The Texas Rangers have never hesitated to take risks on the pitching front, and their 2024 gamble was on Tyler Mahle, a move that ultimately did not yield the desired results.

Now, the conversation in Arlington revolves around whether they will take another chance, this time on a more established pitcher – Shane Bieber from the Cleveland organization.

Bieber, who gained recognition for winning the Cy Young Award in 2020, could potentially begin a new chapter in the Lone Star State, but there’s a catch: he’s recovering from Tommy John surgery and won’t be ready to pitch until later in the season.

Let’s delve deeper into this. Last year, Texas adopted a similar strategy with Mahle, signing him to a two-year deal aimed more at future potential than immediate contributions.

This approach was a calculated risk, given Mahle’s need for extensive recovery and rehabilitation. He eventually returned to the rotation but only made three starts, finishing with a 0-1 record, a 4.97 ERA, and 10 strikeouts over 12 2/3 innings before shoulder problems forced him to the sidelines once again.