Blue Jays Acquire Former Cy Young Winner Shane Bieber from Guardians

The Toronto Blue Jays have been active ahead of the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline, making significant moves to bolster their roster as they target a World Series run. They traded infielder Will Wagner to the San Diego Padres in exchange for catching prospect Brandon Valenzuela, a defensively skilled player with potential to serve as a backup catcher and possibly develop into a starter if his bat improves. In a major pitching acquisition, the Blue Jays acquired two-time All-Star and 2020 Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians, trading away top pitching prospect Khal Stephen. Bieber, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery and expected to return to the mound soon, is viewed as a potential ace to strengthen Toronto's struggling starting rotation. Despite Bieber's injury concerns, the Blue Jays are betting on his elite pitching skills and playoff experience to address their pitching woes, as the team currently ranks low in ERA but leads the majors in offense. These moves highlight Toronto's commitment to maximizing their championship window by adding both immediate impact players and future depth.