MLB insider predicts Padres could replace Joe Musgrove with former Cy Young winner

The San Diego Padres will have to address the starting rotation heading into the offseason. While the Friars have Dylan Cease, Michael King, and Yu Darvish set to headline the rotation in 2025, Joe Musgrove will miss the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

That is no small loss. While Musgrove struggled to stay healthy in 2024, when he is on the bump, an argument can be made that the right-hander is San Diego's best starter. So how can the Padres offset the loss of Musgrove next season?

Former general manager and MLB insider Jim Bowden listed a number of impending free agents, and linked the Padres to several starting pitchers. But the one that stuck out considerably was former Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber. The veteran could be the perfect addition to the Friars rotation with Musgrove out of commission next season.

Shane Bieber could be a perfect short-term replacement for injured Padres starter Joe Musgrove

Bieber underwent Tommy John surgery last spring after only appearing in two games. He may not be fully ready by the time Opening Day comes around, but if San Diego could get Bieber on short-term deal, perhaps even one with a team option for 2026, the two sides may be able to find common ground.

Bieber battled through an elbow issue in 2023, but returned at the end of the season. Unfortunately, that issue appeared to linger and cost him a year of play. Bieber was brilliant in his first two outings of 2024, striking out 20 batters in just 12 innings of work.

This would be a risky proposition, but when you're talking about the most bang for your buck, the Padres will be unlikely to find a better deal than Bieber. Despite returning from a lost season, Bowden still sees Bieber as a top-15 free agent to-be.

Bowden predicted a low base salary with escalators based on performance. The former Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals' GM also listed the Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, and the Cleveland Guardians as potential suitors for Bieber.

Depending on his rehab, this could be a huge gamble or quite the savvy move by whatever front office agrees to terms with Bieber this winter. That sounds a lot like the type of move that has Padres President of Baseball Operations AJ Preller written all over it.

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