
The Toronto Blue Jays are likely to be sellers ahead of the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline.
One popular trade target for the Blue Jays is right-hander Shane Bieber, as he is on an expiring contract and Toronto appears to be out of the postseason picture.
Whatever trade value Bieber entered Tuesday with lowered significantly after a disastrous outing against the Washington Nationals.
Bieber turned in his shortest outing of both the season and of his career, as he lasted just 2/3 of an inning. While he only allowed one hit, it was the six first-inning walks that haunted Bieber.
Brendon Little comes in for Shane Bieber after he walks six batters in the 1st inning. pic.twitter.com/NFkP8GhNvF
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 29, 2026
He threw 42 pitches, and after his sixth walk, Blue Jays manager John Schneider decided he'd seen enough and removed Bieber from the game.
The six walks in the first inning are the most in a single inning in Toronto's franchise history and tied for the second most in a first inning in MLB history.
The only pitcher with more BB in the 1st inning of a game was Bob Feller in 1952 with 7 BB
— AT (@BaseballWRLD_) July 29, 2026
6 BB is the most since Daniel Cabrera (BOS) in 2006 https://t.co/YhSma16XLn
After exiting his start on Tuesday, Bieber's season ERA sits at 5.74, and he's walked three or more batters in four of his seven starts.
Toronto would certainly love to capitalize on an expiring contract but at the same time, what MLB team is chomping at the bit to acquire a pitcher who has walked 18 batters in 31 1/3 innings pitched?
If Bieber remains a Blue Jay through the trade deadline, it'll ultimately be because no team believed in taking the risk of working to fix his mechanics for a stretch run through the last two months of the season.
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