That late fade likely factored into Vogt’s October decisions.
At 27, Bibee remains one of the most important pieces in Cleveland’s rotation picture. He finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2023 and has been a durable presence at the front of the staff ever since. Vogt has already said he expects Bibee to stay one of the rotation’s anchors next season.
And Cleveland will need him to be. With Griffin headed for free agency, there’s a hole to fill, and a strong rebound from Bibee would go a long way toward helping solve it. He’s got the offseason now, and he’s already made his promise.
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What makes the conversation more interesting is how those names line up with Clevelands needs. Some bring shortstop stability, others offer versatility or left-handed pop, and all come with contract situations that could make them more or less attainable. Nothing is close to official, and no deal has been made, but the fact that the Guardians are being linked to this kind of contender-making trade talk says plenty about the level of ambition being considered as the offseason unfolds. [Read more 🡒]