Blue Jays Acquire Shane Bieber from Guardians

The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians, betting on his recovery from Tommy John surgery to boost their postseason rotation. Bieber is expected to return in a few weeks, bringing both risk and playoff experience to Toronto's staff. The Chicago Cubs, originally interested in Bieber, instead traded for Michael Soroka from the Nationals and are pursuing other pitchers including Dylan Cease and MacKenzie Gore, though the latter is considered highly expensive. The Cubs are also exploring multi-player deals with the Diamondbacks for Merrill Kelly and Eugenio Suárez to strengthen both their rotation and infield. With a thin starting pitcher market at this trade deadline, demand and prices are high for established arms. The Guardians' decision to trade Bieber at a reduced price due to his injury history underscores the risk-reward calculations facing contenders.