Cleveland Guardians have made a trade with Toronto Blue Jays, exchanging one injured pitcher for another. The deal involves Shane Bieber, Cleveland’s last Cy Young winner, who will head north to join the Blue Jays.
Bieber replaces two-time winner Corey Kluber and former winners Cliff Lee, CC Sabathia, and Gaylord Perry on the list of Cleveland’s pitchers. This move marks a return to form for the Guardians’ pitching rotation, which has been searching for stability after a series of injuries.
The Guardians have a history of rehabilitating injured pitchers, having successfully brought back Matthew Boyd and Alex Cobb last year. However, not all of their gambles paid off. Boyd signed with the Cubs this past winter, while Cobb is currently recovering from hip pain in Detroit.
Bieber’s own career has been marked by injury. He underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow before the start of the 2024 season and struggled to regain form. Despite filing for free agency at the end of last year, he re-signed with Cleveland, agreeing to a two-year $26 million contract.
The trade shows the Guardians’ commitment to repairing their pitching rotation through rehabilitation programs. This approach has already paid off in part, as Boyd went on to complete his rehab and make significant starts down the stretch. Bieber will now face new challenges in Toronto, where he will need to prove himself as a reliable starter.
In exchange for Bieber, the Blue Jays received right-handed pitcher Khal Stephen, who was Toronto’s second-round pick in 2024. The deal is a calculated risk by both teams, with high hopes that it will pay off in terms of performance and value.
Source: https://www.cleveland.com/guardians/2025/07/the-guardians-built-the-mechanism-for-the-shane-bieber-trade-with-matthew-boyd-and-alex-cobb-paul-hoynes.html