The Toronto Blue Jays made a significant move on the MLB trade deadline day by acquiring right-handed pitcher Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians. In return, Cleveland received right-hander Khal Stephen, a 22-year-old minor-league pitcher who is ranked as the No. 5 prospect in Toronto’s system by MLB Pipeline.
Additionally, Toronto added right-handed pitcher Louis Varland and first baseman Ty France from the Minnesota Twins, along with catching prospect Brandon Valenzuela from the San Diego Padres. In exchange, Toronto sent outfielder Alan Roden and left-handed pitcher Kendry Rojas to the Twins, and infielder Will Wagner to the Padres.
Bieber, 30, is close to returning from Tommy John surgery and has not played in the majors this season. He has performed well in his rehab starts, boasting a 1.59 earned-run average and 0.71 WHIP across four outings, including a standout seven-strikeout performance over four innings with Double-A Akron.
Having spent his entire career with Cleveland since being drafted in 2016, Bieber has accumulated a 62-32 record with a 3.22 ERA over 136 big-league appearances. He is a two-time All-Star, a Gold Glove recipient, and was named MVP of the 2019 All-Star Game. Bieber claimed the American League Cy Young Award in 2020, leading the majors in wins, ERA, and strikeouts during the pandemic-shortened season.
Toronto’s additional acquisitions include Varland, who posted a 2.02 earned-run average in 51 games with the Twins this season, and France, who hit .251 with 19 doubles, six home runs, and 44 RBI in 101 games. Valenzuela, a 24-year-old catcher, has had a solid season with 14 doubles, a triple, a dozen home runs, and 46 RBI for Double-A San Antonio.
The Blue Jays have been active in bolstering their pitching staff, having recently acquired reliever Seranthony Dominguez from the Baltimore Orioles. The team’s moves reflect their commitment to strengthening their roster for a competitive playoff push.
In a separate trade, the San Diego Padres obtained closer Mason Miller and left-hander JP Sears from the Athletics, enhancing their pitching staff significantly. The Padres, currently holding a wild card spot in the National League, are aiming to capitalize on their strong veteran core to contend for a World Series title.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies have also made strategic moves to fortify their rosters ahead of the trade deadline, signaling their intent to compete at a higher level and potentially make a deep postseason run.