The Toronto Blue Jays acquired starter Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for pitching prospect Khal Stephen, the teams announced Thursday.
Bieber is recovering from Tommy John surgery he underwent in April 2024 and has yet to pitch in the majors this season, though he appears to be nearing a return to a big-league mound. He's registered a 1.59 ERA with 21 strikeouts and one walk in 11.1 innings across four minor-league rehab starts. He threw 58 pitches and topped out at 94 mph in his most recent outing.
The 30-year-old won the AL Cy Young in the shortened 2020 season, posting a league-best 1.63 ERA. Since that career year, he's managed a 3.13 ERA across 70 starts in parts of four campaigns before the elbow injury.