The Toronto Blue Jays will need to bounce back after losing a heartbreaking Game 3 to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
With the Blue Jays down 2-1 to the Dodgers in the World Series, the team will likely look to one of their major deadline acquisitions to make a big impact. The Blue Jays traded Khal Stephen and a second-round draft pick to the Cleveland Guardians before the trade deadline to acquire former two-time All-Star pitcher Shane Bieber.
Bieber, 30, went 4-2 with a 3.57 ERA and 37 strikeouts in seven appearances during the regular season, but has struggled slightly in the postseason, posting a 4.38 ERA across three starts. Toronto made a good decision trading for the former Cy Young award winner, but could potentially lose him to free agency this offseason.
In a list of the top 50 MLB free agents this offseason, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden listed the Toronto Blue Jays’ division rival, the Boston Red Sox, as one of the best fit teams to sign Bieber in free agency this offseason.
“Bieber had Tommy John surgery in April 2024 and returned to the majors on Aug. 22 with the Blue Jays after being acquired at the trade deadline from the Guardians,” Bowden wrote Monday. “He’s been a significant factor in the Blue Jays’ run to the World Series, starting Games 3 and 7 of the ALCS. Bieber won the AL Cy Young in 2020 and finished in the top seven in voting in 2019 and 2022.
“He looks similar to the pitcher who dominated then, although his stuff is a tick down. That said, most pitchers coming back from Tommy John are much better a second year removed from the surgery. He’ll probably have to accept another shorter-term deal with an opt-out clause that allows him to get back into free agency next offseason, when he might really be able to cash in if his stuff fully returns. Perhaps a three-year deal worth $75 million with an opt-out after Year 1 would make sense here.”
Boston has publicly been trying to acquire another high-end pitcher to pair with Garrett Crochet, but it wasn’t the only competition that Bowden predicted Toronto would face to retain the 30-year-old hurler this offseason.
The Braves, Guardians and Orioles represent just a few of the teams that will likely be seeking a pitcher of Bieber’s quality. Retaining Bieber should be one of the Blue Jays’ top priorities this offseason, especially if he could land with a division rival.
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