The Toronto Blue Jays have added a serious piece to their pitching employees, finishing a commerce on Thursday to amass former Cy Younger Award winner Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians.
In return, Cleveland will obtain pitching prospect Khal Stephen, a 2023 second-round draft pick of Mississippi State.
Bieber, 30, was one of many league’s most dominant starters earlier in his profession, capturing the American League Cy Younger in 2020.
Nevertheless, his 2024 season got here to an abrupt halt after simply two begins on account of an elbow damage that in the end required surgical procedure.
Since present process the process in April 2024, Bieber has been working his means again. He has made three rehab appearances within the minors.
Previous to the commerce, he was anticipated to rejoin Cleveland’s rotation later in August.
Toronto now boasts one of many deepest rotations in baseball, becoming a member of Bieber with Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, Eric Lauer, Jose Berríos and Max Scherzer.
If Bieber can regain something near his pre-injury type, he might shortly develop into a front-line possibility for a playoff collection.
There will likely be no monetary changes as a part of the deal, with the Blue Jays assuming the rest of Bieber’s contract, which pays him $10 million for 2025 with a $16 million participant possibility for 2026.
Throughout his time with Cleveland, Bieber compiled a 62-32 report, incomes two All-Star picks.
This marks Toronto’s second pitching addition of the week, following the acquisition of reliever Seranthony Dominguez from the Baltimore Orioles.
Coming into Thursday’s motion, the Blue Jays held a four-game benefit over the New York Yankees within the AL East standings regardless of a 4.27 workforce ERA, which ranks twenty second in MLB.