The Toronto Blue Jays are all-in on 2025.
Less than two days after bolstering their bullpen by acquiring Seranthony Dominguez, the Jays reportedly added two-time All-Star and 2020 Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians.
According to The Athletic, the Jays are parting with Khal Stephen, a 22-year-old, right-handed pitcher who is their No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline. Stephen is 9-1 with a 2.06 ERA in 18 games, mainly for Toronto’s Single-A affiliates, but made one start with Double-A New Hampshire on July 20.
Bieber has not pitched since April 2024 and is recovering from Tommy John surgery. But he is 62-32 with a 3.22 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 136 games and 134 starts with Cleveland.
Bieber has a $16 million player option for 2026 but can become a free agent if he declines it, which he is reportedly likely to do. If he opts in, Bieber will be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2026 season.
Why Did The Blue Jays Trade For Shane Bieber?
The Jays may share the major-league lead for wins (64), but they needed pitching — especially starting pitching — bad. Toronto ranks 22nd in team ERA (4.27) but has ascended to first place due to its impressive offense, which leads the majors in batting average (.265) and is seventh in the majors in runs scored (520).
Blue Jays GM John Schneider likely got inspired to act after watching his starters get rocked over the past week — where they lost four of their past five games, even after acquiring Dominguez from the Baltimore Orioles amid a doubleheader Tuesday.
Toronto starters allowed 20 runs, 17 earned, over just 21 1/3 innings (7.17 ERA). It lost two-and-a-half games on its lead over the New York Yankees, which now stands at four games.
That lead could have dwindled further if not for the Jays’ furious rally in their 9-8 win that staved off a four-game sweep against the last-place Orioles on Wednesday.
Few personify the Blue Jays’ pitching conundrum better than Chris Bassitt, who leads Toronto with 11 wins in 23 games yet ranks 43rd in the majors in ERA (4.24). Fellow reliable starters Kevin Gausman (7-7, 3.82 ERA in 21 starts) and Jose Berrios (7-4, 3.84 ERA in 24 starts) also have elevated ERAs.
So acquiring an ace-caliber starter, who potentially can match up against Tarik Skubal, Max Fried, Jose Castillo or Garrett Crochet in Game 1 of a playoff series, was a must for the Jays.
So even though it cost them a top prospect, and Bieber is still recovering — he has made four rehab starts, including one Tuesday where he struck out seven for Double-A Akron — fits the bill.
Bieber is just three years removed from going 1-0 with a 2.03 ERA in two starts over 13 1/3 innings for the Guardians during the 2022 playoffs, even though Cleveland was ousted in the ALDS by the Yankees.
Are The Blue Jays Done Making Trades?
The Jays are tied with the Detroit Tigers for the best record in the American League (64-46), but their Pythagorean win-loss record (57-53, calculated by their run differential) suggest they are playing over their heads.
So even though they acquired Bieber, Toronto likely is not done trying to add before Thursday’s 6 p.m. ET deadline.
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