"Most importantly, Bieber was one of the high-upside pitchers available at last summer's trade deadline who could make a big difference down the stretch. Still, there were questions about just how valuable Bieber really was. He hadn't pitched since April 2024 on account of Tommy John Surgery and had posted middling results since his 2020 AL Cy Young award so when the Blue Jays brought him in, they were being careful with his eventual return to action."
"The Boston Red Sox, who were engaged in a playoff race with the Blue Jays, knew they needed to strengthen the top of their starting rotation behind ace Garrett Crochet. There was plenty of trepidation in Boston about acquiring a guy with question marks about his health and performance. In the end, one man's loss is another man's gain."
Ross Atkins led a dramatic turnaround for the Toronto Blue Jays by executing bold roster moves at the trade deadline. Shane Bieber, monitored closely by the Toronto front office, was acquired despite recent injury and inconsistent results since his 2020 Cy Young season. The Blue Jays managed Bieber's comeback carefully after his Tommy John surgery and used him in high-leverage October roles, including starting Game 7 of the ALCS. Rival clubs, including the Boston Red Sox, hesitated due to health concerns. The acquisition intensified a divisional bidding war and ultimately paid off as a key factor in the pennant run.
Read at Jays Journal
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]