Inside The Pinstripes

Yankees Rivals Land Former Cy Young Winner

One of the New York Yankees' rivals has made a huge trade for a former Cy Young Award winner.
Sep 22, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber (57) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Sep 22, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber (57) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images

In this story:


As the New York Yankees (59-49) continue surveying the market for pitching help ahead of today's 6:00 p.m. EST trade deadline, the Toronto Blue Jays (64-46) have just made a big move on that front.

Per MLB Network's Jon Morosi, Toronto is finalizing a deal with the Cleveland Guardians for right-handed starter Shane Bieber.

Morosi added that right-handed pitching prospect Khal Stephan, who MLB Pipeline ranks as Toronto's No. 5 overall farmhand, is the only piece heading to Cleveland as part of the deal.

Bieber is a two-time All-Star (2019, 2021) who won the AL Cy Young Award and Pitching Triple Crown during the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign with a 1.63 ERA, 122 strikeouts and eight wins over 12 outings totaling 77 1/3 innings.

The 30-year-old has made just two big league starts since the beginning of the 2024 campaign, however, after undergoing Tommy John surgery last April.

Bieber signed a one-year deal worth $10 million with the Guardians this past offseason that also includes a $16 million player option for 2026.

He's been stellar across four rehab starts so far this year, recording a 1.59 ERA in 11 1/3 innings. Bieber, when healthy, should provide a massive boost to Toronto's rotation as the club looks to maintain its four-game lead on the Yankees in the AL East.

New York, meanwhile, is also pursuing a starter and several bullpen arms after already acquiring three bats in Ryan McMahon, Amed Rosario and Austin Slater over recent days.

Make sure to bookmark Yankees On SI to get all your daily New York Yankees news, interviews, breakdowns and more!


Published
Jack Markowski
JACK MARKOWSKI

Jack is a New Jersey native who graduated from the University of Pittsburgh as a Media & Professional Communications major in 2024 who is now covering the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Yankees for On SI.