The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired Cy Young Award winning pitcher Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for righty pitching prospect Khal Stephen, the teams announced on Thursday. Bieber signed a one-year deal with the Guardians in free agency this past offseason reportedly worth up to $10 million, which included a $16 million player option in 2026.
The Blue Jays posted on X: “OFFICIAL: We’ve acquired 2x All-Star, All-Star MVP, Cy Young Award Winner, Triple Crown Winner and Gold Glover Shane Bieber from the Guardians in exchange for RHP Khal Stephen. Welcome to the Blue Jays, Biebs!”
Bieber, 30, hasn’t appeared in an MLB game since he underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2024. The two-time All-Star, former triple-crown winner and 2020 American League Cy Young Award winner went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA over two starts last season for the Guardians before undergoing surgery. He allowed 10 hits and issued one walk over 12 innings last season.
The right-handed pitcher’s Cy Young Award campaign came during the COVID-19 pandemic shortened 2020 season. He went 8-1 with a 1.63 ERA and 122 strikeouts — leading MLB in all of those categories — over a dozen starts. Over 136 career appearances throughout his seven-year career with the Guardians (including 134 starts) he has a 62-32 record with a 3.22 ERA.
Bieber has made four rehab starts in July between the Rookie-League Arizona Complex, High-A Lake County and Double-A Akron and went 0-0 with a 1.59 ERA over four minor league appearances this year, throwing 57 pitches, and is on track to make his season debut sometime in August.
Stephen, 22, was a second-round pick by the Blue Jays in the 2024 MLB Draft. He went 9-1 with a 2.06 ERA over 18 minor league appearances this year.
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