The Cleveland Guardians may officially be entering rebuilding mode.
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, Shane Bieber will be on the move.
Apparently, the Toronto Blue Jays are close to finalizing a deal to acquire the former AL Cy Young winner.
The Toronto Blue Jays are finalizing a trade to acquire right-hander Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians, sources tell ESPN. The Jays have been looking for another starter, and they get one in the former AL Cy Young winner. On the news: @jonmorosi.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2025
Per Jon Morosi of MLB.com, the Blue Jays will send pitching prospect Khal Stephen to the Guardians in a one-for-one player swap.
Bieber signed a two-year deal last winter to stay in Cleveland.
He got $10 million for this season and a player option worth $16 million for next season.
He was expected to be back on the mound by this point in the campaign, but he suffered a setback in his recovery from Tommy John surgery that delayed those plans.
Now, he’s inching closer to making his season debut, and while he will most likely be on a strict pitch count for a while, he’s going to provide a huge boost to a team desperately needing a reliable arm on the mound.
Bieber is a proven force and a legitimate postseason-caliber starter.
He will most likely decline his player option and hit free agency again in the offseason, thus opening up the door for a potential return to Cleveland.
Even so, if the team trades Steven Kwan as some expect, it’s hard to believe they will have a contending team and a chance to convince Bieber to head back home.
NEXT: Phillies Named Top Landing Spot For Guardians Outfielder
