Veteran starting pitcher Shane Bieber almost became a champion after the Toronto Blue Jays traded for him last season, but it wasn't meant to be. The Jays lost in seven games to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, culminating in a 5-4, 11-inning loss in the final contest.
The Blue Jays acquired Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians at the MLB trade deadline, and he went 4-2 with a 3.57 ERA over seven starts in the regular season after that. The right-hander also went 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA over five games (four starts) in the playoffs.
Bieber is going into this season with a forearm ailment, but manager John Schneider offered an encouraging update on Thursday, via MLB.com's Keegan Matheson.
“Biebs isn’t that far behind. Biebs is throwing and feeling good. He’s out to 120 feet,” Schneider said. “Hopefully in the next week to two weeks, he’ll be getting off the mound and starting his progression. There are options coming, too.”
This update came just a day after Toronto put right-handed pitcher Bowden Francis (elbow) on the 60-day IL, as he will miss the season due to UCL reconstruction surgery, via the team's social media. The 29-year-old went just 2-8 with a 6.05 ERA last season, but 8-5 with a 3.30 ERA in 2024.
Bieber ramping up softens the blow of losing Francis, who could've had a bounce-back year had he been healthy. Bieber is a two-time All-Star and is elite at his best, as he had a 2.88 ERA over 31 starts in 2022 and won the AL Cy Young Award in the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign.
This season will be Bieber's chance to put together his first full season since 2023 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2024.
Blue Jays Have Stacked Rotation
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Once Bieber is back, he'll join a rotation featuring ace Kevin Gausman and the newly acquired Dylan Cease. Gausman was 11th in baseball with a 1.06 WHIP last season and has had a sub-4.00 ERA each year since joining Toronto in December 2021.
Meanwhile, Cease signed a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Blue Jays this past December. The 30-year-old struggled to the tune of a 4.55 ERA last season, but had a sub-4.00 ERA in three of the four years before that.
Additionally, Toronto has phenom Trey Yesavage. The 22-year-old right-hander was called up for the first time in September and allowed one run or fewer in five of nine outings, including the playoffs.
The Blue Jays have the talent on the mound to return to the World Seres this year, health permitting. They start their Grapefruit League slate against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday in Dunedin, Florida, before facing the Boston Red Sox on Sunday in Fort Myers, Florida.