‘Happy to be a Jay:’ Former Cy Young winner headed to Toronto in deadline day deal

The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a trade for a former Cy Young winning pitcher.

The deal will see the Blue Jays receive Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for pitching prospect Khal Stephen, the club has confirmed.

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Bieber has not pitched in the MLB since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April, 2024 but has made four starts in the minor leagues and is believed to be nearing a return to the majors.

A two-time all star, Bieber won the Cy Young Award as the American League’s top pitcher in 2020.

He has recorded a 1.59 ERA in four rehab starts so far this season.

Bieber reacted to the trade in a comment left on the Blue Jays Instagram page on Thursday, noting that he was “Happy to be a Jay.”

Stephen was chosen in the second round of the 2024 MLB draft and was playing for the AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats at the time of the trade. He was ranked as the Blue Jays fifth best prospect, according to MLB.com.

The Blue Jays are currently 64-46 and are leading the American League East, with the New York Yankees four games behind.

In a post to social media, the club welcomed “Biebs” to Toronto, later sharing an image of pop star Justin Bieber in a Blue Jays jersey.

The Toronto Raptors later got in on the fun, sharing a photo of a young Justin Bieber clutching a basketball.

The deal comes just two days after the Blue Jays landed relief pitcher Seranthony Dominguez in another trade with the Baltimore Orioles.

The MLB trade deadline is set for 6 p.m.

Jays add a another pitcher, catcher

Toronto also picked up right-handed pitcher Louis Varland and first baseman Ty France from the Minnesota Twins, as well as catching prospect Brandon Valenzuela from the San Diego Padres.

Toronto sent outfielder Alan Roden and left-handed pitcher Kendry Rojas to the Twins, and dealt infielder Will Wagner to the Padres on Thursday.

Varland, 27, posted a 2.02 earned-run average, which ranks sixth among AL relievers, through 51 games with the Twins this season. The six-foot-one, 205-pound thrower has played 89 games, including 22 starts, over four seasons with Minnesota. His record was 8-14 with a 4.62 ERA.

The 31-year-old France hit .251 in 101 games for the Twins this year, including 19 doubles, six home runs, and 44 RBI. The Californian has appeared in 803 career MLB games with San Diego, Seattle, Cincinnati and Minnesota.

The 24-year-old Valenzuela hit 14 doubles, a triple, a dozen home runs and 46 RBI while carrying an on-base plus slugging percentage of .700 through 87 games for Double-A San Antonio this season.

The catcher from Hermosillo, Mexico, has thrown out 25 base runners. His 34.7 per cent caught stealing percentage ranks second among all Double-A catchers.

Roden appeared in 43 games for Toronto this year with a batting average of .204, seven extra-base hits and eight RBI. The 25-year-old was named the Blue Jays Minor League Player of the Year in 2024.

The 22-year-old Rojas started 10 games across four levels in the Blue Jays’ minor-league system this season for an ERA of 3.46 over 41.2 innings.

Wagner from Houston, Texas, appeared in 40 games for the Blue Jays this season with a batting average of .237, seven extra-base hits and seven RBI.

Toronto acquired Wagner, 27, from the Astros at last season’s trade deadline along with outfielder Joey Loperfido and pitcher Jake Bloss in exchange for pitcher Yusei Kikuchi.

With files from The Canadian Press