Blue Jays Close to Securing Shane Bieber
The Toronto Blue Jays are finalizing a deal to acquire former Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians.
Bieber, who underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2024, hasn’t pitched in the majors since then. However, he has participated in three rehabilitation starts in the minor leagues in recent weeks, which could be a significant boost to Toronto’s veteran pitching rotation.
The Blue Jays, currently leading the league, are expected to send minor league pitcher Khal Stephen to the Guardians in exchange for Bieber.
Bieber, 30, threw four innings in his most recent rehab outing in Double-A Akron, where he struck out seven batters on 57 pitches.
Bieber, a two-time All-Star, won the American League Cy Young Award in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, leading the league in wins (8), ERA (1.63), and strikeouts (122). In seven seasons with the Guardians, he has a 62-32 record with a 3.22 ERA.
The Blue Jays, who had a four-game lead over the New York Yankees entering Thursday’s game, have a team ERA of 4.27, the ninth-worst in the majors.
Bieber would join a Blue Jays rotation that includes Kevin Gausman, Max Scherzer, Chris Bassitt, and Jose Berrios. Veteran lefty Eric Lauer has been Toronto’s fifth starter for the past two months, but could return to a relief role once Bieber is ready to return to the majors.
