Blue Jays could keep $26 million Cy Young winner with deep playoff run

The Toronto Blue Jays made a major splash on Thursday morning, trading for Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber.

Bieber has not pitched in a Major League Baseball game since the early spring of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery.

The 30-year-old pitcher has been making rehab starts in the minor leagues and should be ready to pitch in the MLB shortly.

Toronto acquired Bieber to pitch for them in October, so that is what the team is most worried about.

When Bieber is healthy, he's been one of the best pitchers in baseball, and he even won the 2020 Cy Young Award. Even though it was five years ago, he can still reach that level of pitching.

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Bieber is on a two-year $26 million contract with a player option for next season. If Bieber wants, he could enter free agency this winter, but Jake Ferraro from Fansided thinks the two-time All-Star could maybe stick around if the Blue Jays make a deep playoff run.

"For Bieber, he's had a solid career with Cleveland from 2018-2024. Bieber made the All-Star Game two times and took home the 2020 American League Cy Young award, winning the pitching Triple Crown that season. Adding Bieber makes the rotation stronger, when he's ready to return," Ferraro wrote. "With his experience and talent, Bieber provides another solid arm for now and possibly into the future if the Blue Jays can re-sign him, especially with Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt also on the last years' of their contracts."

Since Bieber hasn't pitched in almost two years, he will likely be rusty in his first couple of starts, which could cause teams to lower the value on his contract.

If Bieber can't make more on the open market this winter, then opting back with the Blue Jays would be the smart thing to do.

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