Blue Jays Make Risky Bet, Acquire Shane Bieber from Guardians

The Toronto Blue Jays have traded for former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber, sending top pitching prospect Khal Stephen to the Cleveland Guardians in return. Both teams confirmed the move Thursday, with MLB.com’s Jon Morosi first reporting the deal.

Bieber Still Recovering from Surgery

Bieber hasn’t pitched in a major league game since April after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Though he re-signed with Cleveland this offseason on a two-year, $26 million contract, the second year is a player option. He’s set to earn $10 million this season, with the option valued at $16 million for 2026—or a $4 million buyout if he declines it.

That contract reflected the uncertainty around his return. The deal gave Bieber financial security, whether he bounced back or hit more setbacks. So far, his rehab has been rocky. After an early attempt at a comeback in May was cut short by more elbow soreness, Bieber restarted rehab in July and has now made three minor league starts. Across nine innings, he’s struck out 16, walked just one, and allowed two earned runs.

Toronto Bets on Upside

Despite the risks, the Blue Jays are making an aggressive move in hopes of adding a top-tier arm for a postseason push. Bieber was among the game’s elite from 2019 to 2021, including a dominant 2020 Cy Young season. Over that three-year run, he logged a 2.92 ERA with a 33% strikeout rate and was one of the most valuable pitchers in the majors by WAR.

Recent years, though, have seen a dip. In 2022, Bieber remained effective with a 2.88 ERA over 200 innings, but his strikeouts dropped. In 2023, he made just 21 starts due to elbow issues. He opened 2024 with two excellent outings before being shut down.

For the Jays, this move signals they’re all-in. After a slow start, they’ve gone 50-30 since May and now lead the AL East. With pressure mounting on team president Mark Shapiro and GM Ross Atkins—both of whom are in the final years of their contracts—the front office is taking bold steps to secure a playoff berth.

Rotation Already Solid, But Needs a Star

Toronto’s current rotation includes Kevin Gausman, José Berríos, Chris Bassitt, Max Scherzer, and Eric Lauer. While all have pitched well—especially Lauer, with a 2.68 ERA—none have clearly separated as a frontline ace. The Jays reportedly explored other trade options, including MacKenzie Gore and Joe Ryan, but the price tags were too high or the pitchers were unavailable.

Bieber could be that difference-maker—if healthy. He’s a high-risk, high-reward addition. If he pitches well and helps Toronto on a deep playoff run, he’ll likely opt out and head back to free agency. If he struggles or gets hurt again, he may trigger his option and remain on the payroll in 2026.

Blue Jays Salary Outlook Gets Tighter

With Bieber’s contract now on the books, the Blue Jays may be approaching MLB’s luxury tax threshold. Estimates vary: Cot’s Baseball Contracts has them around $273 million, while FanGraphs’ RosterResource puts them over $284 million. If they go beyond $281 million, their top draft pick in 2026 would move back 10 spots. Bieber’s prorated salary adds nearly $5 million to that figure, so additional moves could push them past the line.

Guardians Add Promising Young Arm

In return, the Guardians land 22-year-old Khal Stephen, a fast-rising prospect in the Blue Jays system. A second-round pick in 2023, Stephen has climbed from Single-A to Double-A this season, posting a 2.06 ERA across 91 2/3 innings with a 27.9% strikeout rate and 5.1% walk rate.

Baseball America ranks Stephen as the No. 5 prospect in Toronto’s farm system, and FanGraphs recently placed him No. 80 in their updated top 100 list. He features a deep five-pitch arsenal and could be a future rotation mainstay in Cleveland.

Jays Continue to Load Up for October

Toronto didn’t stop with Bieber. They also added starter Louis Varland from the Twins before the deadline. Meanwhile, Alek Manoah is on a rehab assignment and could return soon from his own Tommy John recovery.

The Jays now have a surplus of arms and can afford to be patient with Bieber. If he rounds back into form, he could be the ace they need to lead a postseason rotation. If not, at least they took a calculated shot at raising their October ceiling.

Either way, Toronto is pushing forward—and pushing its chips to the center of the table.