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Guardians trade Shane Bieber ahead of deadline; here's who they got in return
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- Guardians trade Shane Bieber ahead of deadline; here's who they got in return
CLEVELAND — Shane Bieber won't throw a pitch for the Guardians this season after all.
After continuing his rehab from Tommy John surgery all season, Bieber has been traded to the Toronto Blue Jays ahead of the deadline . The club has confirmed the deal.
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In return, the Guardians are getting right-handed pitcher Khal Stephen, a 2024 second-round draft pick.
Bieber, who won the 2020 Cy Young award, had started only two games at the major-league level since the end of 2023.
Trade grades: Grading Shane Bieber trade from Guardians to Blue Jays for Khal Stephen
This past offseason, Bieber signed a deal with the Guardians for $10 million in 2025. The deal also featured a player option for 2026, which included a $4 million buyout.
Bieber was perhaps the most intriguing trade chip at the deadline as a potential ace-level pitcher, but one who is still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.
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Who is Khal Stephen?
In Stephen, the Guardians are getting a 6-foot-4 right-handed starting pitcher prospect.
He's had an electric 2025, posting a combined 9-1 record and 2.06 ERA with 99 strikeouts in 91⅓ innings. He was recently promoted to Double-A.
Mississippi State pitcher Khal Stephen pitches against Ole Miss at Swayze Field in Oxford, Miss., on Friday, Apr. 12, 2024.
Stephen is rated by MLB Pipeline as the Blue Jays' No. 5 prospect . His 2025 season has given him some momentum when it comes to the minor league leaderboards. FanGraphs has him ranked as the No. 80 prospect in all of baseball.
"Stephen's fastball operates at 92-94 mph and touches 96, but it's most notable for natural carry that allows it to miss more than its share of bats," MLB.com wrote about Stephen. "Stephen's mid-80s changeup feels like his best secondary pitch early in his career, so having either his slider or curveball step forward would help to complete his arsenal."
Stephen, 22, pitched in college at Purdue and Mississippi State.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians trade Shane Bieber to Blue Jays
