Guardians to trade Cy Young starter Shane Bieber to Blue Jays

Matt Sullivan

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Guardians to trade Cy Young starter Shane Bieber to Blue Jays image

With less than 12 hours to go until the trade deadline, the Cleveland Guardians have yet to make a trade. But, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, that's changing in a big way.

Morosi reports that the Guardians are finalizing a trade which would send starting pitcher Shane Bieber to the Toronto Blue Jays. Bieber has been injured for a while, missing the majority of the 2024 season. But, after his latest rehab start, Bieber began drawing more trade inquiries.

Now, on deadline day, the Guardians have found a partner in the Blue Jays for their veteran starter who's pitched just four starts over the last two years. But, Cleveland and Toronto are making the trade, which will send the long-time Guardians starter to Toronto.

Bieber is 30 years old and has spent seven seasons in the majors with the Guardians. He won the AL Cy Young award in 2020, when he had a 1.63 ERA with an 8-1 record across 12 starts. 

MORE: Guardians seeing 'aggressive' pursuit for Steven Kwan from Mets, Phillies

He was also a two-time All-Star and won a Gold Glove in 2022. The veteran ace for Cleveland has 958 career strikeouts across 843 innings with a 62-32 record. And now, he's headed out the door to head up north and join the Blue Jays for their postseason run.

The return for Bieber is just one prospect from the Blue Jays. According to Morosi, Cleveland picks up the Blue Jays 5th 5th-ranked prospect, right-handed pitcher Khal Stephen.

The 22-year-old pitcher has an impressive 2.06 ERA in 2025 in the minors, as he's ascended the Blue Jays' farm system this season, starting from Single-A to Double-A all in his first season with the club. He was drafted in the second round of the 2024 MLB draft, and now, a year later, he is on a new club.

This is the first move for the Guardians at the trade deadline, and brings in a top-five prospect from the Blue Jays for Bieber, who's expected to decline his $16 million player option at the end of the year.

It's a bittersweet move for the Guardians, as it's an end of an era in Cleveland with Bieber's departure. With the potential for more veterans on the move, including Steven Kwan, the Guardians could have a buys trade deadline day in 2025.

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Matt Sullivan

Matt Sullivan is a freelance writer for The Sporting News, predominantly covering MLB. Matt is a native of Pennsylvania and has worked with Athlon Sports, Last Word on Sports, and other outlets.