The Toronto Blue Jays made an aggressive move at the trade deadline to acquire Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians. At the time, Bieber had not played since April 2024.
Bieber was still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery when the Blue Jays added him. He ended up being a solid addition, looking good in the 12 games he played for the Blue Jays. He has a $16 million player option, which he is expected to decline and test free agency.
He made seven regular-season starts for the Blue Jays and played in five games during the postseason. He made four postseason starts. In the regular season, he had a 3.57 ERA and 37 strikeouts. He had a 3.86 ERA in the postseason. After playing in just 12 games, he reminded the league that he can be a great pitcher. Baseball America projects he will sign a five-year, $150 million deal.
Bieber is a Triple Crown winner, two-time All-Star, Gold Glover and Cy Young Award winner. At his peak, he is one of the best pitchers in baseball. He has dealt with some bad injury luck, but he played well enough to find a better contract on the open market.
Some teams may be willing to pay him handsomely if they still view him as an ace. The Blue Jays could try and retain him on a new deal, but ultimately, Bieber should not have any trouble finding a new deal if he hits the open market.
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