The Blue Jays have acquired starting pitcher Shane Bieber
The Toronto Blue Jays have traded for pitcher Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for minor league pitcher Khal Stephen, it was announced today.
This is a fascinating deal. Bieber won the American League Cy Young Award in 2020, but had a down year (for him in 2023), when he started just 21 games, and made just two starts in 2024 before undergoing Tommy John surgery in April of 2024. He has not pitched in the majors this year due to recuperating from surgery, but has made four rehab starts in the minors.
Bieber was a free agent last offseason, but re-signed with Cleveland on a one year, $10 million deal with a $16 million player option for 2026 that includes a $4 million buyout.
Stephen is a 22 year old righthander who was Toronto’s second round pick in 2024 out of Mississippi State. Stephen is the #5 prospect in the Toronto system per Baseball America, and was recently promoted to AA, having started the season at low-A and previously been promoted to high-A.