Blue Jays set to acquire Shane Bieber from Guardians for top prospect Khal Stephen; check details
Shane Bieber, 30, has been a significant part of the Guardians' pitching staff since his Major League debut on May 31, 2018. Bieber boasts a career 3.22 ERA with 958 strikeouts over 843 innings in 136 games, including 134 starts.
His standout moment came in 2020 when he won the American League Cy Young Award. In his two starts in April 2024, Bieber was dominant, striking out 20 batters while allowing just one walk over 12 scoreless innings.
However, Bieber's 2024 season was derailed by injury. After those two brilliant outings, he underwent Tommy John surgery, sidelining him for most of the year. Despite this setback, the Guardians re-signed him last December to a one-year, $10 million contract with a $16 million player option for 2026.
Khal Stephen was selected 56th overall in the 2024 draft and was the Toronto Blue Jays' No. 5 prospect before being traded. However, he is currently on the injured list but is projected to return before the summer ends.
In exchange for Shane Bieber, the Blue Jays parted with Khal Stephen, a right-handed pitching prospect. While Stephen represents a significant piece of Toronto's future, the Blue Jays are betting on Bieber's proven track record and potential to make an immediate impact.
The trade reflects Toronto's strategy to prioritize short-term competitiveness, especially with Bieber's $16 million player option for 2026, providing flexibility.
Shane Bieber's rehabilitation has been a focal point of his 2025 season. Initially targeting a late June or early July return, he faced a setback after experiencing soreness in his surgically repaired right elbow following his first rehab start on May 31. After consulting with Dr. Keith Meister, the surgeon who performed the procedure, Bieber paused throwing for a week. Since then, he has progressed steadily, completing four rehab starts in July across the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League, High-A Lake County, and Double-A Akron.
His most recent outing on Tuesday with Double-A Akron was a promising step forward. Bieber threw 57 pitches over four innings, marking his longest rehab start to date. With his pitch count increasing, he appears on track for a Major League return in early to mid-August.
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