The Cleveland Guardians are off to a mediocre start to their 2022 season. Entering play Thursday, they are .500 at 15-15. The future of the team is somewhat uncertain. The American League Central rival Chicago White Sox are supposed to be the preeminent team in the division. The Minnesota Twins are even off to a hot start this year.

So, the next couple of months will likely determine whether the Guardians are buyers or sellers this summer. Well, it at least appears they have some interest in contending in the future.

Cleveland offered starting pitcher Shane Bieber a contract extension. Unfortunately for general manager Mike Chernoff and the Guardians organizations, he rejected the offer.

Cleveland reportedly offered a three-year extension upwards of $10 million.

Bieber, like the Guardians, is off to a so-so start this season. He has a 4.13 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP, to go along with 29 strikeouts in 29 and 2/3 innings. But throughout his five-year big league career, all with Cleveland, Bieber has proved to be capable of leading a staff.

In 2019, he went 15-8 with a 3.28 ERA and 253 strikeouts. He garnered Cy Young attention that year. He followed that up during the COVID shortened season going 8-1 with a 1.63 ERA and a minuscule 0.87 WHIP. So, one must wonder why the contract extension was for so little.

Maybe the Guardians are playing coy, or maybe they are concerned about something else. Bieber hurt his shoulder in mid-June last year, costing him the second half of the season. Seeing as we haven't yet seen that same ace since the injury, this Guardians offer might reveal something more.