Red Sox Rumors: Boston ‘Tried Very Hard’ To Sign This Starter

By signing two-time All-Star Walker Buehler to a one-year deal, the Red Sox made a low-risk move with the chances of a very high reward.

But before Buehler was brought to Boston, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and company reportedly looked into taking the same kind of approach with a similarly decorated starting pitcher.

“They tried very hard for Shane Bieber,” FanSided’s Robert Murray said on the latest episode of “The Baseball Insiders. “I thought at one point it was going to end up happening.”

Bieber missed the entire 2024 MLB season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in early April. It was particularly tough timing for the 2020 American League Cy Young Award winner, who entered the offseason as a free agent. Bieber, like Buehler, landed a one-year deal, but the 29-year-old decided to stay with the Cleveland Guardians instead of trying to bounce back with a new club.

Buehler and Bieber both figure to have chances to shine with clubs that have the talent to be playoff teams in 2025. And if the pair of veteran right-handers pitch at an All-Star-caliber level in the upcoming campaign, they will be well-positioned to cash in on the open market next year.