Blue Jays close to adding Cy Young award winner

[ASFN Admin]

The Toronto Blue Jays could soon receive a significant boost to their starting rotation. According to reports, former Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber is nearing a return to the major league club after spending nearly the entire season on the injured list. While the timing couldn’t be better for Toronto, the move comes with both optimism and uncertainty. The Blue Jays entered the 2026 MLB season believing their rotation could be one of the strengths of the roster. Instead, injuries have repeatedly disrupted those plans.

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Rotation Has Been Hit Hard By Injuries​

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Mar 28, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dylan Cease (84) looks on against the Athletics during the third inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images

Toronto has struggled to keep its starting pitchers healthy through the first half of the season. Kevin Gausman has been the only starter to make all of his scheduled starts. Meanwhile, Dylan Cease, Max Scherzer, and Trey Yesavage have all spent time on the injured list.

The constant turnover has forced the Blue Jays to get creative, including leaning on bullpen games and patchwork solutions to fill innings. That’s why Bieber’s potential return is so important. Even if he isn’t immediately pitching at an ace level, simply providing stability every fifth day would be a welcome development for a club trying to remain competitive.

Bieber Appears Ready To Return​

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Oct 28, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber (57) speaks at the postgame press conference after the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game four of the 2025 MLB World Series at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Bieber has been sidelined since late March after dealing with right elbow inflammation that surfaced during spring training. The veteran right-hander has made five rehab appearances and the numbers haven’t been particularly impressive. Across 17 innings, he posted a 6.88 ERA, though the Blue Jays are likely paying closer attention to his health than the box scores.

Perhaps the most encouraging sign is that Bieber has thrown five innings in each of his last two rehab starts, suggesting his workload has reached a point where a return to the majors is realistic. Toronto appears eager to get back to a traditional five-man rotation rather than continuing to rely on bullpen-heavy approaches.

Plenty Of Questions Remain​

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Oct 28, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber (57) reacts in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game four of the 2025 MLB World Series at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

While the upside is obvious, there is also considerable risk. Since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April of 2024, Bieber has made only nine regular-season starts. Seven of those came with Toronto last season.

The last time Bieber logged a significant workload was back in 2023 with Cleveland, when he posted a 3.80 ERA across 21 starts. However, even then, there were signs of decline, including a career-low 20.1 percent strikeout rate and a noticeable dip in velocity. Still, a healthy Shane Bieber is an upgrade for almost any rotation.

The Blue Jays are hoping that his return can provide some much-needed stability as they navigate the second half of the season and attempt to strengthen a pitching staff that has been tested all year long.

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