Toronto Blue Joys acquires pitchers Bieber, Varland

Toronto – The fit was worth the risk for Toronto Blue Jays General Manager Ross Atkins.

The Blue Jays made a Splash on the MLB-Handelsdeadline day and acquires right-handed Shane Bieber, a former Cy Young winner of the American competition Cy Young, from the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday. Cleveland received Righty Khal Stephen, a 22-year-old Minor League-Werder, the number 5 front view ranked in the Toronto system by MLB Pipeline.

Bieber, 30, is approaching a return of Tommy John operation and did not throw in the Majors this season.

“A very good fit for us, we have a number of employees who know Shane well and we do a lot of work to understand every player in the game,” said Atkins during a press conference. “The feeling that we had a little more insight into him. Really well fitting from a teammate, character and drive and competitive capacity.

“Also, because of where he is from a rehabilitation point, it fits very well for our already solid five-man rotation. Every good baseball team needs depth and options and we have a very good one.”

Atkins was seduced by the upward Bieber presentations for Toronto.

“The risk is almost, in some respects, its exciting aspect because of the advantage,” said Atkins. “The advantage is just that big and I think what makes it riskier, the fact is that he is not going to play in Major League matches at the moment.

“Our work has given us a lot of confidence that he is someone who can minimize or limit it, to a very high level based on his work ethics and dedication.”

Bieber has posted a 1.59-run average and 0.71 Whip posted over four Rehab-Starts, including a seven-strikeout version on four innings on Tuesday with Double-a Akron.

“He looked like Shane Bieber. That’s what our scout who was there, said,” said Atkins about Bieber’s last show. “That is what our appearance when we watched him on video, and all the information we could collect, said that this looks like the Shane Bieber that has previously dominated.”

Bieber had spent his entire career at Cleveland since he was drawn up in 2016 and compiled a record of 62-32 with a 3.22 ERA over 136 performances with large league. He is also a double all-star, a Gold Glove receiver and was named MVP of the 2019 All-Star Game.

Bieber won the CY Young in 2020 during the 60-game season, after leading the Majors in victories (8), ERA (1.63) and Strikeouts (122). He only became the ninth pitcher since 1913 to claim MLB’s Triple Crown.

He agreed with a one -year contract, US $ 14 million last fall with a player option of $ 16 million for 2026.

Toronto also took right -handed pitcher Louis Varland and first Honkman Ty France of the Minnesota Twins, and captured Prospect Brandon Valenzuela from the San Diego Padres.

Toronto sent outfielder Alan Roden and left -handed pitcher Kendry Rojas to the twins and traded Infielder Will Wagner on Thursday to the Padres.

The Jays continued to load on pitchers on Tuesday after adding Reliever Seranthony Dominguez from the Baltimore Orioles.

Varland, 27, placed an average of 2.02 earned run, which is sixth under Relievers, via 51 games with the twins this season. The six-foot-one, 205-pound pitcher has played 89 games, including 22 Starts, for four seasons with Minnesota. His record was 8-14 with a 4.62 ERA.

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Atkins said the Jays got what they were looking for with Varland.

“He has been very effective this year as a Reliever,” said Atkins. “Has as good as a fastball as you can find, has a curveball as you can find with a very effective cutter, he can sink.

“He is extremely aggressive, he comes after you, and that is attractive for us. So immediately has an impact on our bull pen in an important way next to Seranthony and we will see what is happening further.”

The 31-year-old France hit this year .251 in 101 games for the twins, including 19 Doubles, six home runs and 44 RBIs. The Californier appeared in 803 MLB games in the career with San Diego, Seattle, Cincinnati and Minnesota.

The 24-year-old Valenzuela hit 14 Doubles, a triple, a dozen home runs and 46 RBIs while wearing an on-base plus slugging percentage from .700 to 87 games for Double-a San Antonio this season.

The Catcher from Hermosillo, Mexico, has thrown away 25 base runners. His 34.7 percent caught stealing the percentage is in second place of all double catchers.

Roden appeared this year in 43 races for Toronto with a stroke average of .204, seven extra basehits and eight RBIs. The 25-year-old was named the Blue Jays Minor League player of the year in 2024.

This season, the 22-year-old Rojas started 10 games in four levels in the Minor League system of the Blue Jays for an era of 3.46 over 41.2 innings.

Wagner, from Houston, Texas, this season appeared in 40 games for the Blue Jays with a stroke average of .237, seven extra basehits and seven RBIs.

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

This report from the Canadian Press was first published on July 31, 2025.

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